Image Comics reviews 5/15/24 – Redcoat #2, G.I. Joe #306

Rat City #2

Rat City #2 continues the slow build to this futuristic Hellspawn story. Following the blackout, Peter Cairn like many of the soldiers that received prosthetics from Pharmatech Solutions, is being called in for upgrades. That’s just a cover so the corporation can determine what impact the blackout had on them.

Peter is pretty sure he had an encounter with Spawn, but doesn’t want to be thought crazy like the fellow soldier next to him. When his pal, Rhys, gets brought in for his “upgrades,” Peter learns his sanity is perfectly intact even if he’s no longer sure he’s human.

Writer/letterer Erica Schultz is still crafting the script off the assumption that readers know all the major plot points from the main Spawn title. And the narrator is reflecting on what’s playing out making for a somewhat frustrating reading experience of playing catch up. Despite those challenges, Peter’s plight is intriguing enough to remain invested especially with the final page’s big payoff.

Artist Zé Carlos’ style is very clean. Details are easy to make out and character emotions are easy to read. Action scenes are nicely straightforward without distracting clutter. Colorist Jay David Ramos largely keeps a brighter palette avoiding burying too much of the artwork in darker backdrops.

Rat City’s narrative structure is somewhat frustrating, but this Spawn futuristic spin-off is proving to be a worthy read.

Rating: 7 out of 10