BOOKLIST (STARRED) -- The first volume of C.O.W.L. (2014), about a
unionized group of superheroes in 1960s Chicago, was arguably one
of the best graphic novels of the year for its unique concept and
abstract art, and this sequel handily lives up to its predecessor.
With the death of a key member of the C.O.W.L. team and the return
of supervillains to the streets of Chicago, C.O.W.L. director
Warner manipulates city hall into a more favorable union contract,
with the rest of the team hanging in the balance and paying the
price for his actions. Higgins and Siegel refuse to spin their
wheels and instead drive the arc forward with full force, pushing
already tested characters to even further limits. At its best,
C.O.W.L. reinforces its narrative that, even in a world of
supervillains, the true villains exist in shades of gray, not
necessarily purely evil but driven by greed or self-promotion.
Reis' artwork does not disappoint, perhaps becoming more
appealingly unconventional as he experiments with dynamic color
schemes and shading, shifting seamlessly among styles that
perfectly suit the scene and elevate the breakneck storytelling.
Although it's best to start from the beginning, new readers
certainly won't mind, since this series is one of the smartest,
sharpest, and most visually stunning currently out there.
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