I was a bit mixed on the debut issue of Public Domain. The character felt more like caricatures to me than fleshed our nuanced beings. The concept was great, a meta look at the comic industry, creator rights, and the billion dollar industries that have spun out from it all. Public Domain #2 keeps that focus as it narrows things down a bit as a family drama which feels like it improves the issue and series as a whole.
Written by Chip Zdarsky, the fallout with the first issue’s discovery begins here. The Dallas family has discovered the father owns the rights to The Domain. That comic character has spawned countless movies and lots of merchandise of which little has been seen as far as compensation. But, what to do about it?
On one side is a brother who wants to fight and gain what’s theirs. Then there’s the father, creator of The Domain, and the rights holder who has a bit more of a laidback outlook. Do they sue? Do they make a threat and hold out for a settlement? There’s a lot of debate here and it’s somewhat interesting if not expected.
What is interesting is Zdarsky’s focus on the father, and how he treats his creations. The juxtaposition between his work in comics and how he interacts with his family is interesting. As a father, it’s the part that hits me closest. Balancing things are not easy and this is a case of a failure all around but at least a consistent failure. There’s a distance to it all like once the thing is created he sits back and watches it bloom by itself. Add in a bit of multiple identities/roles one plays in life and out of everything, this is the most interesting aspect so far.
The art by Zdarsky is solid. The characters all continue to look great and the personalities stick out in their looks and body language. Each character has a style unto themselves in both. That helps add a depth and helps brings them to life. There’s also a focus on the reactions in each moment. Body language and facial expressions are key and tell so much of what’s going on.
Story: Chip Zdarsky Art: Chip Zdarsky
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
