Comic Review: Artifacts #2

Issue: Artifacts #2
Release Date: September 29, 2010
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Michael Broussard
Colors: Sunny Gho
Cover: John Tyler Christopher
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Publisher: Top Cow Productions

Artifacts is a very pretty comic. So pretty, in fact, that I don’t really care what the story is. I just want to look at the pretty pictures. That is a problem. Issue number two begins with a “previously on” reminder for the readers who were too distracted by Michael Broussard’s gorgeous artwork in issue one to pay attention to the storyline. Or perhaps it’s meant for the readers like myself who are starting the series with the second issue. Doesn’t matter, because now I am caught up to speed on what is going on so far. Unfortunately, I now have to develop a will of steel in order to not be distracted by the artwork in issue two.

Alright, I know, enough about the artwork. Onto the story.

Part two opens up with Tom Judge, the defrocked priest released from the bowels of hell with a Swiss cheese memory in issue one, walking the city streets while he digests his new responsibilities. It’s a brief scene and soon enough we cut to Jackie Estacado doing his best and his worst on a mob thug in an undisclosed basement. Jackie has demons, literally, and he isn’t afraid to use them to get what he wants.

From the darkness we cut to the light as a council of angelic warriors convene to discuss the matters at hand — specifically, the exile of Sabine. But the meeting is interrupted by a messenger delivering grave news from the mortal world. It is at this time we cut to Detective Sara Pezzini having just learned of her sister’s murder and the kidnapping of her infant daughter.

The cavalry shows up in the form of the rest of the Artifacts group. During a heated argument, Sara’s powers are revealed and they are strong. Confusion sets in until we come full circle with the appearance of Father Tom Judge ready to fill the rest of the gang in on the details.

The story has promise, but the storyline feels very rushed in issue two. This only being issue two, the series still has some growing pains to work out. A large ensemble cast means page space is scarce for each character. The jumps from scene to scene trying to cram in page time for each of the protagonists was jarring. It doesn’t help the hurried feeling that out of thirty-four pages, only seventeen are dedicated to the actual comic. I understand advertisements cut down on the costs of printing, but when I am presented with a 34-page comic, I expect more than half of it to be dedicated to the actual comic.

Rating: 3 / 5 Stars