The Cull #2 is a great second issue, opening up the fantastical world while further developing the characters. This series is quickly becoming my favorite fantasy series of 2023. The Cull is richly imaginative and deeply human. Read Full Review

This is turning out to be a unique character driven adventure. The relationships between the characters are well written and feel real. There is a sense of urgency as the group searches for clues to Jakeys location. The mystery of the world they have found themselves in is only growing and with the introduction of a shapeshifting being with the ability to communicate raises the stakes. Read Full Review

De Iulis delivers some beautifully detailed art throughout the issue. I am in love with the visual style of this series and how the art is lively as well as having pages and panels that could hang on the wall. Read Full Review

The Cull #2 does an excellent job carrying the momentum created by the first issue forward. The dynamic between the cast shines as much as the mysterious world they are exploring together. It all works to create greater investment in finding out how everything will turn out in this story. Read Full Review

This new issue of The Cull does a great job of balancing the different aspects that make the comic stand out. As the group ventures into the beautifully strange world, we get a more intimate look into the dynamics that tie them all together. Read Full Review

So are we going to move on? Okay, fine. Were in. The Cull is staying on top of my to-read list because the art is just so damn great and not all of the characters are idiots. Theyve got three more issues to make up for the eye rolling elicited by the middle of this sophomore installment. Read Full Review

Fortunately, the story and the personalities of these characters shine through any issues you might have with the illustrations. Read Full Review

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Review at (5:54) in link

After the debut issue set up an interesting concept and did a lot of character development, THE CULL #2 finds our characters exploring the new world they’ve stumbled upon, meeting new species, and making some questionable decisions.

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

Cleo's confession elicits more fear than anger from the group, and everyone sticks together into the great unknown. Sentient mushrooms for everyone!

REVIEW

Kelly Thompson carries the momentum created by her first issue and gives us a closer look at the mystery and wonder of this new world. Where she focused the previous issue on developing individual characters, she spends this issue looking at group dynamics and how they are handling the uncertainty of their current situation. We get to see some characters take on leadership roles, most notably Cleo, as they decide to keep going forward and exploring this new land.

After seeing some strange new species and wondering whether or not they’re in a parallel universe they’ll ever escape, the group decides to…split up to use the rest room? Every horror movie fan knows you don’t split up. I was shouting at the pages during these scenes, just waiting for something bad to happen. Instead, we get two intimate moments with two sets of characters. Kaite and Cleo share an emotional moment before making out, while Lux and Will have full blown sex in the middle of the sci-fi jungle. Keeping with the horror theme, my mind immediately went to the scene in The Cabin in the Woods where we find out the characters were being influenced to act stupidly and get their freak on in order to make their eventual deaths easier. I’m hoping that’s similar to what happens here because these scenes felt really off from the rest of the book’s tone.

I loved Mattia De Iulis’ art in the first issue but had a more varied reaction to it in this issue. On the positive, the depth and details in the visuals for this mysterious environment and it’s inhabitants are breathtaking and the color palette to to match is perfect. The human character designs in this issue felt off compared to the first book. I’m not sure if that was intended, given the new world warping things, but there were certain panels where a character’s face looked AI generated.

FINAL VERDICT

With only three issues left, there’s still a long way to go from where we are to where things end based on the teaser in the first issue. Hopefully Thompson won’t have to rush the plot along to get use from point A to point B because I find her character work (minus the random hookups in this issue) to be strong, though I am really interested to see the world start falling apart. I worry we’re about to get a lot thrown at us in a short amount of time or be left with a major cliffhanger.

RATING: 6/10 more

Kelly Thompson is always hit or miss for me. The artwork in this book is great--very cinematic. I was intrigued by the first issue even though there was very little story. Okay, I said to myself, it's character setup. I decided to give it another issue. However, once again, we have very little story. They step in the water, they don't even try to find a way back, just in case they are stuck there and then they have sex when their friends are waiting for them only a few feet away --- What? I won't be continuing this series. It's too off the wall.

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