Review: Jack Avarice is The Courier #2

After reviewing the first issue of Jack Avarice is The Courier, I really wanted to continue followingthe book as I feel that an indie book releasing its entire series weekly issomething worth covering. I’m not in love with the series and really it relieson the stereotypes of the genre far too much for its story, but it’s campy anda lot of fun at the same time. The book comes across very self-aware at timesand teeters on the edge of Austin Powersterritory a couple of times, but now I wonder if that’s not the point of thebook. What if this book is really just making fun of every spy movie and TV show, but on the surface level is appealingto fans of the genre at the same time?

This issue picks up literally where the last issue left off;the Fox has died in front of Jack and a gang of Cobra-esc villains are pointingtheir guns at him. Thankfully Jack’s Russian friend that spent the entire lastissue talking has a special flash grenade that gets Jack out of the situation.From there we’re introduced to the spy organization “The Courier” and find outhow the Fox and Jack are connected. We also learn that the Fox’s protégé isbeing passed over in favor of Jack as he’s thrown into his first mission.

I’ll just say that there was one scene that made me laughand had me studying the page for a good few minutes. I really can’t allowmyself to ruin this page, but if you know anything of the spy genre you’llappreciate it greatly. Now, my problems with the story are pretty much the sameas the first issue. The story is constantly moving as if it was in a race, there’sno character development and the premise has been done before. In fact theaddition of the protégé being passed over in favor of the accident spyfurthered the cliché of the story. So here’s where I’m confused by the point ofthis book, is it as I said in the beginning a campy movie that’s just trying todeliver the action and play to the stereotype or is it aware of what it is anddoing in a way that it is poking fun at the genre while delivering the sameproduct it always does? The thing is I could understand either as anexplanation, but I wouldn’t buy both as the answer. I think if it is the latterthan it’s just not smart enough to make me a believer.

What it really boils down to is what you’re looking to getout of a comic. Are you looking for a fun spy story with action and babes andtons of sexual references? Then you’re looking for Jack Avarice. If you’re looking for something to revolutionize thegenre and be deep and meaningful with rich full characters, then you’re notlooking for this book. Personally, even if I’m not sure what the creator (ChrisMadden) is going for I’m still enjoying it. I’ve accepted that Jack is onedimensional and that he’s going to have every woman throwing themselves at himand that’s okay. Comics can just be fun and exciting reads and at the end ofthe day that’s what I took from JackAvarice is The Courier.

Score: 3/5