In Reborn #2, we get a deeper look at the world where people go when they die. It is much like Heaven and Hell, or in this book, Adystria and the Dark Lands. Adystria is for the good, and the Dark Lands is for the bad. This is not just for humans, but for pets as well. We saw with Roy-Boy, Bonnie’s dog that died years ago joining her and her father, Big Tom in Adystria in the first issue. Oh, and speaking of pets, this issue has Bonnie’s former cat who is now known as General Frost serving the big bad, Lord Golgotha, the leader of the Dark Lands. That’s right, a cat General with the ability to bring ice spikes from the ground. Maybe I got a little to excited at this reveal, but again, it’s a cat who’s a General, and he’s not happy about that time he got fixed at the vet.

Mark Millar is no secret to epic stories, and he is setting up a massive fantasy tale here. Bonnie’s father, Big Tom, explains to his daughter she is the chosen one. Much like Bonnie, we still do not know why. There’s a special sword for her and apparently all of the people and pets of Adystria have been waiting for her, and they plan for her to lead them to war against the Dark Lands. A lot of people from Bonnie’s past appear, and it makes me wonder why is this world built so much around Bonnie? If this is a land for people to go when they die, why are so many of the characters revolving around her life? I am quite sure we will get those answers soon, and it made for a very fun and interesting issue. Big Tom did say this world was ten times the size of the Earth, so that could answer some of these questions, but even the Queen of the Faeries was a close friend of Bonnie’s. So far, this world is very connected to her.

Greg Capullo always impresses me, and his style is always recognizable. He does a fantastic job again in this book, filling the world of Adystria with colorful flora and fauna. There is a massive treehouse that fills two pages and is absolutely awesome to look at. It was fun to look at all of the little creatures that were drawn into the background. If you blinked you may have missed them. When we arrive at the end of the book, Capullo shows how well he can adapt his style. The bright greens, blues, and browns of the lush valleys and waterfalls of Adystria are replaced with the greys, reds, and blacks of the streets of the Dark Lands. The artwork and colors alone show you a land of hope versus a land of despair. Lord Golgotha is drawn as a hulking and intimidating villain, and makes me think there was some inspiration from Tim Curry in Legend. We’ve seen what Capullo is capable of before, and I cannot wait to see more characters from him.

If you love fantasy, then this book is absolutely perfect for you. I love that we aren’t just getting another by the numbers genre book, but something where there is a larger mystery going on with a ton of unanswered questions. What are Bonnie’s powers? Who was Lord Golgotha in a past life or was he always here? Are people who they say they are? Why do people come into this world at different ages, and not at the age when they die? I plan to find out by continuing to read this excellent series, and you should too.

Story: Mark Millar Art: Greg Capullo
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review