Mockingbird #2

Mockingbird, Issue #2 is a short story about Mockingbird, along with Lance Hunter, infiltrating the London Hellfire Club to foil an assassination plot.  Hunter has pledged the Hellfire Club, and has agreed to undergo torture to join the group.  It's all very S&M.  While Mockingbird is mostly about Agent 19's healthcare, this issue is important in it showing her in a heroic, devil-may-care adventure.  If she were just shown going to the doctor every issue and freaking out, the title would end up being, lame, pathetic, and pedantic.  I'm glad they did this issue.

This issue shows the fun, campy side of Marvel.  It is nowhere near as strong as Issue #1, and the main villain is hardly multi-faceted.  Her minions are literally dressed up in leather with masks (it is an S&M club), and Mockingbird and Hunter are dressed to match, although without the masks.  What makes Mockingbird so interesting is Agent 19 herself.  Although she seems mostly competent in this adventure, she's becoming an alcoholic, and she has other serious mental problems.

I always look at the hair of the characters when evaluating a comic.  In particular, Lance Hunter's hair is mostly the same black, but its highlights range from white to blue to dark gray, and they vary by texture.  Colorist, Rachelle Rosenberg has really done her job, as has artist, Kate Niemczyk.  I've written about VC's Joe Caramanga on multiple reviews, and his lettering is on point, as always.  What really rules about this comic is the way the background of the party seems just a tad out of focus, as if the candlelight isn't enough to see everyone clearly.  There's a lot that I'm probably missing.