REVIEW: ‘Snow Angels Season Two,’ Issue #2

Season Two is just getting started, and our main characters find themselves in a pickle when they unexpectedly meet humans outside the Trench. Snow Angels Season Two #2 is a ComiXology Original written by Jeff Lemire, with art by Jock and lettering by Steve Wands.

With the last issue ending with Milli and Mae Mae finding a giant robot, narrowly escaping the cold grip of death, and encountering the first humans they’ve seen outside of the Trench, Snow Angels Season Two #2 begins explosively. The strangers attack the robot and take Milli and Mae hostage. However, they’re surprisingly uninterested in the tarnished robot or the fact that the two girls were somehow controlling it.  And unable to understand their foreign language, Milli and Mae can only guess what’s about to happen to them.

It’s tough not to spoil this issue, so all I can say is that it’s definitely another example of some great plot build-up from Lemire. Seeing more humans is surprising, but what’s even more surprising is who they are and what new information they bring. But Lemire never shows his hand; there’s plenty more to learn and the breadcrumbs Lemire is leaving for us will make the cliffhanger at the end even more agonizing.

And while these new characters have plenty of information that both Mae and Milli are unaware of—like how much a lie the Trench actually is—it seems like the girls aren’t just in over their heads. They know things that these strangers don’t, and this keeps our main characters from becoming too weak in the face of all these new truths. While they aren’t in power here, they nevertheless still have their wits about them and Milli is just as mouthy as you would expect a teenage girl to be.

Suffice it to say, the dialogue stays true to our characters. Milli and Mae are constantly supporting each other; they’re the only family they have left after all. Their manner of speech is particularly apparent when compared to the other humans they interact with. It just adds that much more personality to their characters. My only qualm with the dialogue is that some of it seemed a bit extraneous, especially considering what happens towards the end of the issue. But while the dialogue and events don’t quite line up exactly, the dialogue nevertheless pushes the plot along so I can’t complain too much.

Jock has been the artist throughout this series so nothing should be a surprise in the art department. The chilly world of Snow Angels is perfectly brought to life under Jock’s hand. The world is made up entirely of ice and snow; the landscape is a wash of white and powdered blues that looks like it goes on forever. The robot and other humans are in stark contrast with the backgrounds, made up vastly of shadows and dark, earthy colors. While most of the panels are bathed in cool tones, the bit of technology pops off the panels with warmer tones. Overall, Jock’s artwork and colorwork have complemented well with Lemire’s tale from the very beginning and continue to do it justice even in Snow Angels Season Two #2.

Snow Angels Season Two #2 comes with some surprising new information that no one will see coming. But Lemire doesn’t reveal everything just yet. There are still plenty of mysteries to unveil and I’m excited to see what’s in store for Millie and Mae yet.

Snow Angels Season Two #2 is available now exclusively at ComiXology.com.