Reviews

BOOKLIST (STARRED) -- The first volume of C.O.W.L. (2014), about a unionized group of superheroes in 1960s Chicago, was arguably one of the best graphic novels of the year for its unique concept and abstract art, and this sequel handily lives up to its predecessor. With the death of a key member of the C.O.W.L. team and the return of supervillains to the streets of Chicago, C.O.W.L. director Warner manipulates city hall into a more favorable union contract, with the rest of the team hanging in the balance and paying the price for his actions. Higgins and Siegel refuse to spin their wheels and instead drive the arc forward with full force, pushing already tested characters to even further limits. At its best, C.O.W.L. reinforces its narrative that, even in a world of supervillains, the true villains exist in shades of gray, not necessarily purely evil but driven by greed or self-promotion. Reis' artwork does not disappoint, perhaps becoming more appealingly unconventional as he experiments with dynamic color schemes and shading, shifting seamlessly among styles that perfectly suit the scene and elevate the breakneck storytelling. Although it's best to start from the beginning, new readers certainly won't mind, since this series is one of the smartest, sharpest, and most visually stunning currently out there.