By Cat Wyatt

The second issue of Evolution picks up more or less where the first one left off; it also continues to bounce around between the three already introduced locations (Philadelphia is Dr. Lee’s, Los Angeles is Claire’s, Rome belongs to the nun’s perspective). I do feel like less happened in issue two, on the whole; though the transitions were less jarring this time, possibly because I was expecting them.

As per my last review, I’m going to talk about events out of the order they’re shown (I don’t feel like bouncing around as much as the comic does). Instead, I’ll lump everything together using the characters around those events. I actually found that doing this last time helped clear up the series of events for me, so hopefully, it helps you as well.

The Doctor (Dr. Lee) seems to be the only one that has any real understanding about what is going on here. Too bad he can’t seem to get anybody to listen to him. We first see him on the phone (presumably with another doctor or scientist) trying to convince them to take a look at his findings. I’m sure to anybody that hasn’t see the samples he has; he probably sounds insane. The way he explains things isn’t exactly making sense, so I get the doubt he’s receiving.

Long story short, the good doctor believes that this bug he’s been tracking could very well spell the end for humankind as we know it, a doomsday virus, of sorts. As if that wasn’t creepy enough, he’s discovered that the virus can tell when it’s being monitored, and knows to hide (that or he’s gone ‘round the bend). So we’re dealing with a sentient virus here. That hardly sounds good.

Since nobody seems to believe him, he’s decided the only way to get anyone to listen is to get cold hard evidence. And that requires a living sample. I’m sure you can guess just how drastic he’s willing to be in order to get that done…needless to say I’m worried about what will happen next.

The nun (I can’t recall if they named her or not, and the series name is too common to allow me to search easily for it online), appears to be the only main character introduced that probably has the bug, whatever you want to call it. She’s first seen in this issue picking at sores or boils (I’m not sure which) on her shoulder. This doesn’t automatically mean she has it of course, but given the context of the series, I feel that it may be a safe guess.

I can understand why the nun would feel a connection with Steffen (the suicide victim from the first issue); not only did she witness his death (which I feel like that would be enough…) but combine that with the fact that he clearly had the virus too (and that it also targeted his arm/shoulder). So it’s really no surprise that she felt compelled to sneak into the morgue and see his body again. What is surprising is who else showed up; a group of men arrive to take the body away. They apparently know where he’s from, but they’re baffled about how he got there. While they claim to be cops, I’m not sure I buy it. Either they fooled Father Alessandro, or he’s in on it (perhaps he just didn’t want to deal with something this complicated?). Either way it doesn’t look good.

Meanwhile back in Los Angeles, Clair is pretty much freaking out. She just watched Mr. Harwitz shoot the hell out of someone (or something), and she can’t quite wrap her mind around that. After all, she grew up knowing this man, and never thought he’d do something like that. She and Rochelle (her girlfriend) flee the scene, but never end up hearing any news reports about it. Which is beyond strange. In an attempt to take control of the situation, she decides to watch the video Mr. Harwitz had asked her to retrieve. It appears to be a dissection video (oh man do I hope it was a dissection, and not a vivisection. Please please please).

The video Claire found does have me wondering if perhaps her timeline is later that Dr. Lee’s? Perhaps she’s seeing a video he took? That or there’s another doctor working on the same issue (at least, I assume it’s the same issue, the body didn’t look right). I had assumed all three events were happening at the same time, but this latest revelation has me questioning myself. I guess I’ll have to keep reading to confirm some sort of timeline?

As I said earlier, I really do feel like a lot less happened in this issue. It’s hard enough to establish one set of events, but setting up three simultaneous ones? It’s no surprise that it’ll result in a little bit of waxing and waning. Though I did get some food for thought, so that’s something at least.

I’m still in love with the art style used; it’s such an overlooked style, but it really works with this sort of plot. It’s rougher and textured which makes certain scenes seem more gory or horrifying (which I imagine is exactly what they were going for).

Score: 3/5

Evolution #2
Image Comics