Pretty but slow
This is an issue that does very little to advance the first issue's plot. In issue 1, we had a brief introduction to the characters of Mary and Andrew, as well as a setup of the major conflict between them. It ended with Andrew encountering Mary his sort of wayward lover and her army of vampire minions. In this issue, there's a confrontation between Andrew and Mary.
The Good
1) This book is gorgeous. The sepia coloring of everything really fits the art quite well, and both Mary and Andrew are illustrated beautifully. Mary looks equally monstrous and attractive in a couple of panels.
2) The dialog is well written, even if the plot is a little derivative. The idea that Mary and Andrew are quite in love still comes through even though they're at each other's throats.
3) The action is well illustrated and sufficiently gritty. It fits the tone of the book without being over the top violent.
The Bad
1) not much really happens in this book. They advance the plot about 5 minutes. It's sort of like a fencing match between Andrew and Mary, they're just sort of sharpening their claws without really going at it. I'm hoping there aren't many more issues like this.
2) Every random vampire is a random shirtless dude.... I don't really get that. I sort of wish Mary's minions were a little more varied artistically. I'm sure we'll see some more interesting vampires in the subsequent books.
The Verdict
This is a fine book so far. I like the characters (all two of them) and am looking forward to reading more. I'm just a little worried that there won't be a whole lot of substance here to really sink your fangs into.
