EDITOR's NOTE: Dead Run #2 will be in stores July 1. Preview images below.

Plot: Nick and Becki continue their trek through the Zone while trying to evade a deadly post-apocalyptic gang.

Comments: Issue #2 is a much-needed improvement over the first issue. Nick’s personality is a lot stronger than the first issue. You get a better sense of who he is, tough and rough and a bit unfeeling. He kills without hesitation and is unflinching in his plans to stop the attackers. His resourcefulness is close to brilliance. Where was this guy in the first issue?

Becki becomes a truly interesting sidekick to Nick, they’re banter is humorous and interesting. She is a little more rational than Nick and adds a sense of sarcasm to the mix. As the navigator, she adds her own worth to the book, making her feel vital to the story. As they journey along, you get the idea that a relationship of some kind may be blooming as Nick slowly admits to caring about her.

There are more bits and pieces of information about the current society and how it came to be. The zombie-esque gang members are cannibalistic monsters and according to Nick, blame the city-goers for destroying the world. As they go further into the Zone, we get a small view into the new world order after the apocalypse.

It's disappointing that there doesn’t seem to be a lot of new content, as most of the issue can be deemed as a fight. Despite the lack of insight into the broader plot, it was an exciting read and had enough characterization to make up for it. Hopefully, in the coming issues we’ll see more of this new society as well as some mention of the ongoing plot that started all this.

The art has improved since last issue. The style seemed to be less sketchy, with deep colors that really give you a feel for the mood of this story. It seems to take on somewhat of a cartoonish style in some places. However, the sketchy, dirty style from the first issue is still used heavily. The use of both styles creates a dynamic for this book. The cartoony art boldens the characters, while the sketchy style is used often to generate an energetic and exciting chain of events.

This second issue makes Dead Run a truly readable series by delving deeper into the fiction that of this story. The book still hasn’t completely committed to all its elements, but hopefully by the next issue there will be a lot more to learn about to truly make this world believable. Issue #2 has good action, much needed characterization, and fitting art. Take a chance on this one and pick up the first issue to catch up with the story.

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