Steampunk #2

Last issue ended with Cole Blaquesmith saving a child, destroying a steam powered garbage truck and publicly shouting his name.  To you or me, that's no big deal - but in 1830's Absinthian England, that's a big no-no.

After a chat and a shave from Randy, Cole learns he was underground for 100 years.  We are treated to a writing lesson w/ Cole and a mysterious blonde woman (in flashback) until Cole is snapped back to the present by a man named Robert Peel - a freedom fighter, who is also a member of the aristocracy.  He tells Cole that he is to be the hero of the people.  Cole, still reeling from the shock of the length of his sleep, storms out.  Randy goes after him...

... and we cut to Absinthe talking to a member of the Church (he has a head like an old diver's helmet - creepy) and discover that Absinthe is working for something for the Church.  Rikk, our freedom fighter who got captured last issue, is rolled out sans arms and legs, and Absinthe reveals a switch on the back of Rikk's head marked soul...

... Cole asks Randy how things got that way - Randy says Absinthe came to power about 90 years ago.  Before he came to power there was no steam; ever since, the smog has blanked out the sun.  Cole visits a statue of Absinthe and realizes he knows the Monarch.  Flash back to our mystery blonde, coughing up blood and Absinthe saying he can save her.  A mysterious woman attacks Cole and they fight.  She revels herself as as Victoria, Queen of the savages, and tell Cole that there's a bounty on his head she is there to collect.  They fight until Cole drops over for some unknown reason.  Victoria is about to claim her prize when a mysterious voice introduces itself as Faust and says that the prize is his.

All around a solid issue - so packed with information my synopsis doesn't do it justice.  This series is so well thought out - from the subtle references to the 1800's to Absinthe's way of speaking - that it still (after a couple reads) leaves me felling satisfied.  The story is so bizarre, so out of the mainstream that it feels like reading a story by Pynchon.  Awesome.  One small complaint - some of the panels are so filled with detail, you loss the focus of the action.  That's not to say the art is bad - it's sometimes so good the brain has trouble processing the important parts.  This is a exciting issue that needs to be read like a post-modern novel - slowly and with the utmost joy.

Well, until next time - happy reading!


Credits

Joe Kelly - Writer

Chris Bachalo - Artist