If you’re not reading Greg Pak’s “Red Skull Incarnate” mini-series, you’re missing out on a real treat. The first book gave us a good look at the slick, informed storytelling we could expect as Pak introduced us to a young Johann Schmidt and his troubling, chaotic world. Issue #2 builds upon that foundation as young  Schmidt struggles with life on the streets of 1926 Berlin.

As I was reading this issue, I felt as though I was getting a history lesson. Pak’s research into this complex time is impeccable and I found myself completely enthralled in his story. The detail, the locations, the intensity, the hatred, it all breathes through the pages of this book and I really felt as if I was reading something important.  I know this isn’t going to have a happy ending and throughout this book I kept finding myself wondering “Is this the turning point in his life”? This is just mesmerizing material and Pak ‘s writing is top notch.

The issue is also helped by some amazing artwork by Mirko Colak. Talk about a perfect fit for this type of story. I loved the distinct look of his characters and the range of emotion exhibited in their faces. Schmidt’s pain, caution, and uncertainty are at times more clearly depicted through Colak’s pencils than any words on the page. The color and tone of the art is perfectly fitting and numerous panels are constructed and presented in a way that gives them a subtle cinematic look.

This is a series that every comic fan needs to be reading. It’s historical setting and attention to period detail is the perfect stage for this origin story. This is a sad and sometimes disturbing issue that can feel like an emotional punch in the gut. But that’s not a bad thing. This is an incredibly crafted issue that truly shows what a strong visual medium comics can be. Pak and Colak are doing something really special here.