The young psiot hero, Animalia, has turned to Faith to try to get some help with a little problem involving ghosts. The two of them are on the lam and looking for help from Dr. Mirage. But Animalia’s spirits are no ordinary spirits, so what are they?

FAITH: DREAMSIDE #2

Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: M. J. Kim
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 31, 2018

Previously in Faith: Dreamside: Faith Herbert has been lying low after being framed for murder. On the scene of an accident, she cannot stop herself from helping out and saving a young girl. Instantly identified as Zephyr, the police confront her and she turns herself in. But on the way to the station, Animalia breaks her free and the two of them escape. Animalia is being plagued by ghosts and she hopes that Faith can help her. This is not in Faith’s area of expertise, but she knows someone who might be able to help.

REAL WORLD MEETS SPIRIT WORLD

Faith: Dreamside #2 starts out with Dr. Mirage on a television talk show, which is a useful way to introduce her in this story. In a few short panels, we learn that her magic operates within a strict set of rules, and that ghosts are generally around to help. All this while, her husband Hwen, who is a ghost, is right with her, encouraging her. At the same time, Faith and Monica (Animalia) are on a studio tour, or were, until they snuck off to try to find Dr. Mirage. We get a super-short recap (always helpful), and by that time, Dr. Mirage is in her limo about to be driven off as Faith and Monica see her.

Faith is trying desperately to be subtle and low-key. Monica is impetuous and races off after the limo and turns into a large kangaroo. So much for subtle! Faith, giving an assumed name, pulls the door open and explains quickly and desperately that her friend, the kangaroo, is having a problem with being haunted. The idea of dealing with a haunted psiot intrigues Dr. Mirage, and she lets them come along back to her hotel. There is a delightful discussion in the limo, with the three women and Hwen (as a ghost) crammed into the seat. Faith is being a fangirl. Monica is a little startled by the idea of a ghost being with them. And the limo driver avers that they aren’t the weirdest fare he’s had this week.

At the hotel, Faith tells her story, and Monica goes into hers. She had friends who were psiots –powered – and they did good things. Then they were killed in a big fight, and since then, their spirits have started coming after her at night, angry at her because she survived. She is certainly emotionally caught up in her story, but the spirits she describes are not present (although the ghosts of some tourists are). She also cannot see those spirts that are there. Dr. Mirage isn’t even sure that what Monica experienced was ghosts, but Faith convinces her to let them stay the night and see if anything appears.

And appear they do, circling around Monica as she sleeps. Dr. Mirage wakes Faith up – if she can see them, they aren’t traditional spirits. She certainly can. Faith tries to grab and hold Monica, but her spirit is wrenched from her body. Dr. Mirage tries to hold her spirit, but the other spirits pull her away. Monica is still alive, but she needs help. So Dr. Mirage is going to a place called the Deadside and Faith is going along.

LOVELY AND MYSTICAL

The characters in Faith: Dreamside #2 are executed with such a deft touch. You can tell a lot about them just by how they are drawn. Dr. Mirage seems so calm and controlled, as she acts throughout, but also still deeply in love with her husband. Despite the dangers of the issue, Faith is very much an optimist at heart, and she has several humorous moments, all the more humorous because they are so human.

I enjoyed the way spirits were inserted into scenes when Dr. Mirage is there, yet they are not present when someone else is the focus of a scene. (They appear much like people, but blue in color, and with a bit of an aura about them.) These are spirits of the dead, so it is appropriate for them to appear as though they are from another decade. I like that the spirits are there mainly hanging out, but that their purpose is to help. It makes the contrast with Animalia’s hostile spirits all that much greater.

The whole ending scene where Dr. Mirage is preparing and performing the ritual has some truly lovely panels in it as well. Between the imagery suggesting all the steps to the ritual and the symmetry that’s used in a couple ways, it’s really pretty to look at.

BOTTOM LINE: AN EXCITING JOURNEY INTO AN UNKNOWN REALM

Faith: Dreamside #2 has a good mix of drama and humor which makes it a pleasure to read. Faith is heroic and engaging, especially since she has her oh-so-human moments. Leading us to the Deadside builds up the excitement to see what it is like, and now that we know Animalia isn’t just plagued by normal ghosts, I’m even more intrigued.