For her second issue of Agent X, Gail Simone further develops characters introduced in issue one (including Agent X himself), but she also manages the nifty trick of creating an accessible, standalone issue. Combine this kind of storytelling with a killer sense of humor and some likable characters, and you've got a perfect "pick up" book, one that doesn't require readers to slavishly follow the book even as it rewards those who choose to do so. I could still do with a little less disconnect between story and art at times, as there are elements of the issue that are, if not necessarily confusing, enough to make the reader do a double-take, but overall Agent X is a highly entertaining book.
Though this is marked as "part two" of "Dead Man's Switch," it's hard to imagine a reader being unable to get into the book. The simplified backstory of Agent X (simplified by means of amnesia, but simplified nonetheless) makes the protagonist feel new, and most of the villains and supporting cast are new as well. With Agent X taking on a new mission this issue, one that is complete by the end, this fills that all-too-rare niche of a book with continuing continuity and standalone stories.
It's hard to argue that Udon Studios is a good fit for this book. The action sequences are fluid and fast-paced, and the sense of humor required to make the violence more funny than dark is definitely there in the artwork. However, there does seem to be the occasional storytelling glitches. For one thing, they don't seem to handle the darker aspects of the story, including Alex's disfigurement or "bleeding from the eyes," the second time in two issues that has been in the dialogue but not clear in the artwork. A similar problem crops up when Outlaw is serving salsa she made herself, but it's nowhere to be found on the plate. Such details aren't as crucial as basic storytelling, but a little more detail would certainly improve on the only flaws currently to be found in the book's artwork.
What draws me to the book isn't just the structure, however. Simone's sense of humor is what originally gained her attention with "You'll All Be Sorry," and it continues to play a major role in her writing so far. Agent X's somewhat disoriented, loopy banter is like a more focused version of Deadpool's rapid-fire gags, but the real humor comes in the situations. The unique method of dealing with the competition that Agent X and Outlaw come up with is a hoot, as are the goofy competitors, and the Punisher's surprisingly humorous retaliation against X and Outlaw is pretty funny as well.
However, there's more to this book than just funny moments. I really like the relationship (however brief it may turn out to be) between Outlaw and Agent X, and the adversarial relationship he has with Taskmaster continues to entertain as well. In addition, the slow-building subplots in the background about Agent X's identity or the new leader of the Four Winds provides a solid thread on which to build the overall series.
