Invisible Republic Vol. 02

Invisible Republic Vol. 02
Gabriel Hardman & Corinna Bechko, writers; Gabriel Hardman, artist; Jordan Boyd, colors
Image Comics, 2016

The second collection opens with the return of the Lady Pannonica de Roths, Baroness of Kappa Valley (frequently just referred to as the Baroness--her name is so similar to real life Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, a famous British-born jazz patron, especially of bebop musicians like Charlie Parker--that I doubt it is a coincidence, which is further confirmed by both women having the nickname "Nica").

She became an exile when McBride became dictator, but their relationship was complicated, as the flashbacks to the early days of the revolution make clear. She is also no friend of Maia Reveron, as Woronov and Babb see first hand when Reveron's headquarters are attacked by an armed force. Both of them want Reveron's journal (which she reveals had been created during her 15 years in prison) in order to control the historical narrative.

The Earth authorities are very interested in the journal as well, as Woronov discovers when she attempts to retrieve it from the orbiting headquarters of Earth's viceroy. Babb has to come up to unlock the case, and surprises everyone by burning the journal at gunpoint. But he has the last laugh: he has already sent the contents to his ex-wife/editor, entitled "Invisible Republic: The Journal of Avalon's Forgotten Woman," with his Foreword--which she is about to publish.

The surprise at the end of the first volume certainly pays off here, although the story ups the ante with several further complications. Despite all of the history of the early years of McBride's revolution, we never find out how the Baroness fell out of favor, or why Maia spent so many years in prison. Do either of them really have the moon's citizens best interests at heart, and what part does the Earth government play?

Still a fine, character-driven story, although the murky color scheme has come to feel like a negative. The story might actually be better served in black and white.

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