Rising star Nick Spencer adds another hit to his rapidly growing resume of mainstream successes with T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2, following up on the series' entertaining debut with another layered, energetically told superhero story that takes an obscure Wally Wood creation and makes it relevant, fresh and instantly appealing. Spencer is even able to improve upon that exciting first issue by adding a sense of tragedy and humanity that wasn't really present in the heavily stylized set-up and rapid-fire action of the initial installment. Here, Spencer constructs a fully realized, very sympathetic character in the course of his flashy, fast-paced storytelling and high concept ideas.
Issue #2 continues the story of the titular team's mission from last issue, but takes an extended break from that plot to detail the backstory of the team's new super speedster Lightning, who Spencer cleverly casts as a member of the famous Kenyan tribe that has produced a disproportionately high number of the world's great modern runners. In addition to his captivating construction of this character, Spencer also delivers an incredibly powerful depiction of a man who is literally racing towards his death every time he uses his government-issued super powers. This sequence is by far the issue's high point, not only because we sympathize with the character thanks to the way Spencer builds him from the ground up, but also because of the unexpected, wholly inspired way the writer shows us the hero facing his own mortality.
The art is drawn by two pencillers, Cafu and ChrisCross, but is thankfully an all too rare instance of a comic splitting up art duties in an effective, reasoned manner. Cafu draws the present day scenes while ChrisCross handles Lightning's back-story, and both artists provide stellar work.
This is a great new series told with flair, style and heart. Get in on the ground floor now before you find yourself wondering why so many critics are singing its praises.
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It ain't over till the fat lady sings. And in the case of ev...
