STORM #2
Written by Greg Pak
Art by Victor Ibanez
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: August 20, 2014

An old foe has a hard realization with a lesson that might cut a little close to home for our Windrider, this month.

The issue is bookended by sincere and romantic exchanges with Wolverine. It is a fun interplay of words and opportunity for Pak to show in which directions he will be pushing Storm’s character growth. A short flashback also provides new readers with a quick background on Storm’s childhood. However, it’s not long before Storms on again/off again subterranean nemesis, Callisto, takes the stage. Pak does not waste a lot of time on exposition for who Callisto has been to Storm in the past. It’s not a sacrifice to the plot and is just enough to follow along.

Ibanez’s art sings the most during those first scenes and flashback moments. The art goes from humorous, with looks from Wolverine and sly smiles on Ororo, to heartbreaking as she is sent back into her memory of childhood tragedy. Despite a brown- earth tone palette, Ruth Redmond is able to keep the pages vivid and exciting. With a layering of black and grey she helps the underground scenes keep from becoming muddled or hard to see the action.

All of these elements come together for what has to be one of the most sincere moments that can happen in comics. Pak creates a story where characters that traditionally are seen as good and right are placed in the position of admitting faults. Even the good guys, though continuing to be cautious, can be wrong, and should own it. It’s a moral lesson that can be overlooked in modern superhero comics. Instead of ending in crushing defeat at the realization, it provides hope and the setup for more to bloom from this story.

The Verdict: 8.0/10