It’s big trouble for Paul and Castor Wahng when their telepathic poker hustle catches up to them. And as usual, Paul pays the price for Castor’s brash actions. Now Paul must fight for his life through the bustling streets of Seoul! Royals #2 is a solid second issue that really focuses on its main characters and also gets things rolling for the action we know is coming.

Royals is an entertaining series that delivers a concept that you wonder why it hasn’t been done before. After their gambling winnings in the first issue, Paul and Castor are celebrating in their own ways. Writer Derek Kirk Kim keeps things focused giving us a great idea of each brother’s personality as they go back and forth while they celebrate. One is focused on a date with dinner and what seems like a rather normal girl. The other is having a threesome and having to deliver the details to his brother trying to get him to join in on the fun. It’s clear who we should be cheering on and which we should be slapping our heads over their actions.

But, once we have that down, the comic moves into action and getting us to the meat of the story. With their winnings, and clearly up to something way of achieving that, they’ve pissed off the wrong people who want revenge. While getting their money back is the obvious direction for the series, Kim gives us something unexpected and with that also questions how the brothers’ telepathic abilities will help them achieve it. It’s a direction whose details are unexpected.

The art by Jacob Perez is solid. The issue’s style just fits for the mix of action and comedy. Perez also delivers things just up to the line. The issue’s first bit is an interesting contrast between the two brothers and Perez’s art really emphasizes that. We get one having a nice dinner while the other is sending photos from a threesome. It’s a perfect contrast but also teases the more salacious acts instead of going all in and focusing on them. The art really helps nails down what we should think of the two and how they differ. The action is great with some solid comedic moments and a flow that’s fun and exciting visually.

Royals #2 is a fun and exciting second issue that picks up on the setup of the first while taking things an an intriguing direction by the end. During all of that, it also narrows in on its characters so we can better get to know them and figure out what to expect.

Story: Derek Kirk Kim Art: Jacob Perez
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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