REVIEW: 'Two Moons' #2 by John Arcudi, Valerio Giangiordano, and Bill Crabtree

 "THE IRON NOOSE," Part Two-Facing a court-martial and execution at the hands of the Union Army, Virgil must depend on the enemy to save his life.

 

TWO MOONS #2

Writer: John Arcudi

Artist: Valerio Giangiordano, Bill Crabtree

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: March 31, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

After the explosive ending to 'Two Moons' #1, issue two finds Virgil aka Two Moons, in custody for shooting the sergeant. Falsely accused and facing at least a court martial an unexpected vision and unlikely alliance put him on a new path. 

Virgil is really a lost soul amid this conflict between North and South. He's in service to the Union despite the constant harassment from his fellow soldiers but a worthy asset to the Confederacy because of the perceived murder of the Union sergeant. Yet, he's not a white man and while he comes from Pawnee heritage he wasn't raised that way. Raised by white schoolteachers, Virgil is a man caught between cultures, between dueling factions of mostly white men, and an identity that's being pulled in different directions. John Arcudi makes sure that the Pawnee spirit helps to guide him whether he wants its guidance or not. 

Two Moons is undoubtedly a hero. He leans on doing the right thing, the just thing. He's merely a pawn of this war but the Pawnee spirit continues to shine through. And that is what makes the comic interesting. The journey of his identity feels most compelling. Sure, the supernatural stuff doesn't hurt and the violence is part of the story but Virgil embracing his Two Moons identity is the end goal. 

Valerio Giangiordano and Bill Crabtree have put together one of the finest looking Western comics as any we've seen. It harkens back to Old Western comics that were gritty and highly detailed. The soldiers look dirty and weathered by war and pain. The lines on their faces tell its own story. These are hardened men and it shows. The landscape is stark, unyielding, unforgiving. The town is your typical center of brutality and gun play. There's an authenticity to it because we've seen these places before in movies and television so it's familiar but hardly ever told through the eyes of a Native character.  The scenes of mysticism really stand out with this other-worldly flair that's transportive and ethereal. 

'Two Moons' #2 continues to evolve around Virgil's struggle between armies, between cultures, and his own identity. He's guided by his Pawnee roots which he reluctantly encounters but may well save his life. 'Two Moons' is a fascinating story from a viewpoint not often seen made all the more compelling by the fantastic detailed art.