RAI BOOK TWO Dan Abnett, writer. Juan Jose Ryp, art. (Valiant Entertainment, February 2021) Trade paperback, 128 pages. ISBN # 1682153908 / 9781682153901 Collecting RAI #6-#10 (2019-2020)
Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .
ENTER “WILD FRONTIERS”!
Rai and Raijin’s quest to stop Father’s plan to recreate his dominion continues! Down in the post-apocalyptic wilds of Earth they’ll encounter a dizzying array of people and places like none ever conceived in the sleek technological utopia of New Japan they once called home.
My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .
I read this in the single issues.
Before this series began writer Matt Kindt resurrected Rai, the oft-neglected original Valiant character, in the 4,000 AD series of crossover stories. Dan Abnett picked up the torch after that and took the series in a whole new and exciting direction.
Abnett picks up where he left off in Book One and continues to build and develop this new world further - - the remnants of civilization on Earth 4000 AD after New Japan falls from orbit and crashes into the planet.
The reason for that crash was the actions of Rai, the former enforcer of Father on New Japan, when he partnered with outside rebellious forces to bring down the authoritarian rule of Father. Now, Rai and Raijin, his boyish prodigy/companion, seek out the Offspring of Father to prevent a resurgence of his reign. Father is now referred to as Bloodfather in a bit of foreshadowing, as this second volume reveals the existence of and entrapped Bloodshot in a digital/virtual world of sorts.
The art alone is worth the price of admission. Juan Jose Ryp's details are stunning, and the colors of Andrew Dalhouse enhance the intricacy.
The remnants of the robotic (here called positronic) Roman forces from New Japan attempt to establish Romanus among the ruins, and need Rai's assistance to hold off advancing monstrous forces. Meanwhile over in the more computer-based dwellings of Hinansho Town the tech-savant Spylocke tries to conceal her data mining efforts from the notice of Bloodfather.
Rai and Raijin pick up a female human companion along the way, and this opens the door for some human versus robots conflict when they visit the advanced robot settlement of New Ur and encounter some positronic prejudice towards humans. The interactions of the characters are interesting, especially the conversations between Raijin and Alice, and allow Abnett to inject some subtle social commentary.
The final issue/chapter here ends on a cliffhanger, alluding to the potential introduction of yet another older Valiant character (this one a villain) into the storyline.
Book Two was very entertaining, less episodic that Book One. I'm looking forward to seeing more new stories of Rai in 2021.
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