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Creative Team: Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch (Writers,) Andrew Currie and Bryan Hitch (Inkers,) Brad Anderson (Colors,) and Rob Leigh (Letters.) Cover by Bryan Hitch and Brad Anderson
Redcoat #2:
The adventures of Simon continue as this issue picks up where 1 left off. “The year is 1892, and After being murdered in a bar brawl, a newly resurrected Simon Pure is dug out of his grave by 13-year-old Albert Einstein. Before Einstein can explain his intentions, the hooded cult that accidentally gave Simon his immortality in 1776 surrounds them.”
Matt:
Never have I been more invested in a tale about a cowardly Redcoat and the future father of science, Albert Einstein, but this story continues to pull me in more and more. Einstein talked of a dangerous future on the horizon, and Simon seemingly could not care any less, which made their newfound partnership all the more entertaining. When I thought the surprises could not continue to get better we discover another immortal is out there and just who that is has me laughing in ways a comic have not done in a while.
Johns and Hitch give us threads that loosely connect to a larger universe, bringing the world of Ghost Machine to an even larger stage. Simon continues to become more endearing to us as he is only concerned with his stomach and not much else. Leigh hammers home the silliness and direness of the story, especially with Einstein, and capturing his speech patterns.
Meanwhile, the artwork within the pages is the amount of detail that is within the pages. The proper clothing for the period shows how much homework has gone into this story. The stark contrast between our mystery immortal and Simon down to the clothing tells a story that words cannot. Redcoat for me, is a standout book hitting shelves that I cannot miss and neither should anyone else.
Overall: 9.5/10
Lauren:
Last we saw Simon Pure he was introduced to a young Albert Einstein. Issue 2 picks up right where we last saw our immortal Redcoat and the world’s (now) most famous scientist. The young Einstein is determined to save the world, and he needs the help of an immortal, immoral, pint loving mercenary. A reluctant Simon reaches out to another historically famous person, in the hopes of helping himself, as he deals with an unprecedented “medical” condition. Only to discover everything he claims to know he is, may not be so accurate.
While Simon’s story and backstory begin to unfold, we also see the world of Ghost Machine become a bit bigger and smaller at the same time. One simple line from the young Einstein, about a glowing man and a robot subtly connects two other stories in this universe. As mysteries unravel, more mysteries arise. All with Simon unknowingly at the center of it all. Now a man, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and has been doing nothing more than simply surviving for decades, may need to step up in a way he never imagined.
The icing on the cake is the absolutely gorgeously detailed art. Every single page moves the story along while sucking you into this world of the past. This issue saw Simon at a ball in the 1800s, and no details were missed. From the clothes, to the ballroom, lighting, and more. Emotions are also perfectly portrayed as you get completely lost in the story.
Overall: 9/10
