ROGUE #2
"To Bear Her Company"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Fiona Avery
Pencils: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Randy Emberlin
Colors: Colorgraphix
Letters: Mike Heisler
Editor: Mark Powers
Price: $2.50 US/$3.75 CAN |
As was the case with the first issue, Avery is right on the cusp of something special. She's captured the isolation and sadness of the title character perfectly, but her script lacks clarity and flow. The panel-to-panel flow in the art isn't all it could be either, though Lopresti and Emberlin communicate the melancholy of Rogue nicely.
Rogue, running from her problems and from the X-Men, wanders into a small town, where she ends up saving the life of a shepherd, thanks to a brief contact with the drunken trucker who meant him harm. Johnny, the shepherd, insists on taking his heroine for a friendly dinner, and despite herself, she finds herself feeling comfortable with this newfound friend.
Though I enjoyed Lopresti's depiction of the title character, Julie Bell's cover really captures Rogue's sense of being a lost young girl. Still, aside from some odd panel transitions in key action sequences in the book, Lopresti and Emberlin's art conveys the quiet tone of the story and Rogue's discomfort. Furthermore, the colors are in keeping with the reflective and mature tone of the story as well.
We've seen this sort of thing before... Rogue trying to resist getting close to someone even though she yearns to be accepted and loved. Avery does a better job of it in this comic book, though. In the past, we've only been told Rogue is drawn to someone, but Avery shows us the developing connection here. Johnny is an eminently likeable character, even if his occupation is a bit unusual in this day and age.
The only real problem here is a lack of clarity in the art and script. The trucker's unseen initial confrontation with Johnny isn't explained well at all, and trucker's pals' irritation comes off as forced. The dialogue occasionally jumps a bit, making for some confusion. But overall, there's a pleasant, serene and introspective tone to the issue.
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