Next Testament Volume Two TPB Review…

In Liam Sharp’s witty and informative forward he makes a statement that I feel sums up how we as a species need to grow and evolve in our way of thinking. He says.”A god whose whims you can never fully appease, who will damn three generations of your guiltless families offspring and hold your love to ransom.” This was a great way for the reader to get themselves immersed into The Next Testament Vol. II TPB version. It lets the reader know right off the bat what they’re about get themselves into. And this is a much more complex and deeper series of stories than the first four issues.

Unfortunately, Wick was more of an asshole this time around and not as much fun. That’s more of an observation than a criticism. He’s all business here and that took away a lot of his charm but this was probably the intent of both Barker and Miller. This is the second act of a three act story so seeing Wick be more aggressive and authoritative makes perfect sense.

He’s also more a little unsure of himself this time around as well and at times doesn’t seem to know what he wants from his people. In one scene he makes them all disappear out of frustration because of their lack of vision, but he immediately brings them back because he feels they need him. This moment clearly showed a sign of weakness in Wick which I found to be curious? Do Gods have weaknesses like we do?

Another problem he continues to face is Tristen and Elspeth’s crusade to destroy him. He tests them over and over but they continue to persevere through his challenges because of the love they share for one another. I believe Wick fears this and is afraid that they will destroy his vision for the new world he wants to create. He makes it very clear that he will deal with them personally obviously setting a showdown for Vol. III.

But what I’ve found most interesting as I continue to read The Next Testament are the questions it raises about the current state of the world we live in today. Self-righteous behavior, bigotry, and hate still remain in our country today and characters like the crazy Pastor Calhoun are Mark Miller and Clive Barker’s representation of all of these feelings and prejudices rolled into one character. With the state of Indiana recently passing their anti-LGBT law I’m constantly bothered that people can’t look beyond their own selfish beliefs and accept others for who they are! Now don’t get me wrong, Gods like Wick would be dangerous as well, but Miller and Barker have written him in such a way where he doesn’t appear to come off as judgmental of others lifestyles.

Unlike Vol. 1 the special features a little light this time around. All we get are the main covers for the individual issues by the talented Goni Montes and a couple of cool splash page images of Wick being loved on by his flock. But Liam Sharp’s forward was the best feature on hand here. I’d really like to have a beer with this guy and talk about why the world doesn’t need a God. I think it would be some fun times.

Sadly, Vol. III doesn’t comes out until August but I’m sure it will be worth the wait because for comic book it sure makes me think about the world in a whole new light. That’s the sign of strong story that will last forever, and The Next Testament most certainly will do so.

Also. I hope a lot of you voted for this to win Best Comic for the 2014 Rondo Awards because it certainly deserves it. There’s still time to do so!!!! Let’s bring this one home for Mark Miller and Clive Barker.

My Score: 10/10