Review: Naomi #2

With the Wonder Comics line has crafted a group of books that work as nice counterbalance to the more dire tone that exists in their main line of books especially those connected to the current Heroes in Crisis event. Wonder is a great word for them as they are bringing back that wonderment element that has been missing. Naomi does its part by putting the focus on the ground with people who are rarely more than tertiary characters in most superhero stories. It is a story about family and finding out what makes you who you are in a world full of supernatural beings.

Naomi has this hope and desire to simply know more. She wants to know what exactly happened in her town years ago, why people are afraid to talk about it, and how exactly it is connected to her adoption. In order to find answers to these questions, she goes to the only person she thinks has the answers–the oversized mechanic that looks like he stepped out of Villian Goon Weekly. If he does have the answers getting them will not be easy.

This is an issue that is light on the story progression but has some effective emotional moments. That emotion comes out within the conversation between Naomi and her parents at dinner. Knowing Brian Michael Bendis has adopted children himself you get the sense it is coming from someplace personal. The dialog has a natural awkward flow as Naomi searches for the words to ask a question that she knows could forever damage a relationship so vitally important to her. It plays out in a way that both feels real but also makes you walk away believing they may be something deeper her family is holding back from her.

Jamal Campbell“s art also has some rather strong storytelling moments. Starting with the aforementioned dinner sequence that opens with the camera focused directly on Naomi. On the periphery, you see nothing more than her parent“s hands as they have what seems like your typical conversation. With each passing panel, the break between her and her parents grows further and further until there is this massive gap between her and her family. Carlos M. Mangual letter ties the scene together as dominate Naomi“s space as the weight of the situation is bearing down on her. Campbell is also doing his own colors and chooses a softer color palette. It works well with his ability to convey emotion through body language and facial emotion. There are some complex emotions going on and for them to work he needs to sell those moments and he does just that.

There are some flourishes where Campbell“ gets to draw some massive action set pieces that look fantastic but awkwardly fit into the flow of the story. Â It is not fully clear if they are tied to the very event being investigated or hint to something larger. That is probably the biggest fault of this issue is that it does not do much outside of that key scene. Bendis and co-writer David Walker are clearly building to something larger but more could be given to make the hunt for those answer even more intriguing. The ending does hint that some major answers should be heading our way with the next installment.

Final Thoughts:

Naomi #2 may not move the story forward much, however, it does offer a touching sequence that will no doubt serve as the emotional core of the series moving forward. This is not a book that is in a hurry so those looking for quick answers may be discouraged with what you find. If you are looking for a more character-centric story that puts a face to the world behind the superheroes there is much to savor.

[yasr_overall_rating]

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.