REVIEW: 'Ordinary Gods' #2 by Kyle Higgins, Felipe Watanabe, and Frank William

Christopher gets the 4-1-1 on his awakened life as a reincarnated immortal. It's a lot to take in and what he learns about his sister might be too much to handle. 

ORDINARY GODS #2

Writer: Kyle Higgins

Artist: Felipe Watanabe, Frank William

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: August 11, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

"Do you remember the tower? The snow?"

Twenty-four hours ago, Christopher Becker was living a perfectly normal life. Today, plucked from his home, his old life in ruins, he'll learn the incontrovertible truth about the world and his place in it.

And then he'll remember the tower.

Score: 

★★★★☆ (4/5)

After a fast-paced first issue that explained the history of reincarnated immortals fighting an endless war across time and space, issue two slams on the brakes to give a mourning Christopher a chance to absorb his awakening. 

The shocking climax of the first issue was such a breathtaking event it's a lot to process as a reader but also for Christopher who saw his sister Brianna go berserk and viciously kill their parents. He wakes up in a facility that he thinks is a hospital only to find himself trapped on an island. Two of the awakened immortals calm him down long enough for a sit-down. The issue is mainly a history lesson for Christopher as well as how he and his sister fit in all of this. It's an interesting shift in the narrative by Kyle Higgins from the action-packed debut but it's a necessary expository debriefing for the character and the readers. What makes it and keeps it interesting is the art by Felipe Watanabe and Frank William.  

Some of the same flashbacks appear in this issue as they discuss the loss of civilization when the immortals were imprisoned in another dimension. The chaotic scenes are well-composed and clear despite the bloodshed and commotion. The impressive duality of scenes placed side-by-side with Christopher in the present day and scenes from his dreams taking place during World War II escalates into a shocking revelation. William's colors dictate a time period, boldly colorful, and rich in the current day juxtaposed against the softer more subtle tones of the past. 

'Ordinary Gods' is an ambitious opus that's taking its time to set the ground rules and identify its players. Issue two slows down to take a breath and inform Christopher's responsibility as a reincarnated immortal and how his sister fits in all this. Higgins' world-building is taking shape with the help of a versatile and dynamic art team in Watanabe and William. 'Ordinary Gods' is gearing up for some epic confrontations.