After reading this last night, I’m amazed I’d lasted that long without a fix of my new favorite series. This issue felt refreshing in that the plot gave us just enough of an update on the characters while moving around organically and avoiding confusion (sometimes I feel the need to re-read whole segments to grasp what’s happening). Plus those wonderful little bits of the world show up; like the latest form of social media, and a Lady Gaga esque Science icon who I imagine will be a big part of the story in later issues.

Another thing I loved in this issue is the ties that go back to issue 1 even tho theyre not super important. I really feel that this issue gave us a look at the various running threads so we know what to expect in the next issue and what everybody’s moving towards which you need in this kind of series.

One compliant, this series needs a Cast page or a recap page because there are alot of characters whose names I have not managed to memorize yet. Judging by some of the comments on this issue I’m not alone. So to help everyone who may be needing a scorecard here’s one I made up: Emerson and Dade are on damage control for World Corp, Grimshaw is using his company to counter World Corp, the ISS survivors are being rounded up to an Arctic Base by supposedly World Corp hazmat teams except for Jackson, Kurt, and Adra who are stuck in Calcutta (or someplace hot and remote and desolated), Fletcher (Emerson’s lawyer/assistant) is actually a spy for Grimshaw, and the reporter Raymond Douglas has caused a quarantine on the plane he was on due to his inexplicably familiar sickness. Sorry for any spoilers in there.

2 last things. The art this issue is fantastic,it’s like “A Scanner Darkly” meets “Fringe” meets “Moon” or something; it’s gorgeous and I can see why we might have to wait longer to get the newer issues if they all need to look this good. Lastly, it looks there are some all female science groups and even a female analogue to the Fab Four that could cause a huge clash in later issues (right now I’m just reading heavily but it’s my guess). This isn’t anything significant or revelatory at present, but after all the Fake Geek Girl and Comics Needs More Women stories/controversies/dramas I just find this sort of addition to the world interesting. Maybe I’m wrong and I’m exaggerating things in my mind.

Anyway, great issue and can’t wait for the next one. Tell your friends and look me up on HI.