Uncanny Valley #2 is written by Tony Fleecs and published by BOOM! Studios. Artwork and cover are by Dave Wachter and letters by Pat Brosseau.
Uncanny Valley #2 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon ComiXology UK right here.
Synopsis
As the mystery of Oliver’s origins continues to unfold, the literal cartoonish realism of his existence has to somehow be connected to his mother’s origins in Burbank, California.
And with his uncanny powers setting him apart from the other kids, what will Oliver do to make his own way in the world?
Especially considering that there are sinister forces at play, watching from the other end of a portal…
Review
BOOM!’s latest original series is back today with its second issue. But whilst I try and understand where the last month has gone, writer Tony Fleecs is wasting no time in showing us just what this Roger Rabbit-esque premise is capable of. Make no mistake, Uncanny Valley is no classic cartoon nostalgia grab and this issue proves that in spades.
We pick up in issue #2 with Pecos Peet and grandson Oliver on the run from the cartoon crows. Oliver, desperate to know his his mum survived the attack on their house, isn’t interested in food but Peet has landed them at a truck stop and thinking with his stomach. The moment of relative calm gives Fleecs a much needed chance to dump exposition on the reader. Sprinkling just enough information to leave us understanding how a seemingly human boy and cartoon man can sit openly without crowds gathering to stare.
It’s fun to see the series no hyper focussed on setting up too much right from the outset. Instead Uncanny Valley has a measured approach which is building anticipation for a longer story. The lore around adult human perception of the cartoons is really simply explained and feels plausible. This plausibility allows the book to have a little more fun later on as Oliver explores his heritage. A scene in which Peet teaches him to unlock some of his cartoon DNA is cleverly written in its goofiness and that’s perfectly reflected in Dave Wachter’s artwork.
But it isn’t all fun and games. Further toying with the versatility of the premise, Fleecs is able to establish more dramatic elements when Peet crashes the car and sends both himself and Oliver off the edge of a cliff. Fans of classic Roadrunner cartoons with recognise key elements of that series’ plotting (and character) as they’re impressively incorporated against the book’s developing rules of existence. Tonally it’s a really fun story to experience and so-far feels unique to everything else currently on bookshelves.
Elsewhere we are able to pick up with Oliver’s mum as she escapes the bird attack and tries to pick up her son’s trail. It’s clear the series will explore more of the family backstory but with only breadcrumbs to pick up it’s more about their current actions for the time being. With any new series like this it’s important to give context to the relationships. But with a series like Uncanny Valley it’s a delicate balancing act to do that alongside explaining the lay of the land. I’d like to see more of these relationships moving forwards but for now I understand why it’s important to explore the cartoon aspects of the world.
There’s a fun cliffhanger to issue #2 which teases more of the cartoon aspects. We’ll have to wait for the big reveal next issue, but it certainly seems like we’ve going to see some more familiar faces moving forwards.
Hats off to Wachter who is able to balance to two worlds easily as well as Fleecs balances elements in the story. Like Roger Rabbit or Space Jam, the two worlds blend together seamlessly without compromise. The blocky colours of the cartoon-world characters stands out against the more nuanced “real-world” characters. There’s no room for confusion in this simple-yet-effective approach.
Verdict
The second issue of Uncanny Valley is a quick-witted and sharply written follow-up. It expands the series lore without losing focus on its characters or its story. Tony Fleecs is really setting up something unique here and I’m excited to see where it goes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
