The second story arc of 27 picks up a few months after the close of the first series. The fallen rock star William Garland is learning to live with the mysterious device that turned his life upside-down, and deal with the demons (both figurative and literal) that have plagued him. He’s struggling to rehabilitate his musical career, playing tiny venues and slowly rebuilding.
The mystical and musical obsessions of the first series are still driving forces this time around, though the recurring “power of numbers” theme is mostly dismissed. In its place is an increased focus on character; the first story arc was driven by plot devices, this one pivots on people and personalities. There’s plenty of supernatural elements, but they aren’t what make the story engaging. This time, we care about Garland, what happens to him and how he deals with it. Once a character ruled by events, by the second issue of this series he’s finally deciding his own fate. His choices aren’t always good, but he’s in charge of his own destiny for the first time since we’ve met him.
Charles Soule has created a completely believable protagonist here, a charismatic talent who uses and discards people, an egotist who manages to be sympathetic without ever being entirely likable. The character’s journey creates the structure for the story; elements of musical history, witchcraft, and celebrity obsession add context, fill in the edges, and give the reader more access points into the events that ensue. And Soule’s script is matched perfectly with Renzo Podesta’s art: every corner is swathed in deep shadow, thick black lines create both horrific monsters and easily identifiable characters, sharp angles and deep muted colors fill in the backgrounds and wash over the landscapes. You can almost forget the world around you while reading these pages, and lose yourself in the world forged by the combination of the words and pictures.
Second Set is that rare beast: a worthwhile sequel. It expands on some themes from the first series, creates some entirely new one, and ends on a high note, leaving you wanting more. It’s a compelling paean to the power of music; a remarkable rock and roll fantasy.
27: Second Set is by Charles Soule and Renzo Podesta, with covers by W. Scott Forbes, and published by Image Comics. The four individual issues are available through comic shops, and the paperback collection is set to be released in April.
All articles in the Pop Music Comics series can be found here.