Fictions #2 is an unusual blend of horror, science-fiction and slice-of-life, with commentary on our society and assumptions we make throughout. It is written entirely by Johnny Lowe, who writes some very strong dialogue and has interesting concepts, and though the short story format is one of the most difficult to handle in comics, there's only one of the three stories here that I thought didn't deliver on its promise. The artwork is by three different artists, each using a very different style, and it's all enjoyable as well.
Easily my favorite story, in terms of writing and art, is "Birthday Boy," a story that starts out in the crime vein and quickly moves into horror. It is reminiscent of "Father's Day," a story that Lowe wrote in the first issue of Fictions, but it's stronger, with the twist ending being set up more effectively and the lead criminals being not quite as dark as in the previous story. In addition, the artwork is by Seaward Tuthill, who stood out as my favorite artist in the first issue, and who shines here as well. He could still use some consistency in his characters, but the amount of detail that he puts into his backgrounds and his ability to do both action and creepy, foreboding horror is impressive.
"A Glorious Future Can Be Yours" is an exercise in speculative science-fiction and social commentary that falls short of its promise, due in no small part to Lowe casting too wide a net. He's got plenty to say about the erosion of free speech, whether through censorship or political correctness, as well as about reactions to terrorism, gangsta rap stereotypes, scientific folly and poverty, but there's not enough room to explore it all in 10 page story. The message is lost, as Lowe presents plenty of neat ideas but no strong core to the story. Ted Seko's sketchy, shaded work is a highlight of the book, however, reminiscent of Andi Watson in his ability to show a lot with only a few lines and with some really nice graytones.
"Nibbler's Night" has an art style that is completely different from the other two, dependent largely on oversized heads and faces to distinguish the characters and short on backgrounds, but not to the detriment of the piece. Lindner's style conveys the all-important emotions of the characters in this piece, as "Nibbler's Night" is all about unfulfilled ambition and broken dreams. It's a sort of nightmare scenario for anyone who thinks "someday I'll get out of this job and routine I hate and make something of myself," and it rings true with a sad, wistful tone.
Overall, I'd say Fictions #2 is an improvement on the first issue, and Lowe has certainly proven his skills as a writer, not to mention his flexibility of genres, with these two issues. The stories are short and not always perfect, but the craft from everyone involved is solid and improving, and those looking for some interesting new voices on the indy scene should definitely seek the book out.
