7.5
The second volume of the Matrix comics collects 12 more stories and it also gives us 3 all-new never seen before comics. Just like I did with the previous volume - I'll review every single story and then form an overall rating.
Plus as a bonus I'll rate here some other Matrix webcomics that were never printed, but I won't include them in the overall rating of this book, of course.
"Farewell performance". RIP Tim Sale. It's so cool to see one of his rare works. Great story, actually. It's about an illusionists who told about the Matrix to some newspaper boy or something like that. I really see potential in so many more stories inside the world of Matrix... 8
Also I want to say that if the previous volume mostly printed the stories as they were, then this one has colored versions of the originally black and white stories. Tim's one for example was black and white online and it's still can be found in english only in this variant (and in very bad quality, actually). However, this exact TPB is available online in French (if you know where to search for it he-he) and you can check the coloring - it's great.
"Deja vu". Once again a colored version of the originally black&white story. The coloring is kinda not that good, but still it's better, than nothing. The story was cool too. It would be nice to see the future just like here, but the conclusion is depressing as always. 8.5
"System freeze". Another non-comic story by the writer I don't know. Well, that was kinda weird as well, but interesting enough for 7.5. There also were some new unseen pictures in the printed version. And they were cool.
"The king of never return". McKeever again. I dunno, this time it's just bad. The art doesn't fit here and it's really-really bad even in the colored version, but the original is even worse. The story isn't that interesting as well and the idea was not worth making a story of it. Just imo. It's 4.5
"An asset to the system". Fine art and story. Not a masterpiece, but good enough for 7.5.
"A path among stones". Cool and depressing story. I like how people who start to see the world as it is are called schizophrenics in the world of the Matrix. It's kinda funny even. And the art is very fitting here. I would say it's a 8.
"Run Saga Run". Another spoon boy cameo... And the Oracle is here as well... That was a cool action-packed story about a girl named Saga. 8.
"Wrong number". Very cool story! It's short and the art is awesome. But the ending is not good for the character again... 8.5
"Broadcast death". That's super touching... The artwork is weird, but not bad. And these kids are so stupid... But still it's very touching, so okay, let it be 9.
"Who says you can't get good help these days". Um... This is in the style of "Get it?" story and it's hilarious. Some guy wanted the Architect to rebuild his home cinema. Why not... 7.5
"Saviors". This story is kinda messed-up imo, but the art is fine. 7
"I kant". Kaare... His actually cool here. And this story is about "the Kid". Like, that guy who was a fan of Neo in the second and third movie. It happens after Neo died, but he's here in the Matrix. As well as the Trinity. Fine story, actually, Morpheus tells him everything he told Neo and I really see how much Neo matters for the kid. 8
I think the previous volume was kinda better, but this one is almost on the same level. Not bad, not bad at all.
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Bonus Matrix comics reviews:
"The man who knew too much". That's a pretty chaotic comic and I didn't really get it. But it's not a bad story still and the art is okay. 6
"Day in day out". Another Keron Grant's story. And that was cool. "Kinda" funny, but the end is really depressing if you think about it. But yeah, her wish was granted. 8.
"Morning Sickness". The story is about a Zion woman who... stole a fetus from the machines? Seems like that. Well, the art is fine, but really confusing sometimes. However, that was a dream based on a memory (as I understood), so it fits. 8 as well.
"Let it all fall down". Fine and kinda long story about a guy who could see the machine world through his program or something like that. It's a story about a sudden love, runaway and death. Not bad, actually, not bad. However, I personally think the love part was kinda lame... 7.5
"An easy one". Bad. Just bad. The art is a real mess. Almost like McKeever's. And the story is just what the hell... 3.5
"Return of the prodigal sun". This story has 2 parts and they are 24 pages on the whole. Just like a normal comic. The art was arguable, but the story - fine. 7 more