Strangelands #2 Review!

Strangelands continues with the second issue featuring a cover by Giuseppte Camuncoli.  It has a closeup of Elakshi Land and then Adam Land behind her, the names are coincendental, on their bodies are ghostly images.  They were on the run when their mysterious patron, Kittyhawk, sent them to Wild Saints Lodge in Colorado.  The series is written by Magdalene Visaggio and Darcie Little Badger with art by Guillermo Sanna. The head of the lodge, Winsome Fletcher, is using the Ignited in sinister ways.  Adam explains the woman who punched her hands bloody which ended up on his shirt.  Also, that counselors took her to a clinic next to the lodge.  Elakshi goes to her appointment with Winsome.  She mentions that Adam didn’t have parents and then that her parents were strict.  These are interesting characters and it is fascinating to understand their past to engage with them in the present. 

As a child, she learns to dance ballet to the sneers of her peers and praise from her instructors.  Elakshi is bullied by other girls, but continues to dance on stage and at competitions.  This leads to the night she met Adam and Ignited.  Elakshi has won a dance competition with Martin, her partner from Buenos Aires.  She meets Adam and it seems like instant attraction.  This was not apparent in the earlier issue, but they were on the run.  Adam says that he can waltz and Elakshi takes him on the dance floor to take the lead.  There is a man in a tuxedo, bald with a beard, he signals for the exits to close.  He knows that they are going to Ignite?  They drink before returning to the dance floor.  Elakshi finds out that they both have the last name of Land.  Then, masked gunmen break in and begin firing on people!  This cycle of violence is what we have seen in Ignited.  Martin is shot and Adam tries to bargain with the gunmen, but one notices his cheap suit and ignores his trust fund story.  We get Elakshi and Adam reach out to touch and the Ignition spark crackles between them!  

The next scene is the violent aftermath of their powers unleashed.  Adam and Elakshi are the only survivors.  She crawls over to Martin, but something horrible happens, some use of her powers?  This returns to Winsome with his session with Elakshi.  He wants to speak with Adam.  He is checking the distance between them on his watch.  Adam tries to enter the session, but is blocked by a guard.  So Adam climbs a tall tree and leaps off it to the roof.  He uses his power to enter a window and then sneaks past guards.  Adam draws the wallet and i.d. of a guard with his power.  Then, he uses it to enter a room, but apparently they were expecting him!  There is also the arrival of another character who introduces himself as Hendley Berman.  The motorcyclist that was pursuing them last issue?    I’m really liking this origin issue, understanding the characters, and putting them in a threatening situations.  The powers are well handled, fine art, and it feels paranormal than super powers.  Shades of Stephen King more than X-Men. 

Three Jellyfish out of Five! 

#Strangelands, #ElakshiLand, #AdamLand, #WinsomeFletcher