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Welcome to Florida!
From BOOM! Studios: Red Before Black #2
- Writer: Stephanie Phillips
- Artist: Goran Sudžuka
- Colorist: Ive Svocrina
- Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Previously (Spoilers for issue #1)
In issue number one we’re introduced to Val (Valeria Morel) who just got out of prison and is looking to get employment from a drug trafficker named Miles. Miles knows Val from their time together in the Army. Val has no leverage except for her good looks, her skillset and the fact that Miles owes her a favor.
Miles knows she’s capable, and he’s currently in a position of weakness, because of Leo (Leonora), a former employee of his. Apparently, Leo stole merchandise from Miles and is now trying to sell it for her own profit to Miles’ regular customers, directly undermining his business and reputation. Miles wants Leo taken care of, so he decides to send a message of zero tolerance by ordering a hit on Leo. If Val can fix this problem for him, she’s in the game.
The Wild Card
Leo is a clear opposite of Val. She’s wild, high energy, unpredictable and possibly on a death wish. When these two met, it was instantly a mess. Val found Leo inside a nightclub on the run from a disgruntled customer.
When Val saw Leo in trouble, she jumped in to save her. We got to see how skilled and capable Val’s hand-to-hand combat is. However, we also get to see that Val has a heavy case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that’s triggered by violence. Val’s PTSD is manifested with an incredible and vivid vision of a jungle, with cries for help. Val snapped out of her visions, but she had already completely beat Leo’s assailant unconscious.
What would you do for your Freedom?
Finally, late in the story we’re introduced to the last player in the story (so far), Charles Lamb. Lamb is the person responsible for getting Val out of prison. A deal was made in which Val would infiltrate Miles’ criminal organization and helped bring it down in exchange for her freedom. Val has reservations about how far she’s willing to go, drawing the line at murder. Lamb, on the other hand, is more than okay with murder and whatever else it takes to fight crime.
Actions speak louder than words!
Issue number 2 expands on the character of Valeria Morel significantly. She might be a convict and a disgraced army veteran, but she’s a courageous person who acts when others are in need, without hesitating. Val is in a compromised position which she has to negotiate her morals and values for her freedom.
Val’s internal conflict is in full display in this issue when she goes to meet with Leo in broad daylight in a dinner called Jimmy’s (literally an allegory for a “Waffle House” in Florida). Although, Valo shows up with the intentions to terminate Leo to gain favor with Miles, she is hesitant. It could be because, despite Leo’s wild nature, she is very charismatic and deceptively smart.
What about the art?
Goran Sudžuka’s pencils are exceptionally sharp. There’s a certain feel to this world that gives early 2000’s visuals. He can draw violence not just with the action of the characters but with the way the scenes are structure as well. Sudžuka is able to hide Leo’s demeanor under a happy-go-lucky unassuming victim persona. In the very next panel Leo’s wild and unpredictable nature surfaces on her facial expressions.
Along with Ive Svorcina’s coloring, this book tackles in a very graphic visual way, how PTSD can affect the human mind. We can clearly see how pain and violence isn’t the only way PTSD is triggered. Sounds, words, or specific noises can take Val from sanity to lunacy in one single page, one panel at a time. I appreciate the way this subject is addressed.
I give this issue a 9 out of a 10
This issue slowed down the craziness enough for the story to simmer and allowed the characters to develop more. However, when it’s time to escape into lunacy, it pulls you in fast and hard with ease. The art is also very exceptional and matches the pacing of the story. I highly recommend it.
