Review: Fatale #2

This is a decent book so far. I don’t know if it’s worthy ofall of this hype or if it’s just the creators names selling the product, but it’s okay. Usually I’m moved one way or the other about the book when I start myreview, but with this book I feel like I’m in line at Chipotle and I don’t knowif I want chicken or steak. Both look pretty meh and that’s pretty much how Ifeel about this book. Don’t get me wrong I usually love Brubaker’s work and Ilove Sean Phillips art, but something about this story is not grabbing me.

The last issue bounced between the present day and the past,this issue is anchored solely in the past which made me forget what book I wasreading. Sure the issue left off in the past, but usually the storytellingstyle in the first issue sets the stage for the issues that follow. Itinstantly gave me the feeling that this series is being written for the tradeand not with single issues in mind.

“Josephine knew the landlord…”

This is where we begin, with our ageless beauty sweettalking Walter’s landlord to gain access to his apartment. Once inside shebegins to tear through his things looking for a particular item, all the whilethe narration exposes her thoughts of Walter and their past. It offers aninsight into the mystery that is Josephine, but nothing solid just building blocksto be exposed later. She hits pay dirt when she spots a symbol on one of thefloor boards. Quickly she pulls out the contents which include: brass knuckles,a medal of honor and pictures of happier times. Unfortunately, she doesn’t findwhat she’s looking for.

Over on the newspaper side of things, Hank’s photographer Johnnyhas just discovered that their expose had has gone to print a lot sooner thanexpected. He heads off to find Hank at a bar and confronts him about the story.Hank is a mess; he’s got women’s lipstick on his collar (In the shape of aperfect kiss. How the hell does that happen?). Johnny gives Hank some food forthought as he basically tells him he knows he’s cheating on his wife.

“How could she have been so wrong?”

Here’s a quick SPOILER, Hank doesn’t even bother wiping thelipstick off of his shirt before going home. What an ass. His pregnant wifejust finds it while doing the laundry. 

I wasn’t impressed by this issue. Istill don’t have any connection to any of the characters and the one characterI felt I was supposed to connect to, wasn’t in the issue. Brubaker is no amateur;he knows how to tell a story. The issue is structurally sound, but not very interesting.There’s a ton of mystery seeds being planted throughout, but so farnothing is getting any water. Josephine is much like Renee Zellweger’scharacter in Appaloosa, doinganything and anyone to survive. It’s clear that she latches on to a man forsurvival and then after they’re dead or dying she moves on.

Phillips' art is still good, but it’s the same deal he’s nota rookie. This just feels like a safe book. Like neither creator really wantedto put themselves out there with it, but rather see if it took off. Well ithas, which is a shame because I would much rather them create something they’repassionate about and there is no passion in this series. Although I’m sureseveral people will talk about it as if it were amazing and changed comics, ithasn’t… and won’t. If for some reason you loved the first issue than you’ll digthis one, it’s more of the exact same. Personally, I’m not interested orimpressed.

Score: 2/5

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Sean Phillips

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.50

Release Date: 2/1/2012

First issue review