REVIEW: ‘Crossover,’ Issue #2

Crossover #2 is published by Image Comics, written by Donny Cates, illustrated by Geoff Shaw, colored by Dee Cunniffe, and lettered and designed by John J. Hill. Following the first issue, Ellie and her boss Otto discuss what to do with Ava, the girl who escaped the Dome. Meanwhile, Ryan Lowe is brought into a secret government organization and given a perplexing mission.

This issue continues to build on the world set up in Crossover #1, showcasing more of how the “Event” affected normal lives. Comic book writers, including Saga‘s Brian K. Vaughn and Undiscovered Country’s Scott Snyder, once venerated for the work they did, are either missing or killed by angry mobs in this universe. Many of the heroes are locked up in secret black site prisons. And even more disturbing, people without powers who came over from the Event are being held without due process. Great fiction often has its roots in real-life issues, and Cates’ script plays on that. If we treat other people differently because of their skin color or who they choose to love, how would we react to beings from another universe?

Cates also utilizes a non-linear narrative, seeding hints for future issues. Within the space of this issue, we learn that the mystery of the missing comic book writers is a “second-arc storyline” and that Ryan and Ellie will fall in love. It’s the latter half that intrigues me the most, given that she verbally accosts him for burning down their store. How do you get from “f*** you?” to “I love you”? That’s something that has me eager to read future issues.

Shaw’s artwork continues to blend the fantastic and the mundane in equal measure. One such example concerns the super-prison containing multitudes of characters. You see flashes of familiar characters, including Spawn’s flowing red cape and Spider-Man’s webbed gloves. Combined with Cunniffe’s vibrant colors, it only serves to highlight how strange the world has become because of these characters’ presences. Shaw also gets to draw characters of all shapes and sizes, including those of the superheroic and regular human nature. Seeing a tall, athletic character like Batman compared to a greying older man like Otto is an example of all the different characters Shaw gets to play with.

Cunniffe uses color to highlight the characters and their outfits (or costumes); he also uses it to set the mood. Ellie and Otto are shown staring at the dome where the Event happened, sunlight reflecting off its violet curves. The prison Ryan is taken to has a deep blue, calming vibe that shifts to a hellish red when he meets its director. Before they even speak their first word, the reader will sense that Ryan is going to be in for a rough time. Color helps sell the comic’s visuals, and Cunniffe is definitely stepping up to the plate and showing that he can handle this weird, wonderful world.

Crossover #2 continues to build on the first issue’s events, showing what happens when fiction turns fatal and how humanity reacts. The next issue has been teased about being a monumental occurrence by Cates, and I’m more than ready to see what happens.

Crossover #2 is available wherever comics are sold.