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Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review

Comic Books

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review

The punk-tastic, rule breaking comic Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks is back this week with its second issue. After the explosive first issue kicked off in all its high body count glory, who wouldn’t want to come back for more?

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Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review
Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2
Writer: Jim Mahfood
Artist: Jim Mahfood
Publisher: Image Comics


So what’s it about?

The official summary reads:

Things heat up as the origins of the mysterious Magic Socks are revealed! After betraying Gwen and Rita, Daphne engages in an epic battle against her little cousin Josie. This second issue is stuffed to the gills with an action-packed story, bonus art, soundtrack, and sketchbook. Plus, a variant cover by the legendary BILL SIENKIEWICZ! Pure fun! Pure flavor!

Why does this book matter?

Jim Mahfood has a style that’s one part graffiti and two parts batshit crazy. A single page can have so many elements you could spend minutes just looking at it. Add in his sense of humor, a constant beat of sexiness, and the ability to give no shits as far as upsetting folks and you have a comic that stands out. Don’t you want to be a part of that experience?

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review
You’ll grow to like this, weird old man.

This issue opens with another fun comic strip filling readers in on what you need to know to enjoy the book, making it new reader friendly. It also has a decidedly different feel, opening with an old man telling the tale of the magic blue socks. Customary of Mahfood, the issue defies your expectations, relaying the history of the socks over the first six pages, which helps add to the tease of what the socks were last issue. Mahfood is not playing around. This backstory reveals famous dictators wore these socks, but also what they can do. Problem is they’re locked, so Daphne–as crazy as she is–can’t release their power. That becomes a major problem in this issue that ends up working into the cliffhanger quite well.

Leading up to that cliffhanger there is a ton of action, some bamboozling by Daphne with her ex-gang, and a showdown for the ages. Daphne’s cousin, the psychopath who wants all the revenge, ends up showing off her insanity and Mahfood establishes she’s a major threat. There’s no telling where this series goes next issue, but dammit it’s a hell of a lot of fun and high energy.

That energy is translated in the art too–Mafood doesn’t disappoint here either. The opening flashback cleverly uses mostly gray with only the blue of the socks adding a pop of color. Justin Stewart’s colors look good here, but really come into their own when the action kicks into gear and Mahfood splashes the pages with layers of art. There are quite a few panels where without the exceptional colors the reader might in fact be lost. That’s partly due to the flying cellphone-controlled crowbars and bats that smash into Daphne, but also the great use of Ben-Day dot backgrounds. The art is incredibly fast and loose, as panels are rarely drawn with straight lines and possess a kinetic ferocity that’s out of control.

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review
He’s alive!

It can’t be perfect can it?

Given the issue is mostly action, the main characters get little time to define themselves. Unless it’s coming in a later issue character work may not be a strong point of this series, but maybe that’s not the point. That said, it does make it difficult to care when Daphne gets her ass beat (she is a prick though). It’s safe to say the characters are rather flat.

A long action sequence ends the book, so it’s also a quicker read.

Is It Good?

Holy shit guys, this comic is insane af! Mahfood is properly blowing your mind with the most give-no-shits series in ages. There’s nothing like this on the shelves.

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2 Review
Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2
Is it good?
An excellent issue that reveals much in a cool flashback and delivers stunning visuals.
Excellent opening flashback
Awesome art that drips with chaos!
Great color
There's nothing like this on the shelves
Very little character work...again
Lots of action makes this a fast read
9
Great

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