THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #2: The Nuclear Man.

To understand the path of Firestorm and how he became The Nuclear Man, we must go back to the start and learn how Martin Stein and Ronnie Raymond bonded in the first place. It’s an age-old tale of a boy who wants to impress a girl and gets in over his head. Unfortunately, both Stein and Ronnie are lost to something else, and that entity wants to ensure it stays that way.

Creative Team: Jeff Lemire, Rafael De Latorre, Marcelo Maiolo, and Lucas Gattoni.

This is a joint review by Matt of Hops ‘Geek’ News and Megan of Vigilante Vibes Podcast!

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

Megan: Jeff Lemire proves that the first issue of The Fury of Firestorm was much more than a strong start, but an example of the high quality work that we can expect from this run. The second issue is impactful, it’s powerful, and it’s emotionally driven by the narration of Ronnie Raymond.

Getting a look into the past life of Ronnie, we see the self esteem issues he’s had since childhood. We can see how he’s never felt like enough. That is, until he merged with Professor Stein and became Firestorm. Lemire takes you back into the origin of Firestorm to the current story of him where he is a loose cannon in the eyes of the military. Lemire has me very excited to see what happens next in this run, and if it’s anything like what we’ve already gotten, it’ll be fantastic!

Matt: I love that Lemire is taking us a step back in this issue to build upon the story and beginnings of Firestorm as a character. Stein and Raymond have an endearing relationship, and it works to build trust with the reader, diving into their backstory, even a little bit. I can truthfully say I have no clue where this is headed as Lemire keeps things close to the chest and only gives out breadcrumbs of information. While this issue is very narrative-driven, we are still immersed in the setting as we go from past to present and find our heroes fighting for their lives. The final page has help on the way, and with the characters chosen, this is not going to be an easy fight.

The Art and Letters:

Megan: The artists capture the emotions of Ronnie in such a stellar way throughout the comic. Rafael De Latorre, Marcelo Maiolo, and Lucas Gattoni put in the work and the readers benefit from it greatly. Rafael De Latorre brings excellent detailing work to his drawings, allowing the facial expressions of the characters to tell the whole story. Marcelo Maiolo handles the coloring and makes the comic have a slow burn kind of feel to it. Starting off with more muted tones, as the story gets more and more exciting, the colors get more vibrant and eye-catching. Lucas Gattoni is a master of lettering, and this comic is no exception. Capturing the emotions of the story, Gattoni gives a great flow of dialogue that captures the reader and doesn’t let go until the ending page.

Matt: The artwork is a genuine joy to watch unfold from panel to panel as we move from a rustic newspaper-type style to a more new-age style, working within the past and present. It is telling how well the team is doing when such a detail, such as Firestorm’s face changing, can be such a sinister piece of art. I also couldn’t begin to tell you the formulas on the chalkboard, so I empathize with Ronnie as someone who hates these kinds of classes!

Final Thoughts:

Megan: 9.2/10. The Fury of Firestorm #2 continues the high quality work of the creative team. I’m very excited to see what the next issue will bring!

Matt: 9/10. This second issue of The Fury of Firestorm takes us back into the past, showing us how Stein and Raymond bonded and what their relationship was like. We are gearing up for a massive battle ahead, and I hope our heroes are up for the task!

Overall Grade – 9.1/10

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!