Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem #2
Brandon continues his pilgrimage as Otto, and Global Freedom attack the Chinese concentration camps in Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #2, by writer Mark Millar, artist Tommy Lee Edwards, and letterer John Workman. Millar and company keep up the amazing work of the last issue, giving more teases and ending on a shocking moment that puts a wonderful bow on the whole thing.
In Africa, Brandon stops a group of soldiers from extorting a food shipment. Back in America, Barney Hutchence’s boss talks down to him when he wants to go home early for dinner with his wife on his birthday. At home, they talk over, and she reveals she isn’t pregnant, but they can keep trying. In China, Otto and Global Freedom free the Uighurs from the Chinese camp, battling against the government response until Utopian gets there… and then something else arrives, which leads to a flashback to aliens on Jupiter millions of years ago. Meanwhile, his wife and daughter talk about the device he rebuilt that the original Utopian had. On the Arabian Sea, Brandon is confronted by the three men who killed Powerhouse, and they have a talk about why he’s going on his “spiritual quest.”
There’s really so much that’s good about this book that it’s hard to really talk too much about it. There are two great surprises in it- the event at the end of the battle of the concentration camp and the ending. Both of these are set up for the future, and they’re brilliant, especially considering the events of the last issue. It’s also honestly nice that Millar didn’t play off the revelations from the first issue’s flashback… or at least not obviously. The flashback in this issue mirrors a scene from earlier in the comic and almost certainly has something to do with last chapter’s and the name of the comic and events from Jupiter’s Circle.
However, beyond those moments, there’s just a lot of great character stuff. Barney’s exchange with his boss highlights something that would happen to the powerless son of famous superheroes. The short exchange with his wife feels so real and raw, even though it stems from something that could never happen in the real world. The characterization throughout the issue is wonderful, and it all works. Millar balances character with action and great dialogue. From pithy jokes to emotional exchanges to steely resolve, Millar, as always, is great at putting words in his character’s mouths.
Edwards delivers yet again. All of the action looks amazing, but what really makes the issue is his face. He gets across the emotion of the character in each scene perfectly, and it sells the dialogue that much better. His colors are unique, really bringing something special to the proceedings. This issue looks terrific, and that’s all there is to it.
Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #2 builds on the promise of the last issue. It combines big superheroism that’s very much reminiscent of Millar’s time on The Authority and combines it with deft characterization and wonderful dialogue. Edwards’ art is just breathtaking throughout; his heavy linework is insanely detailed and sells everything. Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem is shaping up to be an amazing book.
