Action Lab Comics enters the review rotation pool here ay GAMbIT and we kick things off with the interesting Dollface #2 from their Danger Zone imprint that handles mature content books. I haven’t read that many mature comics in my time, so this was an interesting experience that opened my eyes up to something new.
Dan Mendoza handles both the story and main art duties on Dollface #2 and he provides us with this really wild punk rock marionette that kicks all sorts of ass. Issue number two drops the reader right into the thick of things and it isn’t all that hard to catch up on what’s going on thanks to a few flashbacks. But if you haven’t read issue number one you will have a lot of questions about who, what, where, when and how.
Our books hero Lila is pulled from sometime int the 1800s just before being the last of her three sisters killed in a ritual to bring about some great evil. Before she is sacrificed she wakes up in the modern-day in a new body.This out of time story is something that I can get behind and the really cool thing is that when she is transported into the modern-day, her spirit is implanted into the body of a what I assume is some sort of sex doll (the books hints at it).
The writing is solid, even if it doesn’t yet really take advantage of the cool premise the book sets up. As this is only issue two I can cut it a little slack in that department, but I really hope the book spends some more time on world building and playing up this cool idea. That said, It’s all a bit confusing to figure out what all is going on as the book jumps around quite a bit tossing in characters like we should already know their entire backstory, so I do recommend you snag the first issue as it’s essential to understanding everything.
Where the book really places the focus is on the art, which is pretty wild. And I’m not talking about it being overtly sexual because it really isn’t, at least not in this issue. Yes, it’s 17+ and I wouldn’t want my kid reading this, but for the rest of us it’s fairly tame minus the odd boob. What I do like is the sense of motion that you get thanks to the exaggerated proportions and faces that Mendoza uses. This is an American book but there is a lot of anime influence being tossed around.
There is a very unique visual style in play that I can really get behind in Dollface and it’s enough to make me stick with the series for a bit. It’s sexy while not being gross, it’s bright and colorful but also allows for some darker moments both in look and story. I’m sure Mendoza is known for this style and I’m excited to find out more of his work.
That said the backgrounds the book uses are really plain and uninspired. It’s all gradients and fill tool and lacks detail, but as one person is doing just about everything it’s understandable. I just really wish there was more detail in the world, or at least as much as the characters get.
It’s very plain and when the book uses real posters for, well, posters on a wall, it becomes quite distracting. You can’t ignore the backgrounds and then add in stuff that dosn’t fit the style because it comes from someplace else. I’m a stickler for a unified and cohesive look and something like that pulls me out of the reading experience.
Dollface #2 moves at a break-neck pace and hardly lets you catch your breath. This is fine as the art is entertaining enough on its own and fun to see. But this pacing hurts the story as everything feels rushed, not to mention the story has issues some real logic issues at times. There is a scene where Lila, still adjusting to her body and the time period, “feels” one of sisters’ killers and attacks her.
The fight itself is great thanks to the anime influenced art style Mendoza uses, but the part of the story makes little sense to new readers. I can believe this woman is still alive through magic or the like, but what I can’t figure out is why she didn’t kill Lila or take her home with her other than because the plot said she can’t.
Lila is still weak and has her fragile body destroyed with ease by this magic lady who realizes who she is. She even tells Lila that her master has been looking for her for centuries, to kill her and finish the ritual. Again, all this is fine, but she then just leaves to go tell her boss. It makes no sense! Even worse is that the book simply comes to a full stop without any warning after something about science portal happens. I thought my review copy was missing pages, but it wasn’t. Dollface #2 just sort of ends right in the middle of the action.
Dollface is still growing as a series so I can cut it a bit of slack, but it needs to quickly find its footing before it’s too late and loses new readers. But if you are a fan of Mendoza’s work then you are going to scoop this up, and the neat cover art is sure to grab some new readers as well. The story of Dollface has yet to live up to its amazing potential so I only recommend this one for fans of the artisit only, at least for the time being.
“Dollface still needs to find its legs to grab the audience, but fans of Mendoza’s earlier work will be all over this.”
Final Score:
2.5/5
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