Book Review: Y: The Last Man Vol. 2 by B. K. Vaughn et al.

Y: The Last Man Volume 2: Cycles written by Brian K. Vaughn, pencilled by Pia Guerra, and inked by Jose Marzan, Jr.

Yorick Brown's cross-country adventure continues as he, Agent 355, and Dr. Mann take a train to California to the doctor's back-up laboratory. Mann has been working on cloning and hopes to clone Yorick so he won't be the last man. A couple of toughs encounter the travelers in Ohio, forcing them to jump from the train. Yorick winds up in an idyllic-seeming town where all the women are nice and caring. The women are welcoming but also fearful because they have a secret they don't want let out...especially to any authorities, like his government covert spy traveling companion. And what about that Russian woman who is going to Kansas for some unexplained reason?

The idyllic town is a little unbelievable given the overall story's set-up. The explanation for why they are in such great shape and of their dark secret both strain credibility. I have the impression the authors are either going for blatant social commentary or subtle Swiftian satire. The problem is how unclear their intentions are. Neither interpretation is satisfactory because neither one is well executed. I don't think it's meant to be a meandering, fantastic adventure with a deeper but obvious meaning like The Odyssey. The deeper message isn't that deep or else it's too deep to be fathomed. Either way, it is not for me. I'm done with Y: The Last Man.

Not recommended.