Specs #2 is published by BOOM! Studios and created by David M. Booher and Chris Shehan. Booher writers issue #2 alongside artwork by Shehan. Colours are by Roman Stevens and letters by Jim Campbell. Main cover art (left) is by Skylar Partridge.
Specs #2 is available now in print and on digital where all good comics are sold.
Synopsis
Given their unwillingness to acknowledge the dangerous consequences of their recent wish, what does this mean for their victim, and what do they do with the glasses moving forward? Kenny fears that all of this may affect his and Ted’s relationship… and wonders if they’ll truly remain just “friends.”
Review
Be careful what you wish for… but if that wish is for an outstanding new character-driven story which feels like Stranger Things meets Stand By Me then Specs is a book you are going to want to read.
Last month’s debut issue introduced us to Kenny and Ted, best friends who quickly find that even the strongest of bonds can be tested by the darkness of secrets. On the face of it, Booher has crafted a brilliant story which feels rooted in classic, cautionary horror. Specs wouldn’t feel out of place as part of an anthology like Creepshow or perhaps, given its young leads, Goosebumps.
But look closely and Booher has actually brought a wonderfully nuanced level of character which these stories can often overlook. Neither Kenny nor Ted is simply a vehicle through which to tell the story. Their friendship is tangible to the reader which drives the knife even deeper when we discover in issue #1 that Kenny also harbours romantic feelings for his friend. Talk about heartbreaking!
The last issue saw Kenny and Ted come in to ownership of a pair of mysterious (and titular) specs which seem to grant them whatever they desire. The close of issue #1 saw the pair wishing their school bully, Skunk, disappear. Now we find them digging an even deeper hole whilst trying to undo what they did.
Booher injects some conflict into proceedings by having the pair differ on what to do next. The first issue hinted that Ted being the only black kid in a very white, middle-class American town. That theme returns this month as Ted paints himself the potential victim of any witch hunt to uncover what happened to Skunk. His fear, sadly, do turn out to be correct when the police pick up on the fight the two had on the day Skunk disappeared. The idea of that Ted – and his family – are singled out breaks through with full force at the conclusion of this month’s issue in a big way.
Layer that with Kenny’s overwhelming urge to protect his friend and love-interest and you’ve got a blockbuster story. Kenny’s actions in this issue come from a place of pure love for his friend. He acts more with his heart than his head and that seemingly only complicates things further. But in Booher’s outstanding story, Specs is nothing short of compelling.
Chris Shehan and Roman Stevens are the perfect companions for this journey. Specs has a wonderful 80’s aesthetic. The small town could be ripped from The Breakfast Club and yet its populated with a much more inclusive and diverse cast of characters. Environments feel lived in and well populated whilst both our lead characters instinctively feel like real people from the outset. I’m struggling to find anything to nitpick here…
Verdict
Specs is quite simply… perfect.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
