Review: One Nation #2
Every great hero has a great villain. In real life, there is no person that is all good or all evil. That is why the dichotomy between Professor X and Magneto is so compelling. Many essayists like to compare them to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, which I find to be a lazy contrast. Their relationship was a bit more nuanced and was aligned together at one time where MLK and Malcolm X were never aligned in any of their views. That is why when readers find a good antagonist, they can be more intriguing than the hero, like in the Black Panther film.
In 133Art’s second issue of One Nation, we meet our hero’s rogue. Who are ‘the Tenth’ and what do they want from our hero!
We are taken to 1991 Los Angeles, where a young man gets pulled over for simply being black in a white neighborhood, right before a tragedy occurs, Paragon steps in and sends the police on their way. We find out exactly how he gained his autonomy, becoming the United States military’s super-powered being, going on missions only he can carry out with reduced casualties. Which brings them from Kuwait to Los Angeles, carrying out missions domestically which local law enforcement can’t? By the issue’s end, we find Paragon facing a new threat and we meet some of his super-powered team.
Overall, an action-packed issue which dives deeper into this world. The story by Jason Reeves and Alverne Ball is exhilarating. The art by Reeves and Luis Guerrero is beguiling. Altogether, an excellent issue of this hero and his journey.
Story: Jason Reeves and Alverne Ball Art: Jason Reeves and Luis Guerrero
Story: 9.8 Art: 9.7 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy