Review - Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 (@AspenComics)


"But how? With our luck we'll be human traffickers by the end of the week."

The future is one full of potential. Flying cars, neon signs everywhere and the potential for criminal capers. Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 from Aspen Comics offers all of the above. The issue is written by Mark Roslan, illustrated by Angel Tovar, colored by Peter Steigerwald and Federica Bee and lettered by Zen.

The BubbleGun crew return for more high stakes jobs! Since the team rescued the group's newest member, the cyber boy Asher, from the corporate megalomaniac, Drazic, their world has been in constant turmoil! Devyn and Molli find their bandit crew forced to do the bidding of an underworld gangster, Sir Penny, after borrowing and destroying his favorite ship, The Dark Lightning. Yet, even if they survive Sir Penny's harrowing missions--how will they escape the clutches of a ruthless gangster plotting to kidnap Asher?!

The heart of Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 is the combination of criminal capers and a ragtag group of criminals. Roslan knows this and works within those parameters well, jumping back and forth between spending time with the characters as a family and the characters in the act of corporate espionage. The dynamic of the group shines through Roslan's dialogue and exchanges, offering some lighthearted banter to give the readers a sense of their relationship. The premise of the series isn't really different than the first volume, but Roslan has seemingly raised the stakes here. And the issue is paced very well, effectively balancing the character development with the plot development.

Tovar's artwork is bubbly and showcases an anime influence. There's an airiness in the way he illustrates the characters that emphasizes their ebullient personalities. The issue's opening also boasts plenty of action which Tovar follows handily, giving the reader a glimpse into just another day at the office for the team. Tovar presents a variety of scenery as well to set the book appropriately in the future. The colors by Steigerwald and Bee are vibrant and pop in a way that lends the "bubble gum" sensibility to the book's title.

Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 is a lot of fun. Devyn and Molli are forced to contend with the possibility of one more job before being free from Sir Penny, but chances are it won't be that easy. Roslan's script is appropriately upbeat and works in the right amount of whimsy and danger for the group. Tovar's artwork is lighthearted and fits the tone of the book well. Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 is a light read that could get heavier depending on much of a more prominent role Sir Penny's latest plan plays down the line.

Bubblegun Volume 2 #1 is available May 17.

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