After the explosive conclusion to issue 1, Ted confronts Sarah and confesses that he believes his workplace, Ayn-Styne, is overrun with aliens engaged in a nefarious plot. Seeing that he needs friendly support, she commits to helping him investigate…without confessing that her job is, in fact, to spy on him. Her interest is piqued, however, as Ted unexpectedly uncovers evidence of a massive conspiracy deep within the bowels of the massive Ayn-Styne building. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, journalist Kyle begins to interview the mysterious trillionaire–and Ayn-Styne founder–Noah™. Is Ted Ok? #2 feels like a trippy conspiracy theory spinning out of control.

You might want to drop some acid before reading Is Ted Ok? #2… actually, that might not be a good idea. Written and art by Dave Chisholm, the second issue feels like diving into a mind-trip of an experience with a large dose of Philip K. Dick. The issue focuses on on Ted and Sarah after the explosive end to the first issue that left Ted… alive!? From there, Ted finds secret panels, is convinced there’s an alien conspiracy, and we learn about the formation of the mysterious dome. It all comes together for an issue that makes the X-Files conspiracy look straightforward and clear.

The art and lettering by Chisholm adds to the madness of it all where the reader lingers on panels and pages in search of small clues to tell us what is going on and what is reality. There’s a lot thrown in here visually, and not a lot explained, leaving the art to tease the grand weirdness of it all like a fevered dream spirally out of control.

Is Ted Ok? #2 is weird, strange, and sucks you in wanting to know more. It’s a series that doesn’t lay things out with each issue, building upon the madness for whatever is to come. You get glimpses, much like Ted, of this reality, without anything being clear. Like Ted, the reader is left to guess, ponder, and build their own conspiracy as to what’s going on. So far, this is going down as a modern sci-fi classic that evokes some of the greats that have come before.

Story: Dave Chisholm Art: Dave Chisholm Letterer: Dave Chisholm
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

---

Purchase: Kindle