ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Bettie Page,’ Issue #2

Bettie Page #2 is published by Dynamite Entertainment and written by David Avallone (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark) with art by Julius Ohta (Sherlock Holmes), coloring by Ellie Wright, and letters by Taylor Esposito.

Previously, we left off with Bettie, now a government agent working with the British, tracking down the missing Queen of England and finding herself in the middle of an alien encounter. With her partner being blasted, Bettie Page must get herself out of danger and continue the investigation while unraveling new clues and answering new questions all while keeping the British public none the wiser.

In this issue we see Bettie rely a lot on her quick thinking while sneaking around and avoiding both alien and human detection. After being driven off the road and watching Agent Byrne be disintegrated, Bettie steps into action and doesn’t waste one moment. After waiting for the aliens to attack again, they are oddly quick to retreat despite shooting at the vehicle previously. Bettie armed with nothing but a large stick whacking an alien in the head is a sight I did not know I needed until I saw it on the page.

Bettie Page #2 is a mix between the female-led James Bond of my dreams and the Sci-Fi alien movies that dominated the 1950s. Page’s character is charming, feminine, and adorably witty. My favorite part about Bettie Page is she is not a femme fatale. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good femme fatale and a lot of my favorite female character tick that box, but is always refreshing to see women, particularly women in espionage be portrayed as more.

Outside of the panels, Bettie Page had a larger than life personality and was sex-positive icon for women (and men around the world) so it is touching to see that reflected within the context of this story.

Bettie Page #2 features fantastic art by Ohta that honors a lot of Page’s signature style, including her rockabilly bangs and winged eyeliner. Her signature style helps her stand out on the page even if she is in the background or undercover. During her life, Bettie Page was regarded as a breathtakingly beautiful woman so seeing her drawn just as exquisitely was fantastic. Page throughout the comic is also very expressive and a lot of panels reminded me of Sci-Fi posters from the 1950s. Additionally, Wright’s coloring helps to accent Page’s dark features and the overall aesthetic of the comic.

Overall, Bettie Page #2 is a goofy and fun extraterrestrial spy adventure featuring a beloved icon. This comic is yet another example of Dynamite Entertainment’s commitment to updating famous comic leading ladies for new audiences and a new generation. Bettie Page is a book I find myself looking forward to and I cannot wait for the next issue to hit shelves.

Bettie Page #2 is available in comic book stores February 13, 2019.