Review - Double Jumpers #2

Avatars have effectively bridged the divide between human and video game. We're not quite at the point where you can switch places with your avatar, unless you're one of the developers trapped in the world of Double Jumpers #2.

The second issue is written by Dave Dwonch and illustrated by Bill Blankenship. It's published by Action Lab Comics (of Princeless writer Jeremy Whitley of Eisner Nominee fame, the work which is being reprinted as a trade paperback collection).

Jason Mulliet, Maxine Sinclair, Andrew Reyes and Milo Jenkins are trapped in Dungeon Lords 2: The Darkheart Chronicles, their latest game set to be unveiled at E3. On the flipside, their avatars from the game have inhabited their bodies in real life and naturally both groups are getting comfortable with their new worlds.

The developers have learned that there's a way out of the game in reaching the kill screen, which, as any gamer knows, is no easy task. They set out on the quest, assuming that since they created the game it should be fairly easy for them to crack it.

In the real world, the previous inhabitants of the game are coming to grips with modern amenities like buffalo wings, credit cards and a seemingly endless stream of beer. They have a slight altercation with some rivals of the aforementioned developers and both groups go on their merry way, blissfully unaware of the full gravity of their situations.

Dwonch has kept the same feel from the first issue, which is great. There's an obvious parallel in how both issues start, introducing the reader to a new cast of characters and serving as an anchor in reality of sorts for the reader. He's toned down the language a bit where it feels more natural as opposed to the first issue.

The concept continues to be fascinating and there's plenty of intrigue in what will happen to both the developers trapped in the game and the characters of the game trapped in the real world. It's a pretty standard "fish out of water" story and the real fireworks will likely go off when the two groups encounter one another.

Blankenship's art is sort of zany and very vibrant, really helping to set the tone for the book. It must have been a little tiresome to essentially draw the same character models for almost every panel, but he does enough to help differentiate the two groups to avoid confusing the reader. His characters show very vivid facial expressions, again accenting the dialogue.

Double Jumpers is only a four issue miniseries and the second issue moves the story along in a great direction. The developers and actual Dungeon Lords are hurtling towards that inevitable meeting that will likely have great implications. This is a solid second issue that will be worth checking out when it hits stores in August (Diamond Code JUN120756). Interiors below.





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