Written by: Bryan Hill
Art by Juan Ferreyra and VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 19, 201

I have to admit that I was not too hip on the first issue of Killmonger.  I didn’t really go into it expecting much (even though I love the creative team) since I can’t say that I am a Killmonger fan in the least.  While the first issue’s story piqued my interest a bit and looked fantastic, I still wasn’t completely sold. So, did the second issue change things for me?  Let’s find out

I want to start by saying that I am a huge Juan Ferreyra fan and not just because he has put me in a handful of his comics…well, that doesn’t hurt matters, but it’s because I have eyes and can see that his art totally kicks butt!  That being said, this is one of the best issues I think he has done. The combination of inventive panel layout, cinematic angles and popping colors makes it hard to look away from the action on the page and that is a good thing because this issue is full of action.  Intense, bloody action!

The issue opens in a club where the Chess Club (Yea, I’m calling them that and it’s about time someone made my junior high afterschool activity sound cool) and Killmonger are setting up the dets on their next job.  They have to take out four targets at the same time and that sort of thing requires some major coordination…unless they go with Killmonger’s plan.

We get some nice interactions with the crew here as Erik and Knight do a little flirting and King seems to want to take Erik under his wing.  We also get an important tidbit about Rook that is a little bit of forced foreshadowing but does pay off by the end of the issue.

Back to the plan, Killmonger comes up with a plan that is a “show” for Kingpin, but also makes it easier in some ways (the targets will be together in one room) and harder in others (all their men will be in one room as well).  This all leads to an awesome and bloody firefight that lets Juan flex his artistic muscles and boy does he!

After the battle, Hill gives us a little more character time with the team before they head off to get their payment and next job from Kingpin.  The issue ends with the team pretty much setup to be killed themselves when they are given the undoable job. I won’t tell you what it is, but the cliffhanger is awesome and ending the issue, I am now totally onboard with this mini!

Bryan Hill has made me a believer.  He has taken a character that I knew little about and cared about even less and made me a fan.  Can that extend past this series? I won’t go that far yet, but I can tell you that I will be reading the next three issues of this one.

I can’t say enough about Juan Ferreyra’s art.  I always love it and always will and this issue is no exception.  Hey, every comic reader has their favorites and Juan is mine.

Final Thoughts:

This issue made me do an about face on this series.  Byan Hill and Juan Ferreyra have made a believer out of me and I can’t wait for the next issue.

9.0/10