Nowhere Men #2

Carrying on right where Nowhere Men #1 left off, four brilliant scientists who had set to save the world, may just be the cause of it’s end and all the scruples in between. Plus there’s a focus shift on the rag tag team out in space and just what they plan to do as their next course of action.

Writer: Eric Stephenson | Artist: Nate Bellegarde & Jordie Bellair

Cover: Nate Bellegarde & Fonografiks| Publisher: Image

Nowhere Men still seems to be teetering between the verges of interest and intrigue. Naturally since it’s only the second issue, there’s still much to be discovered about where exactly this series plans on going. While it certainly gives more direction than the first issue, there’s still so much to be revealed. This certainly has its merits as well as its downfalls.

Little bits and pieces are still being picked up about these four scientists, Dade Ellis, Simon Grimshaw, Emerson Strange, and Thomas Walker—what their relationship was like together, we’ve seen snippets of the falling out, but issue two keeps us in the present where a lot is still left unrevealed about what exactly has happened nor does it feel the need to explain. While good for intrigue, a tad frustrating for a reader who may feel just a tad lost to start. It certainly keeps the reader in, that much is certain, because curiosity has been piqued and there are undeniable questions that need to be answered about why we see some of these men where they are in this issue.

Beyond the questions that arise from these four scientists (which is a favoured premise by the way—geniuses working together to try and save the world, only to create something horrible, it seems close to almost believable in our own reality, shudder the thought), there are also a bunch of questions about the lovely cast out in space. Who are they, why are they out there, and the most obvious and probably last to be answered as we progress with the series is what exactly happened to them. Certainly there’s a basic idea but nothing is quite yet fully explained in a way that’s satisfying. Not to mention beyond they name of just a few characters, keeping track of a who’s who isn’t the easiest yet. We’ve been introduced to a lot of characters up to this point and it’s vaguely clear who we’re going to be seeing a lot of.

What is extremely satisfying though is the art. The pop-art style is aesthetic and draws the eye in. Not to mention the great facial expressions everyone ends up sporting. You may not know who everyone is, but gosh, they sure do look good as they’re doing what they do. There’s a fantastic spread closer to the end that is intricate and detailed and rather impressive.

It also earns it’s more mature rating this issue, at first it seemed the art wasn’t really going beyond certain deformities of persons but they took it this issue, and it’s obvious they’re taking it all exactly where it needs to go, art and story-wise but done tactfully so in a way that’s not over the top. It’s not the most realistic (nor is that they’ve aimed for) but it’s certainly enough to get any fan of a little gore jimmied.

Like any new series it’s hard to make any concrete verdicts and is probably worth to pursue for a few more issues in. Issue two still leaves us with questions that by no means will probably be answered next issue, but it’s still building enough curiosity just to see how this story may play out and doesn’t make any turns that would turn a reader away yet.