REVIEW: Sheltered #2

Safe Haven is an isolated community that is preparing its people for the end of the world. Away from government control, the people stockpile food and supplies, believing the world is inching closer and closer to the apocalypse. Ed Brisson and Johnnie Christmas weave a tale of survival and paranoia, which follows a young girl named Victoria who has recently moved into the community with her father. She will discover a shocking plot to takeover Safe Haven by the community’s own children.

SHELTERED #2
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Johnnie Christmas
Letterer: Ed Brisson
Colorist: Shari Chankhamma
Editor: Paul Allor
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Previously in Sheltered: Victoria and her father recently moved to the small community of Safe Haven. After gathering supplies for their trailer, she is whisked away by her new friend Hailey to drink in the forest. Meanwhile, shots are heard outside Safe Haven, drawing the adult males to the gunfire while the women and children hide in their bunkers. However it is a trap set by Safe Haven’s children. Believing the end is near, they kill all the adults in the compound, including Victoria’s father.

SAFE HAVEN IS NOT SO SAFE

Ed Brisson’s pre-apocalypse comic continues with Sheltered #2. Lucas, the leader of the children’s mass murder of the adults, lies to Victoria and Hailey, saying the government was responsible for their parents death. Although Hailey is convinced, Victoria is suspicious of Lucas. Eventually she finds out he lied to her and promptly escapes with Hailey. Sheltered deals with a great new concept, separating itself from the usual superhero or zombie comic books. The community of Safe Haven is a paranoid society, and it is amusing they could not see a massive revolt brewing under their own noses. The adults have themselves to blame for feeding their fears to their children, who realize if there was an apocalypse, there would not be enough supplies for everyone. The comic book embraces adult themes, similar to Lord of the Flies or Battle Royale. Even though the children are normal, the series uses some common superhero tropes. Victoria is a great reluctant hero, thrown into this situation by fate, ready to avenge her father’s death. Hailey represents her sidekick and her only friend on the compound. Hailey’s emotions are wild in this issue, going from calm to fearful to relieved. The writer captures the character’s youthful insecurity with these emotions through her dialogue. Meanwhile Lucas is the Machiavellian villain. As the antagonist, it is hinted that Lucas had ulterior motives for the coup of Safe Haven. He is a manipulative authority figure, and bends the other children to his will. So far, the character and plot development have been phenomenal.

CROOKED AND POWERFULLY INKED

Johnnie Christmas’s art sets the tone for Sheltered #2. With Victoria and Hailey reeling from the actions of their peers, the artist does a good job capturing each character’s emotion to fit with their speech. Although his character art is a little inconsistent, with changes in hair style and facial details between each panel, its design and colors hide the flaws. Also, some of the forced perspectives need work. Still, the artwork lays the foundation for an engaging storyline.

BOTTOM LINE: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Ed Brisson and Johnnie Christmas’s Sheltered #2 is something different in an industry full of superheroes, science fiction, and horror. They take a unique, realistic situation and turn it into a survival story involving children. It is a great concept and well executed. With Safe Haven looking for Victoria and Hailey, and with Victoria out for revenge, there should be some intense fighting in the upcoming issues.  Sheltered #2 earns 4 out of 5 stars.

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