Judas #2by Lori Marie BlairReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 10 It was impossible for me to resist the Biblical pull of Judas #2 the latest Boom! Studios' comic by writer Jeff Loveness. When I think of Judas, I think of Judas the betrayer, a weak-minded, greedy man who acted impulsively, and was doomed to live with shame and regret. Such terrific flaws! Surely, there must be a delicious story within the tangled crown of thorns depicted on the cover. There was. Loveness brought his best.Judas has joined Lucifer in Hell. A master manipulator, Lucifer has a plan; he divulges the details bit by bit through the issue. But first, he sets the stage. Lucifer explains no one really has free will, and that we are all players in the drama of life. Then he gets specific. He brings up the Pharaoh pointing out a piece of scripture that seems to absolve the Pharaoh of his actions. He speaks of Goliath and Jezebel asking the question "were they so wicked?". Lot's wife. "We never even knew her name," Lucifer said. How true. That story always bothered me. What was the great crime in looking back? When Lucifer shared his thoughts on the reason she was turned to salt I felt a little panic flutter in my chest. Could God be so unjust? Thick, bold lines, along with the palette of stone greys, sun-soaked reds and oranges, and cool slate blues, give a primitive feel to Jakub Rebelka's striking artwork. As if the story were set down in stone long ago. Absolute, understated genius. The artwork was again used for more than images when, in Hell, we are given several panels of warm reds one after the other. The effect made me feel the heat, and long for cool respite, that, when it came, was unfortunately accompanied by a heart-stopping revelation. Marvellous. Lucifer makes excellent points. He makes them so excellently I am reminded he is the daddy of temptation, of lies. But those are just stories, he protests. So, help me, God, I'm inclined to believe him. I must make one more mention of how synergic the words are with the art. The weaving of Jesus' last words on the cross with Lucifer's final reveal set my heart racing it was so well done. The image of Jesus falling from heaven like holy meteor to bet set down, so naked and bare, his eyes full of sorrow gave a deep sense of anguished foreboding. And a little plea from me, please don't hurt him. Judas isn't for a faint Christian heart as it challenges some fundamental aspects of faith. For example, when asked by Lucifer how it felt to be with Jesus, Judas gave a shocking, sacrilegious response. I could feel my eyes bug in surprise. That said, I have a Catholic background, and I relished every page. Judas resembles a Neil Gaiman / Clive Barker mash-up, in other words, you're in for a fantastical tale. Written: January 7, 2018
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