I’m Giving Her All She’s Got, Cap’n! (We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #2)

We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #2
Written by Al Ewing

Illustrated by Simone De Meo

With Color Assists by Mariasara Miotti

Lettered by AndWorld Design

Previously on WOFTWTD

We are in the back half of the 24th century (a correction from the previous review that claimed it was the 23rd century) and a resource-deficient human race has started using the corpses of immense cosmic gods for valuable materials, harvested under the watchful and violent gaze of an intergalactic controlling government. Our main cast is a crew of four aboard the coroner ship the Vihaan II and the last issue ended with the captain declaring that in three days, they would find a living god.

 

This Time on WOFTWTD

More character building occurs through both a romantic/sexual relationship between Captain Georges and one of his crew members, and a couple of flashbacks that give us some juicy backstory bits. Georges and a government official (read: cop) named Richter have a complicated history, we learn, and it’s partially responsible for their rivalry that was hinted at in the first issue. This issue is about the crew deciding to follow Georges and why he has decided to hunt for a living god in the first place and ends with the hunt beginning.

 

My Thoughts

Last time, I mentioned I was already on board from the aesthetic and premise alone and that is still the case. The ending to this one has me chomping at the bit and counting the days until the next issue comes out. The characters are interesting to read and the art is colorful and crisp, just as it was in the last issue, and I am anxiously excited for the next issue. Since a fair bit of this was devoted to backstory and flashbacks, we didn’t get to move forward on the main plot much, but I don’t begrudge the book for it because the characters are engaging enough to make the flashbacks compelling on their own. Retro sci-fi visual elements are as welcome as ever, as well, with the warp tunnel reminding me of the slit scan VFX from the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.” This series continues to be worth every minute I’ve spent on it and is a trip I eagerly look forward to.

 

The Good:

• The art and colors are as enjoyable as ever.
• The characters are only getting more nuanced and interesting.
• Brother/Sister duos are excellent.

 

The Bad:

• Flashbacks inevitably hold the plot hostage when they’re used and it becomes more noticeable when one only has about 23 pages to work with
• Richter seems a little one-note right now, and the fourth crew member, Alice, has had little attention thus far

Ratings:

Art: 9

Characters: 9

Story: 7

 

Overall: 8.3

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