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20th Century Men #2
- Writer:
- Deniz Camp
- Artist:
- S. Morian
- Letterer:
- Aditya Bidikar
- Cover Artist:
- S. Morian
- Publisher:
- Image Comics
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-09-21
- Colorist:
- S. Morian
The history of the world is the history of bloodshed. Whenever the Earth has stood still, pondering the future, it has been at the cusp of wars borne out of arrogance and ideological stubbornness. Often to make the horrific truth more palatable, writers have taken refuge in science fiction to critique the past while creating a cautionary tale. 20th Century Men reimagines the history of a bygone era manufactured by supersoldiers, super-spies, and men in metal armor playing politicians and warriors. Written by Deniz Camp with artwork from Stipan Morian and lettering from Aditya Bidikar, 20th Century Men #2 slowly builds this six-issue miniseries from Image Comics.
Set in the backdrop of the Soviet-Afghan War, 20th Century Men #2 dives deep into a complicated plot of politics and war, where super-spies are just as mad as the masters yanking their chains. The Soviet "Iron" hero, Petar Fedorovich Platonov, continues searching for his stolen heart as the Politburo sends a journalist to Afghanistan to bring back news from the ground while President Goode sends the US Army to safeguard vested interests of their own. Platonov has his hands full with the arrival of the western superpower, engaging them directly in a show of power. Meanwhile, back in the States, the industrialist Egon Teller toils under the weight of past sins.
20th Century Men #2 shows warfare for what it is -- politics and human sacrifice. While for some, it is more like a game of chess. The issue begins with Platonov's missing heart being the plot device driving the narrative forward, but in the cacophony of gunpowder and spilled blood, the crusade turns into a ballad of violence and loneliness. Deniz Camp keeps the tale moving as he branches the story into multiple narratives, slowly establishing an alternate history in markedly different styles. The constant factor in these narratives remains the presiding narration of the characters from their respective perspectives, which invariably gives the book a varying tone. While Krylov's storyline is inquisitive, as a journalist's should be, giving exposition and behind-the-scenes tidbits, the poetically destitute description of Egon Teller's life adds a melancholic undertone to the turbulent affair.
A thundering tale like 20th Century Men #2 needs a bit of grime and grittiness, and Morian provides exactly that. The contorting faces and jarring expressions become an integral part of the tale, creating a divide between the so-called civility of the observers and the barbarism of the soldiers on all sides. The artwork truly shines when it turns its focus to the horrors of war as Morian depicts shocking violence and its brutal aftermath. Contrary to the bleak notes in the story, the colors are unabashedly vibrant in action scenes, with the dreary shades reserved for sterile military offices.
20th Century Men #2 is a multi-narrative tale that grapples with harsh realities. There are no good guys here -- just the bad and the worse. Some narratives end before they even start, while few keep the readers enthralled till the finish line. In this bedlam of storylines, Camp picks his targets confidently and brings fresh faces into the fold with the utmost care. 20th Century Men #2 ends with the beginning of something dark and new, keeping an already enthralled audience on their toes.