Black Betty #2by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Betty defeats the trolls ... plural! The Musty Man arrives on scene a couple days later to have a weird interaction with the rescued girl.This a strong second issue. It concludes the rescue / fight with gusto. It shows us how Betty sometimes has to get tough with those who hire her. And, it introduces a new character that makes things even more bizarre. I'm loving it. Multiple trolls was an unexpected surprise that really upped the ante for this issue. Betty truly had to work for this win, but she was able to do it without resorting to her absorption power. Her narration during the fight lets us know that this power doesn't just give her tattoos -- it changes her. I'm all kinds of excited to see how this will play out in future issues! It's pretty straightforward in this one, but quite useful. The choreography of the fight is engaging like a movie, with a natural flow, some creativity on the fly, and realistic interaction with the terrain. The arm getting torn off the girl's brother is a great touch to up the horror and gore. However, it's not handled realistically with regard to shock, blood loss, the ability to hike back to town, not to mention the calm and totally unworried reactions of Betty and the girl. I love that Betty told the girl she would have to hold an unloaded gun to her head to avoid being stiffed by those who hired her, but we're shown that the shotgun was loaded! To know that Betty wasn't bluffing provides some real insight into her character. The Musty Man, as Betty calls him, is 100% creepy. And the fact that he scares Betty has me wondering how dangerous he really is. The introduction of the character adds even more depth to the story -- with it being shrouded in a whole bunch of mystery, given that Betty doesn't know anything about him either. There's a cover gallery that's a nice extra. It has the main cover and a bloodier version of it, as well as two other covers that are like pre- and post-battle versions of themselves (playing up the sexiness of Betty with a slightly risqué post-version) -- still safe for YA. Intriguing and exciting, with a creative team matched perfectly to bring this story and character to life, Black Betty is definitely a must-read. Written: March 14, 2018
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