Last month I gushed over Book Of Death: Legends Of The Geomancer #1, and the absolutely beautiful artwork that you could find within the comic. Book Of Death: Legends Of The Geomancer #2 is just as stunning to look at, and continues to tell the story of the genesis of the first ever Geomancer.

Writer Fred Van Lente delivers another excellent chapter in a story that would be worth reading regardless of the artwork, and you don’t need any prior knowledge of the Valiant Universe in order to enjoy this miniseries, which is shaping up into a fantastic four issue story.

As good as the story is, however, where Book Of Death: Legends Of The Geomancer #2 really shines is in the artwork.

Juan Jose Ryp’s pencils and inks continue to impress, and he is able to convey a chaotic fight scene without loosing, or confusing, the reader. Combine this with Jordie Bellaire’s colours and you have a match made in  comic book heaven that really comes together toward the end of the comic. As brilliant as the pencils and inks are, when Jordie Bellaire gets to work adding the colour the pages are just gorgeous.

I said this last month, but it bears repeating; even if you’re only slightly familiar with Valiant and their heroes, don’t be afraid to read this comic. The story set in the Stone Age has none of  Valiant’s big name characters in it (of course we’re only on the second issue), so if you’ve no idea who those characers are then it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to know anything about them to enjoy this comic. This miniseries continues to impress, and if I’m totally honest, I think I prefer it to the Book Of Death, if only because of the art style.

This is a great miniseries. It’s a true shame that it won’t be read by as many people as it should be.

You see in order to be able to read this comic, then your Local Comic Shop must satisfy a certain numerical order on Valiant’s main event series Book Of Death, and many retailers (like my own) simply don’t have the readership required to even qualify to order this book in, and that’s a shame. It’s a shame that so many people won’t have the chance to read this print only comic that, apparently, won’t appear in trade format. Were it not for the free review copy Valiant sent to Graphic Policy, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to read this series.

If you do get a chance to read Book Of Death: Legends Of The Geomancer #2, then take it.

Story: Fred Van Lente Art: Juan Jose Ryp Colourist: Jordie Bellaire
Story: 8.25 Art: 9.75 Overall: 9.25 Recommendation: Buy (if you can find it)

Valiant Entertainment provided Graphic Policy a FREE copy for review