I have been up all night getting tangled in an ever-growing web of anxiety and uncertainty, and reading Far Sector #2 with a good "breakfast" seems perfect.
This issue begins with Lantern Mullein literally pulling up a chair (a Green Lantern construct) and speaking to the audience directly. She catches us up to current events before we cut to the place we left off in issue #1 and move into an energetic chase. But the high-energy action and tension is slowly released, and we are eased into a much more intimate look into each of the major characters and world throughout the rest of the book.
Far Sector #2 cover by Jamal Campbell
The worldbuilding we saw in issue 1 informed what the world is like and taught some of its history. However, now, we get to know what it is like to actually live in this world for the Nah and keh-Topli and Lantern Mullein, and form a better idea of what it might be like for us readers. The way we are given information is also contrasted with the first issue in that there is a lot of deeper storytelling happening in subtext alongside dialogue and Jo's monologues to us and herself. And there is still great, expressive, visual storytelling but on a smaller scale—from character interactions to flashback vignettes, everything is very intimate.
Lantern Mullein using her powers and encountering an obstacle during the chase
The themes of this issue are emotions, self-control, and imperfection, and they are expertly presented. Much of the monologue and dialogue can be taken at face value, such as when Jo talks to us directly or other characters talk plainly to her. But a lot of the writing and art requires us to read much deeper into the conversational subtext and contextual storytelling in the background, such as when Syzn or the keh-Topli Councillor describe themselves and the emotions (or suppression thereof) of themselves and others. We learn what Syzn thinks of Jo and her capabilities and emotional self-control; we understand the self doubt Jo has when she hears this, and Syzn's desires and self doubt. A lot of storytelling (specifically tone-setting) even happens purely with color, both classical color theory and cultural connections between emotions and colors, and Green Lantern-specific colors (especially in the last scene).
Syzn talking about the keh-Topli
In the last part of the issue we get a climactic realization about one of the characters. This section does a great job at cluing us into the shift in tone and foreshadowing events in the near future. The subtext is deceptively obvious in a way that lets us slip into the moment and feel positive emotions with Jo and another major character while also gradually increasing the tension of the scene without us knowing exactly what's happening until the final page when the tension peaks with the big twist, and the build up to that moment suddenly makes sense. This entire scene contrasts with the tone we feel and with the emotions that Jo and the other characters have felt so far, and that with the more intimately-explored themes leading here make this moment as strong as it is.
Overall, this issue is as fantastic as the first, but more mysterious and eerie in its tone. Whenever there is a sense of discovery it comes with questions, suspicions, a heavier feeling of ominous anticipation rather than the lighter feelings of wonder from before. "Refreshing" isn't quite the right word for it, but it feels like the comic is heading down a winding path, into a deeper, darker tunnel toward more danger and more questions. And, possibly, more and more big discoveries that will answer questions and make unknown elements of the world and its characters clearer for us—or not, as neo noir science-fantasy stories with horror themes can tend to do. I'm excited about the possibility of either happening.
Far Sector #2 impressed me just as much as the first issue and pulled me deeper into the story, not just with its storytelling methods but also with how it changed the pace and themes and tension-stretching. It is different than the first in a lot of ways but still possesses so many of the qualities I already loved about the world; characters (Jo, Syzn, the horror-themed keh-Topli), fashion, the classy maturity, the noir mystery vibes, everything. And ending with the twist that it did while leaving out some notable aspects and characters (the @At Councillor and Jo's ring weren't explored in this issue)—and possibly foreshadowing other things—certainly isn't curbing my hunger to read more.
It is, however, curbing my hunger to play Android: Netrunner and consume everything Star Wars after getting a taste of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order earlier this week. And my impulse to create fan-made campaigns for those settings are shifting into impulses to make something for the world of Far Sector. It scratches so many itches for fantasy, horror, and sci-fi while making me crave more.
I do have one complaint about this issue, and it's that I hate how short the issues are. But that isn't exactly a terrible thing, is it?
Shout-out again to Amy Dallen and her book club—check out her enthusiastic discussion of this comic and a bit of Green Lantern lore with other fans of the book on Twitch here—and to the writer of Far Sector, N.K. Jemisin, and the artist, Jamal Campbell. Fingers crossed that I can make time for issue #3 soon. Until then, thanks, go read the comic if you haven't yet, and please, stay mindful and safe, everyone! Cheers!
