Sheriff of Babylon #2 –
Vertigo Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Mitch Gerads
Letters by Nick Napolitano
Cover by John Paul Leon
Ever since we interviewed Tom King on the show last year, I was looking forward to reading this series. With his background in the CIA, I was really excited to see how he would structure the story in a post-9/11 Iraq (actually based after the fall of Saddam in 2004.) The first issue was full of intrigue and that does not stop in issue 2.
Christopher is the American contractor and he is working with Nassir to return the body of one of his men to his family. The biggest question I asked when I read this issue is, who is on who’s side and what is their agenda? Another thing that amazed me was how different groups of people handled the situation they were in. Some were mortified, some appeared desensitized and others seemed to be in it just for personal glory. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s really interesting dynamic that is created. If you read the first issue though, you know there is more than one body at play here. In both cases the questions remain, and Sofia seems to be a key figure it both instances. Question is, was she behind the shocking ending to this issue?
What I love about this book is, there are so many great stories going on at once it’s easy to get lost in one or the other. I don’t find myself wanting to stay with one character or the other, and that is a credit to how Tom King structured their origins in Issue 1. The way Gerads captures the brutality and humanity together in this series is almost unparalleled, especially when stacked up with similar books. I feel like I’m right there with them, and I think that’s the best compliment anyone can give a creative team. I can’t wait to read more!
RATING: PULL