Book Review: Spill Zone Vol. 2 by S. Westerfield et al.

Spill Zone Volume 2: The Broken Vow written by Scott Westerfield and illustrated by Alex Puvilland

See my review of Volume 1 here...

After the surprise revelation of another Spill Zone in North Korea, we find out a lone survivor, Jae, has come to the New York Spill Zone to find out more information. Also, the North Korean government has sent a delegation to acquire something from the restricted area so that the "Brilliant Comrade" can use the strange powers that Jae has (flying around is one among many). Our heroine Addison develops powers too when she is exposed to the "something" that she's been paid a million dollars to sneak out of the Zone. She gets her powers just in time, because something has come from the other side of the Spill for its bride--an entity that's pals with Addison's kid sister (the entity inhabits one of her dolls). The entity doesn't want to go back to the other side, so there's bound to be trouble.

The story is weird and interesting, as is the art. The politics are low-key--the North Korean leader never shows up and is more of a MacGuffin than an actual character. I enjoyed the book a lot and was happy to see the story actually come to an end (though they left room for a sequel).

Recommended.

Book Review: Spill Zone by S. Westerfeld et al.

Spill Zone written by Scott Westerfeld, art by Alex Puvilland, colors by Hilary Sycamore

Addison is an adventurous photographer who lives outside Poughkeepsie, New York. Po-town, as it's referred to in the book, had a major and unexplainable event a few years back rendering it into a wasteland. It's a cross between Chernobyl and Cthulhu, with weird and unnatural creatures inhabiting it. The black market for pictures from inside the Spill Zone, as it is also called, is profitable, so Addison keeps going back. She has to support her little sister, who barely escaped the Spill Zone back in the day. Their parents did not escape. One of Addison's worries is that she'll run into her parents or what's left of them at some point. But still she goes in.

If that wasn't odd enough, another spill zone opened up in North Korea on the same night. The North Koreans are interested in finding out more about the American counterpart and have sent someone to find out more. The situation is slow to develop, leaving fodder for future issues. I found the story intriguing enough. With the odd plot twists and an engaging central character, I am interested in reading more. The sequel doesn't come out until July 2018, but their web site says it will start serializing in October 2017. I better mark my calendar!

Recommended.