In the Descendant's second volume, Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen take us back on a journey into a fascinating world. This comic, like its first part, is a real feast, both when it comes to the story told and the visuals.
Well-led threads
Descender. The Mechanical Moon continues the threads started in the first installment of the series. The story of Tim-21 and his companions continues on the following pages. Of course, the comic also introduces new themes. The writer deserves praise for the fact that everything fits together and one stems from the other. Certain characters appearing on the outskirts of the first volume are developed and skillfully used here. The balance between what is new and a simple continuation of a story that has begun is preserved.
The climate of the Mechanical Moon is harsh. The world in which the heroes live does not spoil them, and the choices made by individual characters do not always make it a better place.
Robots are very human
The second volume of the Descender series shows the human face of robots more strongly than the first. On the one hand, we see examples of attachment, love and other positive emotions. On the other hand, it turns out that human mechanical creations can, like us, be heartless, calculating, and sometimes simply evil.
By showing the human face of machines, it is easier for us to identify with them and attach to them. On the other hand, it is also easier to dislike them when their behavior does not suit us. Thanks to this, the whole plot plays very well on the reader’s feelings.
Great cover
The visual side of Descendant ‘s second volume is similar to the Tin Stars . Delicate watercolors will not suit all tastes, and may even discourage you at first, but nevertheless fit perfectly with the story. If someone does not like this graphic style, it is really worth trying, because after a few or a dozen or so pages you can feel and enjoy it.
The cover art deserves special attention, which – although it has no background – is incredibly eye-catching. This work defends itself both in the context of the content of the comic and as an independent whole. The “overexposed” Tim-21 motif on the first and last pages is also very interesting. In several drawings its outer shell is barely scratched, but the mechanical interior is clearly visible.
Edition
As for the release, the Mechanical Moon stands on the same high level as the Tin Stars. The print looks really good on chalky paper, and the whole thing is closed in a decent, hard cover. An additional advantage is the summary of the previous volume on one of the first pages. For readers who have read it a while before, it can be quite a help.
Summary
Descender. Mechanical Moon is a really successful sequel to the first volume. Perhaps the storyline is a little less addictive, but it still ranks well above average. Augmenting the story with the wonderful works of Dustin Nguyen makes the reading truly unforgettable.
