Review: Spencer & Locke Vol. 2, #2

Published by Action Lab: Danger Zone, and co-created by writer David Pepose and artist Jorge Santiago, Jr.

The movie rights to Spencer & Locke has been optioned by Adrian Askarieh, the producer of the Hitman action movies.
Spencer & Locke have agreed to take the deal , and begin looking for the culprit.

In the previous issue of Spencer & Locke Vol 2 #1,Â A random pyshcho had been killing city officials without prejudice, but Spencer and Locke couldn’t do anything because they are under orders to lay low until their hearing due to the events from Spencer and Locke Vol. 1.Â That is until the city council promises them that they will drop the charges and let Locke see his daughter if he investigates the murders and solves the case before the mayor is killed.Â The setup was interesting but it was the Easter eggs that made the issue, such as having a marriage counseling clinic across the street.

In the current issue ofÂ Spencer & Locke Vol 2 #2 , in the first act, it starts with panels on Roach Riley “a more adultÂ version of Beetle Bailey. ” Its a little messy that wavers in between the narrative of a soldier tortured by his own superiors and terrorist, but it was interesting and gave some inside psychological context to the serial killer.

When all is said and done Spencer & Locke Vol 2 #1Â feels more like a reminder of how Locke’s world works. Nothing new to see here just more of David Pepose putting together a wicked issue again.Â (Hey if it works why mess around with it?)

The panels by artist Jorge Santiago, Jr. are fantastic. The easy thing for David Pepose and Jorge Santiago to do for Volume 2 would have been to slowly waltz Spencer & Locke away from its Calvin &Hobbes homage beginnings.Â InsteadÂ we still get the Bill Watterson-like panels that seamlesslyÂ shifts from philosophicalÂ navel gazing to Exitus acta probat action.Â Its clear that Pepose and Santiago have a distinct vision for the work, providing mood colored, eye grabbing visuals that complement the story“s off-kilter tone.

Spencer & Locke Vol 2 #1 comes in three covers. The cover A Regular Jorge Santiago Jr Cover ;CoverCover B Variant Maan House Cover; C Variant Joe Mulvey Cover.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Written by; David Pepose
Art by; Jorge Santiago Jr.
Colors by; Jasen Smith
Letters by; Colin Bell
Published by; Action Lab