And Then I Read: THE UNKNOWN, THE DEVIL MADE FLESH

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The second storyline in a series is always tricky. You want readers to come back to what they liked the first time, but avoid repeating things so much that it seems like just more of the same. Mark Waid has a great solution in his script for this book. He picks up his two main characters a year later, but in a very unusual way. Catherine Allingham, the brilliant but fatally ill detective, is continuing her work with a new partner. Her partner from the first series, James Doyle, is following her and trying to talk to her. When he finally succeeds, Catherine doesn't seem to know him at all. Both have large gaps in their memories. Gradually the missing story begins to come clear as the characters make their way to a small town plagued by serial killings. A town where, a year earlier, something major happened to both of them. Something they can't remember. I've left out a few crucial twists on even this much of the story, to keep from giving too much away, but it's a great read, even if some of the ideas are pretty far out there.

The art by Minck Oosterveer is quite appealing, very solid. This time it reminded me of Tim Sale at times. The colors have a painted look (can't tell if it's real paint or all digital) that adds depth to the line art and the story, a nice bonus. Good stuff.

Recommended.