One of the best anthology launched in 2024 returned this week with Brutal Universe 2#1. To make things even more special, Oni Press has packaged a new story EC comic classic. This latest issue includes Greg Pack, Annocenti and J. There’s also a stack of incredible comic talents, including Holsum, Charlie Adrad, David Rubin and Kano. If Oni wanted this sequel anthology to come out in bang, they would certainly blow up everyone’s hearts and hearts.
Kicking Things Off is J. A “Strange Land” by Holsum and David Rubin, hits with quiet and devastating forces. On the surface, it’s a classic sci-fi setup. Peaceful alien beings arrive on Earth, offering knowledge and advancement beyond our imagination. However, the story makes a sharp and unpleasant turn when an ambassador adopts a human form meets a person who treats him badly.
What makes this story so good and so heartfelt is how it weaponizes the optimism of our initial contact. We are conditioned to expect wonder and fear in these stories, but instead, the emotional gut punch comes from the ignorance and prejudice of humanity. It’s not about invasion. That’s about rejection. I don’t ruin the twist, but it’s clever.
Rubin’s art is clean and pleasant, and his cartoon style adds to the fascinating peaceful nature of the alien race. The background of the space is cool with a CGI look that enhances the story.
oni Press
Next is “Catch and Kill” by Anne Nocenti and Kano, who deal with cutting-edge technology to help humans understand animals. Podcasters lead the price of this high-tech. Podcasters realize that their dogs may be able to understand the dolphins being tortured on TV. The story takes a dark turn, but Kano becomes somewhat comedic when violence and pain take effect. Ultimately, that’s the lesson that we need to be careful about what we want.
Compared to other stories, this feels a bit padded and long. It takes time to get there so badly, it leaps heavily towards a violent twist rather than really deep.
Greg Pack and Charlie Adrad conclude their new story with The Fit. The story focuses on the leader of a spaceship running away from Earth. His sympathy for those dying from the gloomy virus is limited at best, and I think he will soon be absolutely zero in caring for him. Elon Musk References and Killer Robots play things out in ways that even this billionaire could not have expected.
Art really sells stories, with great action and story structures that will have you at the edge of your seat. The design is unique and functional, from robots to space suits. It will also help the Jerk Leader reminisce of Adrad’s Negan in the Walking Dead.
Finishing the collection is the classic story of William M. Gaines, Al Feldstein and Bernard Krigstein, “The Abandoned Ships.” This story really brings you back, from the massive use of dialogue and captions to visual styles where colours are restricted. What’s particularly cool about this story is that it most clearly inspires many of the EC comic revolution at Oni, from The Twist to The Social Commentary.
Cruel Universe 2 #1 is a stunning return to one of 2024’s best anthology, offering a trio of deeply themed sci-fi stories that will challenge, entertain and provoke. With Top Tier creators bringing A Game and nods to the past in a reprint of EC comics, the issue reaffirms the “bold and socially conscious vision” of the series. It’s a manga that dares to say something, and it actually means it.
“Cruel Universe 2” #1 is socially conscious and interesting
Cruel Universe 2 #1
Cruel Universe 2 #1 is a stunning return to one of 2024’s best anthology, offering a trio of deeply themed sci-fi stories that will challenge, entertain and provoke. With Top Tier creators bringing A Game and nods to the past in a reprint of EC comics, the issue reaffirms the “bold and socially conscious vision” of the series. It’s a manga that dares to say something, and it actually means it.
“The Strange Land” offers an emotional and timely gut punch.
Sci-fi, satire and horror all mix well with meaningful messages.
The reprint of EC Comic Classic adds depth and legacy to the issue.
The EC story is fun, but it may not resonate strongly with modern audiences.
