Written by: Ray Fawkes
Art by: Ray Fawkes
Published by: Image
After being left mostly confused by the first issue of Intersect, I was interested yet cautious when checking out the second issue. While the newest issue is still pretty disorientating, it feels a lot more comprehensible now. Fawkes gives us just enough information to somewhat grasp the situation at hand while still managing to creep you out with the idea of some unknowable terror.
The “previously” page in this issue helps lay out some concepts that were pretty tough to get a handle on last issue, and this introduction helped provide some context for the events happening and made the whole reading experience more enjoyable. That’s not to say the book is dumbed down or anything. The book is every bit as complex as last time and new mysteries and events are added to the book just as you think you’re getting it. Now, however, it feels you have a few instructions with which to put the puzzle together.
Outside of this, there isn’t much different from the first issue, but everything is just clearer now. This in turn makes some other elements of the book stronger; the horror for example. While the first issue definitely freaked me out with its body horror and unsettling art, now that I have a better grasp of the pandemic within the book, it manages to be even more horrifying as the concept behind it is incredibly creepy. Anyone who was disturbed by the events in the first issue and was intrigued enough to read on should definitely check this out, knowing more just makes it more unsettling.
The art once more remains a highlight of the book, managing to capture the unsettling nature and unusual structure of the narrative into a wholly original and unique art style. While there are a lot of pages that seem to have more blank space than last issue (maybe that’s just me though) there are still some stand out moments in this issue that convey a level of beauty compared to the horror of last issue. It really is a style that needs to be seen, and it’s simply beautiful to look at.
Overall, this issue is very similar to the first, except now it’s (thankfully) a bit clearer in what’s happening. For anyone who, like me, was intrigued by the first issue but found it frustratingly opaque, you should definitely check this one out. It seems to be opening up a bit more and revealing its concepts bit by bit. This won’t entice anyone who was completely turned off by the first issue or doesn’t like this sort of thing, but if you think Intersect #2 is your sort of book, then you’ll probably like it, and I recommend picking it up.
