52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #2

   The fictitious nation of Bialya plays heavy in 52. It's already seen massive devastation after the events of Black Adam's World War III. So with a country full of sick, injured, starving, angry, and dying people, it becomes the natural breeding ground for the Four Horsemen.

  First up: Death, the pale rider, raises the dead of Bialya as his personal army. Like any zombie horde, their bite is infectious. On a humanitarian mission for the Wayne Foundation, Bruce Wayne finds himself without a utility belt in front of a raging horde. Will Clark Kent, on assignment for the Daily Planet be able to save the billionaire without giving away his secret identity?

   This second chapter was a little more fun than the opening servo. I liked the undead rising element and the Four Horsemen as a group seem to be an interesting quartet. But there's still some disconnect between Keith Giffen and me the reader. I think it's because he relies too much on the source material which wasn't very memorable.

   Am I biased? I'm probably guilty as charged. But I will admit that some of this issue was much better. The art, especially. It's got a sleek modern feel to it and the color palette while muted is very clean. Okay, with as story full of zombies and dying refugees, it is a little too clean.

  Still, a better overall improvement.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.