Extraordinary #02

Extraordinary #02

Titan Comics 2021

Written by V.E. Schwab

Illustrated by Enid Balám

Coloured by Jordi Escuin

After surviving a deadly crash, Charlotte Tills becomes “ExtraOrdinary”, gaining the ability to foresee a person’s death in reflective surfaces. Unfortunately, the only face staring back at her is that of notorious EO-killer Eli Ever.

I am incredibly intrigued by this book. I like the idea of surviving a near death experience and gaining some sort of power from it. Granted there is nothing flashy about Charlie’s gift but given the circumstances of surviving a bus crash it isn’t like she’s going to be on the receiving end of something flashy or fancy. I do kind of like the nod to Final Destination though. I also find it interesting that Eli Ever would be dispatched to take out a teenage girl when they don’t even know what her ability is and if they knew would they bother? After all knowing how everyone around you is going to die isn’t exactly conducive to having a nice normal life and it would probably drive me bonkers and into become a recluse. It also isn’t the kind of information most folks would find useful and there’s nothing to gain by insider trading on the knowledge either. Though if her family were to be taken care of as a means to getting to her that’s another story altogether.

I am really rather enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold fas well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well. The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does wonders in fleshing them out as people we know at least can relate to. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story we become more engaged and invested in the book.

I appreciate how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow and evolve. The layers contain the characterisation, the introduction of new characters and so much more so that they add extra depth, dimension and complexity to the story is beautifully done. How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is extremely well achieved.

The interiors here are really very solid stuff. The linework is clean, crisp and strong along with its varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work is exceptional work. That we see backgrounds being utilised throughout to expand and enhance the moments makes me a happy camper. Also how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is magnificently rendered. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The colour work is brilliantly rendered. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for colour and how to maximise its effects.

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There’s something happening here, but what it is ain’t exactly clear, there’s a man with a gun over there, and he’s telling me they’ve got to beware. Charlie needs friends and she needs to learn the ropes about the EO’s and why they are being targeted and hunted, especially her by this man. With some sensational writing and characterisation along with these stellar interiors I feel like things here are just starting to pick up and it makes me excited to see where they are going to go next.