Title: Cognetic #2
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Eryk Donovan
Release Date: 18th Nov 2015

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The second entry in James Tynion IV’s and Eryk Donovan’s so-called ‘Apocalypse Trilogy’ kicked off in fine style with issue one, and this second issue builds on the initial premise superbly, providing an insight into the extra-terrestrial origins of the ‘hive-mind’ and how it became entwined with the human race.

The first few pages are bat-shit crazy; like something straight out of a 1950s B-movie sci-fi. Opening on a huge alien brain that has crash-landed on Earth at the dawn of civilisation, we witness its attempts to engage the primitive people it encounters, before seeing it torn asunder by said people, who gain telepathic control abilities from devouring its flesh. From there, we’re transported to the present day, where two siblings from that pre-historic encounter battle for the minds of the populace in New York City, amidst scenes that are eerily reflective of the September 11th attacks.

Tynion IV’s concept of a mind-controlling entity capable of coercing humankind into destroying itself is most definitely a new one on me, but on deeper level, it speaks in quite a forthright manner about the current social and political climate. He incorporates into this issue the idea that perhaps man’s propensity for self-destruction may always existed, adding to his discourse in the first issue about the twisting of imagery and symbolism, and how that can be used to threaten our sense of security and advance a covert agenda.

But it’s the threat of losing our individuality that’s the real horror here, evidenced by a central villain capable of erasing the minds of his victims to create obedient, soulless automatons. The idea that we are merely cogs in a greater mechanism to be used for its ends is a truly terrifying one. Artist Eryk Donovan’s wonderfully twisted representation of that idea is a malevolent, cephalopod-like entity complete with ‘people tentacles’, which casts victims from the top of the Empire State. It’s just another cracking example of the fine work he’s done so far on the series, his bold, strong lines balancing the more abstracted characters throughout, and firmly grounded by Juan Manuel Tumburus’ suitably muted colours.

Tynion IV has expertly ramped up the tension and intrigue ahead of the series’ conclusion, closing the chapter with a central character on the horns of a massive moral dilemma, and a raft of questions unanswered. Cognetic’s final issue is one I won’t be missing out on.

Rating: 4/5

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The Writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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You can check out more of Martins reviews and thoughts on random retro things over at Retromuse

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