Commanders In Crisis #2 - Image Comics

COMMANDERS IN CRISIS No. 2, November 2020

For those bibliophiles somewhat bamboozled by Steve Orlando’s premise for this twelve-part publication, the “acclaimed” writer’s “Story So Far…” opening crawl inside Issue Two of “Commanders In Crisis” probably proved invaluable in helping them ascertain the sheer breath-taking scope of the author’s imaginative multiverse. Indeed, within the space of just four well-worded paragraphs it is made abundantly clear that the modern-day Senate faces a “tinderbox of a moment” if it supports Nelson Next’s American Individuality Act and carves the country “up into fifty-two interdependent, but autonomous, nation-states.”

Happily however, for those readers wanting more than a straightforward prose account as to the background behind this comic’s eclectic mix of characters, this particular twenty-four page periodical also presents plenty of background information as to President Rowe’s final hours on Earth-J as well. This sense-shattering sequence proves especially informative as it not only shows the rapidly disintegrating man taking “a leap of faith into the Cosmic Breech” and being reborn with special abilities, but also explains that similar events occurred to all the other former Commander-in-Chiefs who make up this planet’s super-powered team; “I gathered you four, the last survivors of doomed world’s to save this, the final Earth. Earth-Z.”

Coupled with the aforementioned opening summarisation, "The Action Of Resurrection" also ‘earmarks’ the nefarious Next as potentially being this narrative’s lead antagonist, which helps add an extra level of malignancy to his meeting with an opposing senator. The aggressive arrogance of the congressman is truly palpable as he spouts his belief that “people are sick of being called evil just because they disagree”, and then rather menacingly undermines his opponent’s equally as emotional counter-argument by telling them that “you might be more alone than you think.” 

Arguably this comic’s most intriguing element though, is that despite having been rescued by their group’s leader Frontier from debatably a fate worse than death, the rest of Crisis Command don’t simply follow her instructions without thinking. In fact, the likes of Originator make it abundantly clear that just because Nina believes she should bring John Doe back to life for twenty four hours “to reveal the name of his killer” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a good idea. This friction between certain Think Tank members really helps raise the ante when things go awry, and doesn’t potentially bode well for the likes of Scarlet Davis when she decides to delay her current mission by helping a pair of Philadelphians learn the whereabouts of their missing grandson.

The regular cover art of "COMMANDERS IN CRISIS" #2 by Davide Tinto