Back in July I gave the debut issue of G. Willow Wilson’s new series a perfect rating and THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK #2 shows no signs of slowing down. Wilson is flexing her ability to build a new world rich in lore that would make any fan of Dungeons and Dragons squeal with glee. Paired with Chris Wildgoose’s art and Msassyk’s colors, this series is offering a delightful and easily accessible entry into the high-fantasy genre.

Where the first issue established the current state of affairs in the series’ world, this issue starts to focus on building up characters and introducing more interpersonal dynamics between our two main couples — Tara Icemaen & Callum Battlechild and Troth Icemane & Faran Stoneback. The issue is split into two storylines as we follow each couple on their own journeys together and witness them learning about each other along with the readers. Wilson allows each of these four characters room to blossom and we learn more about them and their worldviews.

Both couples aren’t just learning about each other as individuals, they’re also learning the customs of their respective people in two different ways. Coming from two different species, Tara and Callum appear to have the biggest gap between them. Tara, an orc healer, learns more about the customs of the Last Men Standing, while Callum realizes they’ve both been cast out by people meant to protect them. Troth and Faran may both be orcs, but their people have wildly different customs and they deal with the open acknowledgement that their marriage isn’t what either of them wanted. It’s impressive to see how quickly Wilson was able to make readers invested in these characters and create such complex and dynamic relationships that feel entirely real and valid.

Msassyk’s colors creates two distinct environments for the dual storyIines. Tara and Callum’s story is soaked in bright, warm colors contrasted against darker, cooler colors that permeate Troth and Faran’s story. Wildgoose employs gorgeous clean lines throughout both stories, but plays with spacings, angles, and gutters to differentiate between dramatic dialogue and action-heavy scenes. This is wonderfully realized when Troth and Faran battle giant white wolves during their wedding hunt. Here, Wildgoose mixes in a variety of panel sizes and angles, without gutters, to create a sense of tension and chaos that fit the scene well.

THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK #2 is another perfect blend of rich storytelling with eye-catching visuals from a top-notch creative team that transports readers directly into a new world and allows them to feel fully immersed in the book’s surroundings. Whether it’s Wilson’s deeply personal writing that makes you think you’re overhearing a conversation between two characters or Wildgoose and Msassyk’s vibrant artistry that brings every scene to life, you don’t feel like you’re reading a story, you feel like you’re smack dab in it.

Rating: 10/10