Comics! Reviewing Two #2s: Nowehere Men #2 and Judge Dredd #2

A Review of Two Issue #2s:

Nowhere Men #2 & Judge Dredd #2

Nowhere Men:
Eric Stephenson: writer
Nate Bellegarde: artist

Judge Dredd:
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Nelson Daniel
Artist: Brendan McCarthy

Solicitation and Preview - Nowhere Men
Solicitation and Preview - Judge Dredd

Review
Issue #2s can sometimes be a tricky bunch. The idea behind them is that they can begin the path of the main story, semi-resolve any type of cliffhanger that the first issue left you with, and try to have the skill to keep the interesting premise from the first issue to continue into this issue. Then try to interest you into buying issue #3, of course.

So here are two comics that I thought blended some of those elements. Let's take a look at Nowhere Men #2 first.

I spoke previously of issue #1 of this series needing to be a double issue to really get the ball rolling. Interestingly enough, we open the first page and on the back of the cover is where the story picks right up as if you never left. So I'll give it that it is a continuation of the first issue, but does it match up with other expectations of issue #2?

Interestingly enough, it doesn't. But that's not what I don't find  to be a let down with the book. For all the aspects that it has for being a continuation of issue #1, it really doesn't do too much to advance the story to anything interesting for me. A huge chunk of this issue is spend with the group of people stuck on the space station fighting to see if they should leave or go. There is one character who I believe is suffering from space madness, and him being conscious or not is what drives the plot anywhere near going forward. Outside of that, this issue really feels like it could have been trimmed in areas to move the story more along, and try to expand other areas. But it just feels really lack luster.

The tag line behind the book that I thought was interesting was "science is the new rock n roll." And you do get a Beetles vibe from when these scientists where popular, unfortunately it is all lost between the panels. We have either seen these guys when they are really young or really old. We missed the part when they were popular, and flashback stories aren't something that I really want to see right now. It gives it a Lost kinda vibe where it needs some legs of its own to stand on.

Judge Dredd #2, however, was something that kept my interests in all things Judge Dredd going. I have gone out and searched for some other Dredd work, and took it upon myself to watch the latest Dredd movie. This book definitely keeps me going with Dredd and wanting to see more. This issue focused on expanding some of the characters around Dredd while also finding a way to continue the robots gone crazy story from the first issue.

Between the two, I would say that Dredd definitely succeeded in making want to get the next issue and continue on with the book. Nowhere Men just seems like it isn't going anywhere in a direction that I'm finding interesting. That's sad to me, because it was something that I thought would catch my interests and keep things going for me.

Grades
Words: Nowhere Men - 6/10; Judge Dredd 8/10
Pictures: Nowhere Men - 7/10; Judge Dredd 8/10
Buy Next Issue: Nowhere Men - not so much; Judge Dredd is definitely getting a third issue.