"Alice Cooper" #2

The second issue of "Alice Cooper" delves deeper into the story. The first issue was made strictly to give us information regarding the characters and settings with a bit of back-story. This second issue brings us into the story even further. We are made aware that Kachina the snake along with others in the Nightmare world are trying to bring Cooper back, but with much trouble. Further, since Cooper is still under contract with Black, he is outraged that he has escaped him. Two different realms are trying to track down Cooper, but he is no where to be found -- he is with the children, helping them seek revenge on school bullies. 

In this issue it is made clear how evil Lucius Black and his clan really are. We saw in the first issue that he used monsters as a way to convince people to sign with him, but in this issue we can see there are many more helpers. One, in fact, is a character we met in the first issue. The person who sold the children the Alice Cooper album at the garage sale is actually part of Black's clan. At first I was unsure if it was the same person, but once I saw the same black speech balloons that spoke with in the first issue, I was certain it was the same person. 

With different scenes happening all at once within this story and the fact that it jumps from one set of characters to another within a few pages, and back again, it is helpful that the colour schemes match up with each individual story - it helps to break it up and makes it easier to follow. The scenes with the children are more bland and dark colours, whereas the scenes with Black and his entourage are a lot more bright and colourful. 

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Once again, the paneling is important as well. In the pages where Cooper is made to look horrific and frightful, that is, when he is made to look like the "Lord of Nightmares," the panels disappear and the page turns into one big bleed of panels. The page is overrun by one main picture, usually smaller panels that emphasize certain aspects of the scene. Also, the colours stick with the dark palettes of blacks, purples, and dark blues. This makes it look more scary, opposed to the other pages that are depicting scenes through broken up panels across the page. 

I am exited to continue to read this series and see what comes of Cooper and the story, and to see if the colouring and panelling will continue to be used in this way.