Sussex Chapter 2 Review - A Darker Descent Into Neon‑Noir Trauma

How about a return to the Neon-Noir World War 2 psychological thriller where things are getting much darker tonally, literally and literarily as the art of war shows its ugliness and the toll it can take on the mind, in dark but beautiful art that stays with you long after the experience? Welcome back to Sussex Chapter 2 from Nick Goode and Álvaro Molina.

Nick Goode is a British writer with over a decade's worth of experience at his command. Plus an MA in creative writing. Nick's previous works include The Red Wave, A Year and titles set in The Snow universe.

Nick is joined once again by the ever-elusive yet insatiably talented enigma Álvaro Molina. Álvaro's Instagram (alvaro.molcres) continues to offer the only glimpse I can find outside of this series to the talent. I mean, just to get personnel here, but the Swamp Thing illustration is just mesmerisingly, hauntingly, beautiful, but I digress. For more on this series, you can check the review of issue one here. To current matters then, without raisins but probably raving, it's review time.

So, let's start with the art. Álvaro Molina is back again in a series trademark presentation of Pulp aesthetic Neon-Noir with a strong leaning of classic war comics that would make even the most die-hard fans of Commando comics swoon at its presentation. The pulp style to the lines has a really comforting feel to it that contrasts against the darkness and violence of its subject matter.

Speaking of darkness, the exceptional colour work found in issue one is much more reserved palette-wise this time around, which suits things tonally for sure and indeed when those Neon elements return, it adds more weight and merit to its inclusion, to present some of the most impactful moments comics can provide. There's also something really interesting in some of the more explicitly mental health exploring moments and the fact that these are presented in black and white, again offering a beautiful juxtaposition to the nature of the thoughts, maybe even commentating on how "black and white" that type of thinking feels to those experiencing it.

Álvaro's approach to human emotion is also particularly striking in its presentation, adding extra strength to the experience on offer by the narrative. Nick and Álvaro also deliver sterling lettering full of notable and creative expression to finish off an impressive collection of art.

Lofty heights of impressive art well re-met its story time. All the beautiful exposition built in the first chapter continues to slowly build. My assumptions made in the previous review, that this would be the high octane release, are instead delivered as something altogether more interesting, something more sinister and isolating, while also powerfully fractured to emphasise the turmoil of our protagonist. You may have heard the old adage of show, don't tell. In this chapter, it's the violence we don't see that is most affecting.

As with the first chapter, the commentary on mental health steers the narrative and is added to more thoroughly in this chapter. This is Archie's first brush with trauma. It's the way this plays out that spearheads the commentary with powerful and poignant exploration. What stands out in this chapter is the feeling of isolation from trauma and the fracturing of the sense of self, which is shown with a certain beauty of its own. This is really fantastic storytelling in of itself but Nick has a bigger story to tell and keeps readers further hooked at darker things to come and the introduction of a new character, potential friend or foe, the mysterious John. Archie's continued journey to rediscover his memories and life before the war still holds more trauma to uncover, and I have no doubt this continued exploration of the psyche will be a dark but beautiful discovery of mental health wrapped in an entertaining spy thriller.

For fans of spy thrillers, war comics, pulp art, mystery, intrigue, exploration of the darkness of trauma and its encompassing infection of the mind and memories with isolation and fractured thinking, mysterious men named John, shadowy subterfuge, love and relationships in Neon, exclaimed noir pulp art that sucks you in, trust in Sussex Chapter 2.

To get your copy, march over to Kickstarter for the exciting campaign for chapters 3 & 4. That's right, not only could you get caught up with this brilliant story with the collected chapters 1 & 2, but you can also have the next two thrilling instalments, so check it out right here.

Review: 4.8/5.