Comic book blitz review: The Squidder #2- Pain, resentment, loss.

Writer: Ben Templesmith
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Publisher: IDW
Released: 6th August 2014

There is feeling of pain, resentment and loss about this book, a feeling emanating from it’s main character that in no way seems fake, forced or contrived to create the emotion that is flowing from it.

It’s the dirty, vomit coloured art, the stunted, not wanting to communicate, but communicating dialogue, the unsmiling faces, the feeling of being used or being the user, and a sense that those in charge, the parasites of the universe are not a million miles removed from the creatures that control our own.

All of these factors combine to make a book that’s a notch above a lot of the others that I read today. Issue #2 gives the reader an insight into the cruel, indifferent, parasitic squid, a priestess used as a conduit to control the enslaved masses, and a soldier who tried, but failed to beat the squid many years ago.

The villainous squid are detestable, the priestess knows she has been used, and wants revenge, as does the soldier. The humans they meet along the way are fighting amongst themselves for scraps from the table of their parasitic slave masters, much like a lot of the slaves do in our own reality.

It’s a sad book, a depressed book, but a rebellion is stirring. This issue is about the beginning of the fight back, where humanity begins to change what has happened to them, to plan, to conspire, yes because everything’s a bloody ‘conspiracy,’ now isn’t it? Especially reality, that’s the biggest bloody ‘conspiracy’ of them all.

Two individuals are conspiring to kick the parasite in the teeth and reclaim their lost humanity from the oppressive slave master parasite that has destroyed their world. Just two people, two seeds that are beginning to grow. Two people who are saying no to the parasite. Two people not fighting for scraps, but fighting the fat bloated master at the table. I’m up for that. Great book.

Rating: 9/10