YOUNGBLOOD #2 
Awesome-Hyperworks 
www.awesomecomics.com
 
 
Writer:
Penciller:
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Colours:
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Editor:

Alan Moore  
Steve Skroce  
Lary Stucker 
Richard Starkings and Comicraft and Kiff Scholl   
Awesome Colours
Comicraft's John Marasigan 
Eric Stephenson
 
 
Wow.  Wow.  Wow.  Forget The AVENGERS.  Set aside the JLA.  Leave the X-MEN in the pile.  Alan Moore's YOUNGBLOOD is the best team book in the business today.  And that's solely on the basis of two spectacular issues.  Imagine if we got one every month ... The mind boggles at the glorious possibilities.  

Sentinel, free from Supreme's Hell of Mirrors, recruits a new team of bad guys (BadBlood) to attack Shaft & Co. and take back the Youngblood name, which Sentinel believes is rightfully his.  

Before I get into Alan Moore's writing, I'd first like to mention Steve Skroce's art, which is lovely.  Each character looks distinct and unique; the women looks quite pretty, without succumbing to the "bad girl" disease of super-sized breasts, insanely curved bodies and legs reaching from here to the moon; the action scenes are fluid and exciting; the backgrounds aren't skimped upon at all but are filled with detail.  The super-speed effects are also something to behold.   Instead of speed lines or lightning bolts, Skroce uses a brilliant combination of speed lines and multiple images, making a very visually stunning effect.  
 

In particular, the third to last page was just gorgeous.  Big Brother and Atomo going toe-to-toe, while Doc Rocket and Speedwell run and fight, literally all over the page.  Also, Atomo's facial expressions were priceless (particularly on pages 17 and page 21).  

Speaking of super-speed, Alan Moore obviously knows what he's talking about. Instead of silly comic pseudo-science, Moore uses *real* science when dealing with his speedsters, such as friction heat and kinetic energy.  Another nice bit about the speedsters was the time interval(s).  From when Rachel can first spot Speedwell to the conclusion of their battle barely two seconds pass in time.  

The dialogue in this issue was particularly good.  Leonard, in particular, got off a number of choice lines.  Not to mention Waxey ... heh.  Besides the great lines, just the concept of fighting crime with wax is so ludicrous ... And the Lounge Lizard's reaction to the wax was priceless.  
" Curse Youuuu !  I'm covered in sssliiime ! "  
" For God's *sake*, you're a playboy and a reptile !  Get over it and just kill the old fool ! "  
  

 
I also loved the concept of going to an agent to put together a super-villain team.  it's a perfectly logical idea, yet one that (to the best of my knowledge) has never yet been utilized.  Finally, I'm dying to learn more about the inhabitants of the Miskatonic Asylum.  Just that little glimpse of them on page 24 was enough to get me intrigued.  

Moore's YOUNGBLOOD is simply brilliant.  Wonderful dialogue, simple yet superb plots, and spectacular art by Steve Skroce have all coupled to create the greatest team book of the year.  At least for two issues.  

Score:  A    
  

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Takalahesh's Dungeon, Takalahesh & Naralasyth are TM & © Jason Crossman, 1998
First Impressions is TM & © Ross Binder, 1998
Don't be afraid to E-mail me with any comments, suggestions, or queries at 
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