[Comic Book Review] THE BOYS: Dear Becky #2 from Dynamite

PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of THE BOYS: Dear Becky #2 from Dynamite Entertainment. Available Wednesday, July 1st, the creative team for this issue features writing from Garth Ennis, art from Russ Braun, colors by Tony Aviña, and lettering from Simon Bowland.

Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…

THE BOYS: Dear Becky #2

Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Russ Braun
Colorist: Tony Aviña
Letterer: Simon Bowland

Cover Artist: Darick Robertson

In Shops: July 1, 2020

As Hughie’s discoveries take him down a highly dangerous rabbit hole, what he learns about the good old days reveals a strangely conflicted Butcher- at the worst possible time, as the Boys investigate a particularly insidious supe threat.

RELATED: PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of THE BOYS: Dear Becky #1

PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
THE BOYS: Dear Becky #2

Writing: Garth’s writing in this issue is positively bursting with character development. The original series tended to focus heavily on the secrets of The Boys and also about the mission of taking The Seven and Vought. Here, while there are new things to be learned, it isn’t meant to be just shock and awe. Layers are being peeled away as Hughie digs more into Billy’s past. And there are still questions to be answered, red herrings being left along the trail by Garth that will keep pulling readers along.

Art: Russ’s art just jumps out again, as it has in the past. First and foremost is with the violence that is typical of The Boys. While it isn’t the same “in one’s face,” ultra-violence of bygone times when it shows up, it is proper nasty. Fans will note that Russ has a bit of fun on a particular set of pages, and they’ll see why this reviewer is making a note about a particular character that shows up at the start of this issue.

Colors: Colors, colors, and more colors. Tony’s colors are, quite frankly, divine. They blend perfectly with Russ’s artwork, adding an aged depth to Hughie and his world. Whereas with Billy and Mallory and the team, the color choices have a brighter tone to them, as if to reflect the “good old days” that are a part of this new series. All together, everything in terms of color choices play wonderfully when joined to the art.

Letters: Simon’s lettering on the whole of the first series brought a lot of different tones, inflections, and voices to life. Here, there is that same feeling, that same energy. As if Hughie, Billy, and the crew are all as real as anyone can be. And two other new faces that show up, well it’s clear Simon had a grand time lettering their dialogue. A master crafts-person who clearly enjoys bringing amazing work to life through the power of letters.

As it is with any comic, the second issue is just as important as the first, the third, and so on. Like the second act in a play or movie, the second issue adds depth to what was established at the start. Garth and the gang do a fine job of just that. Even though there are still questions to be answered and mysteries to be uncovered, they are worth it knowing that Garth, Russ, Tony, Simon, and ‘The Boys’ are there right for the ride.