The Good
Last issue of SILK was everything an introduction to a character like this should be. We got to meet her, we got to know her, and we got to see her all through her own eyes, and while the issue may have been a little heavier on the telling than the showing, it was still a fantastically fun introduction to a fairly new character in need of fleshing out. The follow-up does not disappoint, letting the visual language of the book do the heavy lifting of the storytelling while the character gets to grow more organically. The issue continues the focus on Cindy Moon trying to rebuild and rediscover her life outside the bunker, but finding her avenues sealed in every direction, either by happenstance or even by death. Then a giant octopod HYDRA robot rears its ugly head and Silk’s got a more concentrated direction. Robbie Thompson tones way back on the exposition, letting Moon’s actions speak for themselves while still giving her enough of a voice to remind the reader of her awkward charm, but he also does a fantastic job of generating a metric ton of sympathy for her without descending into melodrama or over-indulging in sobbing sorrow.
Stacey Lee is on linework and once again delights with every panel on every page. Silk’s actions are fluid and smooth, but easy to follow and, thanks to her great inking, have a tremendous sense of impact. The action with the giant robot is fantastic, but it’s the montage of her searching for clues to her past that really shines through. Delivering an emotional punch amidst a somewhat disjointed series of events isn’t easy, but Lee’s art not only presents some amazing facial expressions, but everything has an air of cuteness and charm without becoming so cloying that the drama seems out of place. Ian Herring’s colors are likewise excellent, his filter on the flashbacks helping to sell the haziness of the past and his palette being simple enough to keep things light, but also very able to adapt when things get darker and more serious.
The Bad
There’s not much to dislike with this issue. The overall story is still in a very embryonic stage, so its directionlessness is extremely excusable. There is a feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the Marvel Universe, it feels like a very solitary book in that way, and the connectedness of the Marvel U is one of its greatest strengths. Then again, we’re also only on issue #2.
The Verdict
Silk might be one of the most intriguing new characters to come along in a good while. Introducing her in the pages of a pre-established character’s title was a good move, as it built an audience and familiarity, lessening the usual sales slump that an all-new character usually has when they launch their own solo series. Putting two relative newcomers to Marvel on the book was another calculated risk, but it’s paying off beautifully as they’re both talented enough to make it stand out and do something truly great and even novel, making a star from a character that could have been nothing more than also-ran.