Review - Hypernaturals #2

Sometimes, being a Hypernatural isn't all it's cracked up to be. Such as when faced with an evil known as Sublime who has the capacity to wipe out the Centennials with the Nephilm Fragment. A problem that leads to the creation of a new team of Hypernaturals in Hypernaturals #2 from BOOM! Studios.

The second issue is written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with art by Brad Walker and Tom Derenick and covers by Francesco Mattina, Timothy Green II, Trevor Hairsine and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Bewilder and Thinkwell are in the throes of recruiting for the Hypernaturals. It not exactly like they have a choice in the matter, due to the aforementioned wiping out of some of the group's more storied members. Two of the newest recruits are Shoal and Half-Shell; one a little to scared to be in battle and the other a little too brash.

Two new recruits isn't enough, forcing Bewilder and Thinkwell to hit the recruiting road. They find two individuals with powers that have been down this road before, giving hope to the notion that a reasonable replacement team could be in the works.

The writing duo of Abnett and Lanning are crafting quite an intergalactic tale of superpowers here. Sublime's eradication of the Centennials was something of a surprise in the first issue, but it's paying dividends here in the second. It's refreshing to see the supervillain actually win every now and then, even though the first issue was shades of Megamind.

That is, Sublime wasn't supposed to win, but he did. Bewilder and Thinkwell have to pick up the pieces and rebuild, which creates some great tension in the comic. The flashbacks to Bewilder's early training also puts into context the gravity of the situation the new recruits are currently faced with.

There are also subtle touches regarding the story that you don't see in many other comic books. For example, the first page is a Q Data Link page, bringing the reader up to speed on the universe. There's a full-page ad offering tryouts to be a Hypernatural, imbuing the characters and setting with a sense of life.

The art by Walker and Derenick is also spot on. There are some great combat scenes in the issue with some creative solutions. Not only that, but the Hypernaturals are drawn to match their personalities, with each exhibiting an array of emotional expressions.

Hypernaturals is a superhero comic, but not in the traditional sense. The book is more about superheroes coping with human problems, much like BOOM! Studios' other work Superbia. It's a great book so far and, only two issues in, promises to be quite an intergalactic romp.

Hypernaturals #2 is in stores August 1.