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“hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
-William Shakespeare
Somna #2 is Written and illustrated by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay.
Colors by Lee Loughridge, Dee Cunniffe and Tula Lotay.
Lettering by Lucas Gattoni
Edited by Will Dennis & Designed by Erika Schnatz
When I read the first issue of Somna from DSTLRY, I was so taken by what was happening on each page that I found myself eager to turn to the next. As intriguing as the story itself was, I was just as eager to turn the page and wonder if I would be in the real world, excellently detailed and grounded by the art of Becky Cloonan, or a dream world, with the beautiful and lucid art of Tula Lotay. To say the least I was excited for Somna issue #2, and I was not disappointed.
***Spoilers Ahead For Issue 2 of Somna***
Somna #2 Reveals A Deeper Narrative
The book opens with our protagonist Ingrid still stressed about her lack of sleep while she bathes, but the art reveals that we are in her “dream” state. As her thoughts ramble on, the dark figure that seduced her in issue 1 rises from the bath water, with a fantastic image reminiscent of Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.
Ingrid succumbs to his influence again as we’re thrown back into the real world, as she visits the church, with the intent to confess her impure thoughts and dreams where she finds Sigurd there, the man she caught in an affair with her best friend Maja.
After a brief conversation with with Sigurd and Father Gudman, Ingrid visits Maja’s husband Harald to find that Maja has not come home in quite some time. Upon returning home Ingrid finds herself in a waking dream world again, this time the dark figure takes the form of her husband, and then Sigurd.
The Somna Plot Rises To New Heights
The next day she attends church and Maja bursts in, claiming her husband is dead, murdered. Ingrid finds herself sleeping into a waking nightmare, snapping back to reality to console her friend. The dialogue that begins between the two reveals much about each of their characters until Father Gudman arrives to perform an investigation. Ingrid leaves to find Sigurd relaying message to her for Maja to meet him.
To protect Maja, Ingrid goes to visit Sigurd herself, where the two exchange many words, leading to some serious revelations about the recent drama in town.
When Ingrid returns home, she’s desperate to rid herself of her dark dreams and intense desires. There is a fantastic back and forth between the real world and the dream world over these few pages until the dark figure appears to her, in a way he never has before. The following panels get rather explicit in imagery, but they are beautifully rendered and flow with an enticing rhythm and ending with a shocking cliffhanger.
The Keys To The Comic
As stated by so many others, Somna is a perfectly balanced book. Issue #2 continues the trend of mixing two well executed art styles with 2 different realities, telling one cohesive story. That to me is a feat in and of itself.
If I had one remark for the book, it would be that a couple of the dialogue heavy pages would drag down the pacing. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the story is being fleshed out as these characters reveal more about their thought processes, wants, and needs.
The art, as with issue #2 continues to receive the highest of marks. Beautiful lines and hypnotic colors grab my eyes undivided attention in Ingrid’s walking dream world. On the other hand, a contrast of colors, textures, and bold lines keep me engaged in the real world point if view from Ingrid.
Everything Points To 8/10
Lotay and Cloonan continue to build a world on top of the foundations already established. Each character serves a purpose and is built upon from issue #1. As this stories flower begins to bloom, even more beauty and danger are revealed to the reader. I can definitely say that I walked away from this book with much anticipation for the next issue. Let me know if you enjoyed the book as well! Connect with me, Cellphone_Wallet_Keys on all socials!
