I loved the first issue of Artifacts and the second issue slows down a bit to allow reflection for the traumatic events in the first issue.  For as much as a roller coaster the first issue was, the second is the exact opposite.  It sets the emotional path for the rest of the event series.  This is beginning of the cathartic rage that’s about to be released.

The Event FIVE Years in the Making!
Thirteen mystical Artifacts will guide the fate of the world. Thirteen Artifacts will destroy the world. A mysterious being has taken Hope, the daughter of Sara Pezzini, the Witchblade bearer, and Jackie Estacado, the Darkness bearer; but his intent remains in shadow. As the two frantic parents search for their missing child, other players including Dani Baptiste, the Angelus bearer, Tom Judge, Magdalena and others are brought onto the board.

From Top Cow Universe architect Ron Marz (Witchblade, Angelus) and Top Cow superstar artist Michael Broussard (The Darkness) comes an event series, which will literally shake the Top Cow Universe to its foundation. Featuring a gorgeous cover by superstar artist Ryan Sook (Wednesday Comics) as well as a variant cover series featuring each of the 13 Artifact bearers by John Tyler Christopher (Witchblade).

Each issue will also feature a Top Cow Origin backup written by Marz and drawn by a superstar collection of artists.

Written by Ron Marz, there’s some great scenes, and the art by Michael Broussard is amazing.  We’re only two issues in and I’m sucked in.  While I wish there was a bit more emotional reaction from some of the characters the direction is logical and events unfold as you’d expect.

Definitely a good issue for what seems like it’s going to be an impressive event.

Plot: While there’s some odd reactions by people, and some others didn’t react enough, Marz weaves a decent second chapter.  There’s a lot going on with this event and a lot of characters need to be brought together, and that’s the point of this issue.  It sets the emotional base and gathers the key players.  While it might not have the “holy shit” moments of the first, it’s definitely a good second chapter.  It has a mission and achieves what it needs to do.  Rating: 7.75

Art: Broussard’s art is amazing.  If you don’t care about the story, it’s worth the purchase for the art alone.  There’s a lot of different characters that need a lot of detail and he nails it.  My only issue at all is some of the male characters look a bit too similar, but other than that, very nice.  Rating: 8.25

Overall: The second issue has a goal, gather the players and get the emotional build going.  It does that quite well and continues the story that was launched with a hell of a bang.  This event looks like it’s going to be an impressive one, and something you should be checking out.  Overall rating: 8

Recommendation: Buy

Page count: 32 pages    Price: $3.99     Release: Wednesday 9/29/2010

Top Cow provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.