Milton is trapped behind enemy lines, with one shot to help end the war.  It’s times like these when a person thinks about how they got where they are.  Your Major Spoilers review of Escape #2 awaits!

ESCAPE #2

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuna
Colorist: Daniel Acuna
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Editor: Ivan Brandon
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 24th, 2025

Previously in Escape: A bombing mission to destroy the Titan Cannon, Milton Shaw was shot down and found himself the sole survivor.  He now has to make his way through enemy territory to take a more hands-on approach to the mission.

MEMORIES

Escape #2 opens with Milton going over his supplies and familiarizing himself with the mission.  As he does this, he ponders his motivations and begins to think about what his life was like before the war.  Things then flash back two years, with Milton working as a pilot, taking tourists up for a flight.  He comes across a group surrounding someone campaigning for a presidential candidate.  He strikes up a debate with them, and the result of it is her agreeing to a flight with Milton.  The two then spend more time together and quickly fall in love.  Their relationship progresses, and while on a date night, Milton sees a news report about the ongoing war.  He finds himself compelled to enlist and join the effort.  Back in the present, Milton gears up to carry out his mission, even as the enemy gets nearer.

AN EARLY INTERLUDE

The decision to have Escape #2 be an extended and mellow flashback is an odd one, considering the way the first issue ended. The switch-up left me with a bit of narrative whiplash.  Thankfully, though, the actual issue is well-written and highlights Remender’s ability to capture quieter drama in mundane settings.  The back and forth between Milton and Ruth carries this issue.  Their relationship develops quickly, and we’re rushed through a lot of events and milestones in just a handful of pages, but when things do slow down to show one of their conversations, they feel genuine and appropriate for the stage they’re in.  Like the first issue, there are some moments when some of the dialogue gets heavy-handed, especially when it’s being used to get a bigger message across.  These sections do get awkward and distract from everything else in an unfortunate way.

PEACETIME VISUALS

The first issue of this series proved that this book is going to have gorgeous art, even when what it’s depicting is terrible and violent.  Escape #2 proves that the art is just as good when things are quieter and peaceful.  The coloring does a lot of work here.  Regardless of the location or time of day, Milton and Ruth are draped in a dreamy sort of rendition of things.  The flashback section takes place both in a more rural area and an urban area, and both get beautiful renditions.  The rural area is filled with wide open skies and little town stores selling everything, while the urban areas are dominated by glowing lights and atmospheric shading.

BOTTOM LINE: A QUIETLY POIGNANT CHARACTER EXPLORATION

Escape #2 tones things down from the first issue, for better or worse.  What we do get is a powerful exploration into Milton’s past, with the relationship with his wife taking center stage.  Even though things move quickly, there’s a judicial usage of dialogue and narration to establish a realistic and layered relationship, while also giving Milton a more complex characterization.  There are still a few moments of awkward writing that drop subtlety in favor of driving home a message without ambiguity.  Visually, it’s gorgeous and proves that it is a sight to see both during the war scenes and the quieter moments.  4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Escape #2

93%

93%

Solidifying This As A Must-Read Series

Escape #2 doesn’t lose any steam from its first issue, even though the pace dramatically slows down. The quieter moments and central relationship come off as genuine, relatable, and does a lot to add depth to Milton as he gears up for his treacherous mission.

• Writing

  8
• Art

  10
• Coloring

  10
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
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