Editor's Note: Angel: Revelations #2 arrives in stores tomorrow, June 25.

I loved the first issue of this book for its pencils, inks and colors. An excellent gallery of art was present on most every page of the comic, and it came to me teeming with artistry and brilliance. That wasn't all. The story was perfectly pitched between the incredibly original looking characters. But with this second issue, the novelty in the imagery started to fade a bit. It's not at all that the art didn't look as good as it did previously. It looked great. It's just that I had seen it already, and it wasn't going to keep the book afloat here. What this book was going to depend upon in my mind was the story between the front and back covers. How does it hold up…?

One month after the first issue of this new series in the Marvel Knights line and I was extremely excited to see where Sacasa was going to take Warren Worthington next. In the second issue he decided to detail Warren's problems as a teenager. Between the bullies, his girlfriend, the wings growing on his back and hazing, this issue is incredibly dark. Sure, it's about high school. There's not much intensity there, but the tone of this story really fits so far. Sacasa made Warren dark and methodical in all of his actions. I can honestly say that I'm impressed with the direction and flow that the second issue took from the first page on. This may turn a lot of readers off, and while I think about it, I actually start to second guess my comparison, but the book is starting the feel like a comic version of Cruel Intentions. Yeah, I know, I regret saying that immediately. But hear me out on this…. Warren’s girlfriend is starting to plot and conspire against him in this one, and the feel that she gives off is exactly like that of any of the conniving female characters/sex symbols in Cruel Intentions.

The art is still fantastic, sure, but as I mentioned above I've already seen it. It is an extraordinary comic for its art alone, but in holding up as a series the book needs to depend a lot more on its story. Pollina and Hollingsworth combine to make some terrific images that I won't soon forget. The lanky look of all of the characters has grown on me immensely, and I love it. If you missed the first issue and you pick up the first and second this week, you'll certainly be completely immersed. But upon returning to the series next month, you may find yourself not nearly as impressed with the art. Don't worry, as I've already made evident, the story will do its job and keep the book moving through your fingers.

One final note: the preacher present in the first issue, the one who murders a mother and daughter before he makes his way to Warren, is not here at all in this issue. Since this is the second part of a limited series, I found myself completely surprised when the issue closed and the enemy of the book was nowhere to be found. That one point is what will keep this book from a perfect (or near perfect) rating. Still this is a great read. Fans of Angel and anyone looking to learn about a marvelous character's origins will enjoy this book. I recommend it.

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