REVIEW: 'Clear' #2 by Scott Snyder and Francis Manapul

 

CLEAR #2

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Francis Manapul

Letters: Andworld Design

Publisher: ComiXology Originals

Release Date: November 17, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Dunes reflects on times of love and war as he investigates the death of his ex-wife, with old friends and new foes emerging as he learns about the extent of her work.

Writer SCOTT SNYDER and artist FRANCIS MANAPUL step out from the world of caped heroes to present a sci-fi noir tale for the ages! In this wild and twisting mystery where nothing is as it seems, discover a future where no one sees life the same way.

Score:

★★★1/2 (3.5/5)

QUICK REVIEW: As part of the new Snyderverse at Comixology, 'Clear' was the second offering from superstar writer Scott Snyder this time with the exceptional artist Francis Manapul. Issue one offered a fresh take on a Blade Runner-type future where through groundbreaking biotechnology you can choose to see the dystopian world in a new light with virtual reality "veils." It introduced us to hardboiled detective Sam Dunes who prefers to see the world unfiltered and is investigating the mysterious death of his ex-wife. Issue two dives into that investigation leaving behind the energy and wonder of the debut issue for a more conventional crime noir narrative. 

Manapul again does some wonderfully versatile and dynamic world-building whether he's taking the reader back to a military conflict gone awry in a sun-soaked past or the gritty neon-lit present, the art keeps eyes on the page. Snyder has Dunes go through some well-worn territory. He questions her ex's former employer, a shady corporation hiding some strange secrets. He fights off some henchmen and clues take him to a dangerous location causing a major cliffhanger. It's very linear storytelling with nothing much to sink your teeth into. There's some weirdness but overall uneventful. 

'Clear' #2 adds some backstory, some world-building, and some sleuthing but comes across as too safe and mundane. The art is still extraordinary in this very much ordinary chapter. However, even a "bad" issue by Scott Snyder is still better than most comics on the shelf. We anticipate things to turn around in the next issue with the same excitement and energy that the first issue produced.