White Sky #2 is written by William Harms and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by JP Mavinga, colours by Lee Loughridge and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Main cover art (left) is by JP Mavinga.
White Sky #2 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
After being violently separated from her father, Violet now faces the horrors of this world on her own. Unsure of what to do, she meets the unlikeliest of allies, a psychic-medium named Walter, who’s being held prisoner under the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza.
Review
Issue 1 of William Harms’ ghostly, post-apocalyptic tale got things off to a decent, if rather familiar start. Now, from the this second issue onwards, the hopes are that Harms and co can bring their concept to life and put their own unique spin on this rather tired sub-genre.
This issue picks up right after a tense cliffhanger and presents a truly dire situation for these characters. With David being held captive by bandits, the story shifts focus to his daughter Violet, who must now fend for herself and find the source of this mysterious voice in her head. More so than the first issue, the storytelling is most achieved through its visuals than its dialogue, and here it feels even more effective and emotionally driven.
With there being such heavy emphasis on the visual storytelling, the artwork really needs to deliver, and thankfully, JP Mavinga and Lee Loughridge outdo themselves here. Mavinga’s illustrations, just like before, are defined and perfectly utilise the empty space around characters and landscapes to both build up that fear of the unknown that’s palpable since the start, whilst also drawing readers’ attention to things of importance as well as minute details some may miss normally.
However, what really makes the images here pop is Loughridge’s simple but distinct use of colours. From the stained yellow appearance of exteriors to the muted greys of abandoned office buildings, every location is given a bold and unsettling personality just from these efficient splashes of singular colour tones. This approach is used to fullest during a tense encounter with a ghost that leads Violet to a room full of hanging corpses that bursts from the page with a rusty red glow.
Once Violet finds the voice she’s been looking for, things take a turn as she and her new acquaintance, Walter, must flee the bandits who had him tied up. Walter is a sympathetic character who seems increasingly scatterbrained at times due to the voices in his head, yet looks to have his heart in the right place. His origins aren’t explained, but are alluded to with hints here and there, something I assume will be explored in later issues.
Harms knows how to keep readers engaged as this instalment also ends on a cliffhanger where they’re both on the run and Walter seems to become possessed in a striking final image. Again strengthened by the art, this suspenseful chase is a heart-pounding way to conclude this issue and leave you wanting a whole lot more.
This series looks as if it’s finding its confidence and voice the more it goes on. This issue is bold and oozes with a sense of brooding unease that wasn’t evident beforehand, making it instantly more riveting in the process. If this is what White Sky has to offer within its first two issues, I cannot wait to see how it evolves from there.
Verdict
Issue 2 of White Sky hits the ground running, revelling in its pitch-perfect atmosphere and underlying tension. This second instalment instead doubles down on the horror, allowing JP Mavinga’s haunting artwork to do a lot of the heavy lifting.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
