Review: ‘Bear Pirate Viking Queen’ #2 Is Not Like #1

Writer Sean Lewis creates a relatively interesting and entertaining script for this issue of the series. Two things that makes it interesting or entertaining are the narration and the characterization. The narration tells a tale in a way that flows mostly naturally while providing a concise origin story for one of the lead characters. Lewis also delivers some decent moments of characterization to each character that speaks. Though one might not always find satisfaction from how characters are speaking. It is worth mentioning Lewis’s narration and characterization works rather well in conjunction with the work of artist and letterer Jonathan Marks Barracchia.

However, Lewis does not do a completely solid job with the scripting. Part of the issue comes from how some of the narration is unclear whether or not it is omniscient or from a lead character. This is especially apparent with a few of the latter pages. Also, a few moments feel loose in relation to the narrative. One of which is the opening double-page splash which appears before the credits page. The art seems to show one of the characters from the last issue, but there is no reference in the rest of this one to confirm it. Lastly, Lewis leaves too much information in question, such as a character’s actual age.

Barravecchia is responsible for the interior art, lettering, and the cover. In comparison to the first issue, the interiors have less of a mixed media look. Instead, there seems to be more of a focus on texture and watercolor styles. That said, there are still occasions where the visual elements of art and lettering merge with the writing for subversive or cerebral moments. As for this issue’s cover, it is arguably less engaging than the first issue, and it is definitely less epic, aesthetically, than the cover for the second printing of the first issue.

Bear Pirate Viking Queen #2 is out now from Image Comics.