Review – Wild’s End #2 (BOOM! Studios)

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artwork/Lettering: I.N.J. Culbard
Release Date: 19th July 2023

After a relatively slow-paced opening chapter which focused on helping us get to know this new cast of anthropomorphic characters who have found themselves in the midst of an alien invasion in rural England, issue two of Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard’s Wild’s End resurrection begins… with more of the same, actually. That’s certainly not a bad thing though, and the opening pages of this issue feature the rag-tag crew of the Merry Beet exploring the now-abandoned coastal town of Gullstone Harbour in search of answers, with the creators gradually ramping up the tension with each turn of the page.

One thing that has always impressed me about Abnett’s writing is the way he can almost immediately foster a connection between the reader and his characters on the page, and in this case he has succeeded many times over, bringing each member of the ensemble to life with an understated charm and giving each one their own endearing quirks and foibles. From the increasingly absent-minded Skipper to Howie and Stevie, a pair of almost identical brothers who repeatedly finish each other’s sentences, each character feels unmistakable real, and it’s difficult not to feel almost protective of them – especially knowing what’s likely waiting for them around the corner.

Once again, Culbard does a fantastic job with the characterisation and expressions of each member of the cast. And for those readers who like their alien invasion stories to have a little more ‘alien invasion’ in them, feat not, because the final pages of this issue features the harrowing return of the menacing alien invaders. And boy do they make an impact right off the bat, showing off a few new tricks and giving Culbard the perfect opportunity to underscore just how surprisingly terrifying a walking lamp post can be.

Given my well documented love affair with the previous three volumes, it was unlikely that I wasn’t going to thoroughly enjoy this new release. However, putting my obvious bias aside, this is still a truly fantastic story, blending two seemingly disparate genres – old-school sci-fi horror and… well… talking animals – into a genuinely thrilling comic book series. I mentioned in my first review that I initially had some reservations that this release may not even be truly necessary given how well the first arc wrapped up, but honestly, this is matching the original series step for step in terms of stakes, tension and emotional investment. Highly, highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]