REVIEW: 'The Least We Can Do' #2 by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli

 

THE LEAST WE CAN DO #2

Writer: Iolanda Zanfardino

Artist: Elisa Romboli

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: October 12, 2022

Cover Price: $3.99

The Eclipse Rebels have mastered the art of fighting with the powerful Medium Stones, using them to free people from oppression.

Newcomer Uriel must start at zero, getting her ass kicked in the training arena until she learns how to make her golden stone, the Justice Light, work.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

The intriguing new fantasy series, "The Least We Can Do," by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli follows its dynamic debut with issue two and the novice Uriel entering her training phase with less than stellar results. 

As stated in the solicitation, "the Eclipse Rebels have mastered the art of fighting with the powerful Medium Stones," so the undersized and nebbish Uriel has to learn the hard way to summon her inner strength to wield her stone's power. She basically gets thrashed about by the other Rebels in sparring sessions unable to power up and fight back through the entire issue. It almost seems cruel to put her through this but Zanfardino provides an illuminating moment afterward for Uriel when she speaks to Lucy. 

This issue sort of subverts the usual Chosen One narrative by making Uriel's ascension much more difficult and daunting. Uriel means well but her journey is just beginning and while promising, has a lot to learn. It's a refreshing spin that will eventually pay off as it sets the stakes for the long road ahead. 

Romboli's art is as energetic and lively as ever. Expressive faces, emphatic fighting scenes, clever panel designs, and deep rich color work make this title a joy to look at and read. The costume design is especially well done. I will say though that the story can sometimes get bogged down with heavy dialogue or monologue. The pace has a strange tempo where it's fast-fast-slow then in this issue, there's an abrupt cliffhanger. It doesn't break the issue but it's something that was noticeable.

'The Least We Can Do' continues to explore Uriel's hero journey with some harsh lessons. Even though the rebels are more than ready to fight, the series does seem to question the attitude toward the inevitability of violence to solve the conflict against the Eden Army. Nonetheless, it's a fun series with many layers to it and that makes it all the more thought-provoking and interesting.