This is an emotionally difficult book to read all the time. Because even though it’s about giant monsters, aliens and robots, it’s a very real and sad look at our prison and parole system. And that’s crazy to say because at the end of the day it’s still a book about giant fucking Kaiju! I feel sad after reading an issue of this series, but it’s incredibly well-written which always brings me back for more.
[su_quote]Synopsis: The shit hits the fan for Red Humongo. This means that the shit is on its way to Chisato’s fan as well! Meanwhile, Jeong finds out something he probably didn’t want to know and he’s definitely got a drinking problem.[/su_quote]
“Season 2” of Kaijumax has explored life on the outside of the prison. It’s definitely been more about the parolee’s life and really how society perceives these monsters. The answer, more times than not, is to just shoot them which is, of course, social commentary on our society and how convicts and parolees are handled in our society. It’s what makes this book difficult to read because while it could be funny in the fact that it starts Kaiju’s, it’s not because they’re just a stand in for our world. Something to soften the blow of what the book is presenting.
With stories like this, the character development comes to us in the form of their reactions to what’s happening in the plot. It's reactionary character development in which we only learn about the character through their reactions. In the instance of Jeong, everything changes for him when he figures out what’s happened to his friend from the first volume. It’s a character moment that will develop him as the story moves on. It showed us, as the reader, what type of man he has become and will be going forward.
Zander Cannon’s artwork is still the perfect fit for this series. It’s comedic looking which is a great contrast to the drama of the story. It’s again why you're inclined to laugh at a Kaiju holding a train car for a lunch box. The line work is thick and clean for the most part. The humans seem intentionally left under-detailed which works because it makes them feel small. The coloring has muted tones, but it’s lush with its color palate.
If you’ve never read this series, then you really should check it out. I know that’s like the thing to say for every comic book ever, especially ones that people like, but there’s nothing like this in comics. NOTHING! I mean a serious look at prison/parole life told through the perspective of Kaiju that still manages to stay true to and use all of the Kaiju genre’s tropes and, AND, use prison tropes as well!?! Its fucking brilliant is what it is, so check it out.
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