Peralta's art does a great job of matching the light, but edgy tone of the story. Read Full Review

The minute I saw the cover to this issue, I knew that Strikeforce #2 was going to be excitement from start to finish. There is never a wrong time to take us back to Las Vegas to indulge in the demons, debauchery and action. Well, let's just say it how it is, decapitations. Because with a team like this? You love the action for the lack of restraint they tend to use. Read Full Review

Strikeforce #2 is fun & exciting for all with an open mind! Read Full Review

Now This what I was hoping for in a Strikeforce series! After a very slow start, issue two really hits the mark! Great character moments, with Jessica Drew stealing the show! Read Full Review

Strikeforce #2 felt more “complete” than the first issue. The writing is a little tighter and feels more “comfortable” with these characters and the direction of the story. The art also conveys a more settled approach as well. The change in colorist for me really helped the series find that horror tone. While not perfect, Strikeforce #2 greatly improved upon the first issue and the more I think about Strikeforce #2 the more I like it. This is a great cast of different Marvel heroes and the creative team seems to be settling into this series quite well after the mixed first issue. Read Full Review

This was a solid second issue that continues the adventure of the #1, but it needs to get a clear direction. The art is spectacular and is carrying the atmosphere and keeping it fromfeeling like a stale team-up title. With the cliffhanger, perhaps the story will start to pick up. Especially given who graces the cover of the appropriately named next issue, DOOM. Read Full Review

The best part of the issue is without a doubt Strikeforce's members and their interactions with one another. The writer, Tini Howard, picked some pretty interesting characters to team up and has a good handle on all of their characterizations. Read Full Review

Strikeforce 2 was definitely a step back from issue 1, as a lot less happens and the Vridai have yet to distinguish themselves from the Skrulls. Thing about it, the Vridai are exactly the same as the Skrulls and while I’m reading this I can’t help but think that Howard is just writing Secret Invasion all over again. Anyways, Howard writes Jessica and Wiccan fantastically, and Peralta’s art was great. Oh, and of course Angela and Satana kissed. Just of course they did. Everybody is gay now

Comics like this are dragging me around to the opinion that making Jess Drew a mother was a strategic error. Writers don't want to ignore that fact, but these ham-handed "have I mentioned I'm a mom today" lines aren't much of an improvement.

This was fine. I'm surprised Mephisto didn't show up.

Hrrmh!

The second issue is certainly more linear and has a greater pace than the debut but something is still not quite clicking for me. I’m certainly not giving up on Strikeforce as it is fun and has a great premise but it just feels inconsequential.

Nothing wrong with it being just a bit of a romp per se, but we have been advised within the story by Blade, and by the marketing team for the book, that this is terribly important end of world stuff and that the stakes are excruciatingly high, and sadly that element is mostly conspicuous by its absence.

For example, Jessica Drew has some great one-liners this time around which are fairly funny, but this approach coupled with Blade’s later rebuke about her not paying attention conspire to make her look pretty vacuous, undercut her supposed detecting skills, and strip away even the slightest hint of danger. Her gift of snark was always self-depreciating and a way to deal with her own trauma, but she was always highly empathic to underdogs and victims. Here, the look at him line towards Billy positions Jess as part of the group being “antagonistic” towards him, whereas old Skool Jess (at least up to and including Kelly Sue) would have found a way to be kinder.

The Angela/Satana match up is fun and works because it’s also integral to the plot, and is character based in a believable, even heartfelt way. The sharp team up between Monica and Bucky, who get the best action scenes this time around, is also great as it brings out the best in the both of them.

Blade seems a little saddled with the Basil Exposition role but looks badass at all times so carries it well.

The plot doesn’t advance too far, but does pick up some traction once the team lose one of their own, and the stakes suddenly seem marginally higher.

If the book continues in its inoffensive jokey way then I shall just get onboard with that and take it as it comes. But I am still hoping for something with a bit more bite. I want to feel the terror, not just be told in story that it exists. We shall see.


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This was still jumbly, I dunno.