Rob reviews 'A Thing Called Truth #2'...
Lolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli's A Thing Called Truth set off to a tremendous start. The opening issue did a superb job in introducing 'Dr Traumer', to then lead us through a drunken night that ended with her car being stolen - with herself on the backseat!
Now as she struggles to comprehend what exactly has just happened, and why her (former) employers have locked her out of her life's work, we're over to Dorian Wildfang - accidental hostage-taker - and the complete opposite to Dr Mags.
Much like our introduction to Mags, Lolanda Zanfardino dives straight into Dorian's life from a few days before their eventual meeting. And again, much like Mags, Dorian is an instantly loveable character. The opening pages introduce us to a confident young woman, who shares a kindred spirit with her brother Faust. There's a lot to read between the lines as we learn that the duo is caring for their sick mother and that their father has disappeared from their lives.
Things then take a darker turn as Dorian suffers the loss of not only her Mother but Faust too. Zanfardino tackles this quite a hard way. On one side we have Dorian who's the whole world has crumbled to a mystery genetic disorder that she could also be carrying. On the other, is both her need to greave and sadly to then carry on with her own life. It's certainly made for a heartbreaking couple of pages, but there is a light shining within the darkness.
It soon transpires that Faust kept a journal full of places from his favourite movies that he wanted to visit and reenact scenes from. It's from this journal that Dorian starts her adventure...and the meeting of Dr Mags.
From here we're now back in the present as Dorian and Mags head towards Rome. There's a great deal of banter as both characters clash with each other. They're a real odd couple with Mags attempting to understand and read the situation, whilst Dorian delivers a carefree approach. It's this too and fro that drives the bulk of the issue. Understandably Mags is upset over her current predicament, but Dorian's need to fulfil her brothers wish seems to win the Doctor over.
Elisa Romboli does an insane job in crafting some incredible artwork for this journey. There are great tonal shifts that convey the feelings that Zanfardino's script is portraying, and even in the characters darker moments - everything looks beautiful. When it comes to both Mags and Dorian, each has a wonderful sense of realism about them. Everything from their conflicting personalities, to their expressions, is expertly captured by Romboli's incredible line work. Energy is abundant on each page, which perfectly captures each scene, frame, and standout moment.
Balancing this is Zanfardino's excellent script. It's been a long time since a comic had hit me in the feels, and seeing Dorian's loss does hit with a tinge of regret. There's a lot of emotion at play and it certainly packs quite a punch in both the light and dark aspects of the narrative.
Whether 'A Thing Called Truth' stays as a road trip adventure or evolves into something more, is still up for discussion. But either way, it's going to be one pretty good adventure! And we're still not up to that police chase seen in issue #1!
Rating 10/10
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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev.
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