Issue #2

Issue 2 keeps the momentum going but things get a lot more layered. Lemire is clearly playing a long game here and this issue leans hard into the mystery, maybe a bit too hard at times. There were moments where I genuinely lost track of what was happening inside the Matrix versus what was playing out in the real world, and not always in a good way. That said, when it clicks, it really clicks. De Latorre's art continues to be a highlight and the shifting visual registers are doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep the reader oriented. The horror elements are still working well and the stakes feel like they are genuinely escalating. A small step down from the near-perfect debut just because the storytelling gets murky in places, but still a compelling read. Fully committed to seeing where this goes.