The Smart Division #2

Dark Horse Comics

Written by Zack Kaplan

Art by John J Pearson

Colors by John J Pearson

Letters by Buddy Beaudoin

The Rundown: Agents Bailey and Larque discover their murder mystery is more complicated than they suspected.

Bailey and Larque are taken to see the AI supercomputer that is being built to solve murders and it has a lot to say about the ones they are investigating. As they meet with the head of the company and his FBI connections, Bailey tries to warn his new partner about restraint, but it doesn’t go well.

As their investigation continues, the pair decide to pay a visit to one of the suspect’s home and finding nothing, they discover a party that might have the people they need to talk to. As Larque makes her way inside, she discovers not only more victims, but the murderer waiting outside. The pair give chase but discover quickly that the killer is not only one step ahead, but knows exactly who they are.

The Story: Kaplan continues to create a dark, thrilling and engaging noir style mystery in this issue. I continue to love the tension between the characters and how they play off each other. There are some consistently interesting moments throughout the story as the characters deal with the reality of AI as part of their investigation and how its function can be both a boon and a hindrance to it. The mystery continues to be compelling and I look forward to seeing where it takes me next.

The Art: Pearson delivers stunning, intense and visually exciting art throughout the issue. The visual style is perfect for the tone and mood of the story.

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