REVIEW: 'Vanish' #2 by Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Sonia Oback

VANISH #2

Writer: Donny Cates

Artist: Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Sonia Oback

Letters: John J. Hill

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: October 26, 2022

Cover Price: $3.99

Meet Deacon Dust. Master illusionist and Oliver Harrison's close childhood friend. Why is this arrogant charmer coming into focus, and what does the superhero team the Prestige has to do with it all? Oliver's past continues to come back and haunt him as the latest chapter of VANISH unfolds!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Still buzzing a month later after the year's most raucous and adrenaline-fueled debut of 'Vanish' #1, comes the clean and sober follow-up that focuses on Oliver's complicated relationships. It's a lot more subtle and character-driven storytelling in issue two which is compelling enough and necessary but quite the drop-off in action. The opening scene is a bit disturbing and uncomfortable but demonstrates exactly the kind of callousness that was included in the training of young wizards. Oliver is the result of that and the worse for it. His trauma fuels his thirst for revenge but it's not something that his old friend or his wife share. Wizards parading as superheroes is not new but the collision course he finds himself headed toward The Hollow could change things forever. 'Vanish' takes a breath to build on this universe of wizards turned superheroes by revealing the personal stakes involved.

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