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We Only Find Them When They're Dead
We Only Find Them When They're Dead, Vol. 2: The Stealer
Fifty years have passed since Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II embarked on their fateful mission - and now Jason Hauer, one of the fated crew, is drawn into a conflict that threatens to tear apart the galaxy.
NO ONE ESCAPES THE GODS. Fifty years have passed since Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II embarked on their fateful mission - and the universe has changed in ways no one ever expected. Jason Hauer, one of the fated Vihaan II crew, is now 71 years old and living a life on the razor’s edge between the Harvesters and the Worshippers. But as these rival religious factions clash throughout the galaxy, Jason finds himself thrown into the center of the chaos and forced to confront his tortured past. But the only people who can help Jason have their own secret agenda - one that may bring him face to face with Captain Malik in ways beyond comprehension� Discover the next chapter of the acclaimed sci-fi epic from superstars Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and Simone Di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) as the true consequences of Captain Malik’s mission are revealed. Collects We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #6-10.
NO ONE ESCAPES THE GODS. Fifty years have passed since Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II embarked on their fateful mission - and the universe has changed in ways no one ever expected. Jason Hauer, one of the fated Vihaan II crew, is now 71 years old and living a life on the razor’s edge between the Harvesters and the Worshippers. But as these rival religious factions clash throughout the galaxy, Jason finds himself thrown into the center of the chaos and forced to confront his tortured past. But the only people who can help Jason have their own secret agenda - one that may bring him face to face with Captain Malik in ways beyond comprehension� Discover the next chapter of the acclaimed sci-fi epic from superstars Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and Simone Di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) as the true consequences of Captain Malik’s mission are revealed. Collects We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #6-10.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2022
17 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 27, 2022
There's some cool sci-fi here. I just need a lot of it explained to me. Between the constant time jumps back and forth and the odd angled art and filtered colors that make it impossible to tell who is who, I constantly feel lost. Plus there's the fact that this arc jumps 50 years into the future so that it's all new characters I have to get to know. Still there's enough here to like. The plan is to steal a God. The art is very pretty. I'll stick around for the final arc.
October 29, 2021
I'm sorry, I just can't do it anymore. The art is beautiful in stasis but it makes the action unintelligible, the number of characters and the constant time jumps ruin any flow and make the plot hard to follow, probably because it's not that interesting in the first place. The ending of the first volume was a bold move, sure, but it makes this one a blank slate that's filled in with mush and yet requires the reader to reinvest a whole new bunch of emotions into the book. I'm out.
August 21, 2022
3.25 stars. So I hoped and thought this book was going to go in the direction of showing us where these gods are from, who they were, what they were about and how they keep ending up floating in space dead. But that is not the direction this book went. Instead we have a new colony built up that made a cathedral for Captain Georges Malik. Here, these people believe in him as a god. However, people from the inner city or whatever, want to steal him away and use him for their own personal gain. So we follow the mission of them trying to do just that. Story ended up being decent and the art is still great but I’m just ready to learn about these gods already.
June 24, 2022
This book thinks it's too clever by half.
Which is a pity because it's got a great background and it's telling a big, long-spanning story. I'd love to love it.
But the storytelling is so fractured by the constant jumping between different time periods that it borders on unreadable.
And the art, even though it's got better contrast in this second volume still goes to hell whenever there's action, so that you can't tell what in the world happened.
Sigh.
Which is a pity because it's got a great background and it's telling a big, long-spanning story. I'd love to love it.
But the storytelling is so fractured by the constant jumping between different time periods that it borders on unreadable.
And the art, even though it's got better contrast in this second volume still goes to hell whenever there's action, so that you can't tell what in the world happened.
Sigh.
February 23, 2022
The problems with storytelling and art from the first volume are not corrected, and things are further complicated by a tedious parade of crosses, doublecrosses, and doubledoublecrosses, that make little sense and at this point hold no interest.
May 20, 2022
Fifty years have passed since the end of issue 5, and the galaxy is a very different place. The space gods that were once mined for everything they were worth are now revered for the gods that they are - specifically, the man who transformed himself into one. But someone wants to steal the sacred body of Malik. Maybe more than one somebody. The biggest heist in the universe is about to take place.
The problem with this second arc of WOFTWTD is two-fold. We don't get to see any of the developments that we're told about that occurred in the last fifty years, so the book devolves into a lot of talking heads. Lots of tell, don't show, which seems a bit backwards for a comic book.
And aside from one or two of them, we're not familiar with any of these characters, so it's like hitting the reset button and relaunching with a new issue #1. That would be fine usually, but it does feel like the rug's been pulled out from under us just as we were getting our footing.
Once I adjusted, I did enjoy this though. The intrigue and the double crosses come thick and fast, and the world that Ewing creates with his words is vivid even if it's not actually depicted most of the time. And of course, Simone Di Meo's neon streaked artwork is still wonderful, and a perfect fit for a space age story like this.
Despite feeling like you're playing catch-up after only five issues, WOFTWTD continues to compel, even if it's nothing like the book I was expecting it to be. With only five more issues to go before the series concludes, we'll have to see if it can reinvent itself yet again before the end.
The problem with this second arc of WOFTWTD is two-fold. We don't get to see any of the developments that we're told about that occurred in the last fifty years, so the book devolves into a lot of talking heads. Lots of tell, don't show, which seems a bit backwards for a comic book.
And aside from one or two of them, we're not familiar with any of these characters, so it's like hitting the reset button and relaunching with a new issue #1. That would be fine usually, but it does feel like the rug's been pulled out from under us just as we were getting our footing.
Once I adjusted, I did enjoy this though. The intrigue and the double crosses come thick and fast, and the world that Ewing creates with his words is vivid even if it's not actually depicted most of the time. And of course, Simone Di Meo's neon streaked artwork is still wonderful, and a perfect fit for a space age story like this.
Despite feeling like you're playing catch-up after only five issues, WOFTWTD continues to compel, even if it's nothing like the book I was expecting it to be. With only five more issues to go before the series concludes, we'll have to see if it can reinvent itself yet again before the end.
December 20, 2022
The second volume of We Only Find Them When They’re Dead takes the reader on a new path into the future. They really decided to ignore all the questions put forth and skip to the next part, much to this reader’s displeasure.
The volume focuses on the humans instead of the ‘gods� or aliens. The first volume was bloated and the pacing was stretched to the max in favor of family drama. This one does the same, but with religious and political espionage. Being heavy in action is a negative since the art is a blur. I spent more time trying to figure out what was happening.
There are mostly new characters, with the exception of old boy Hauer. The new characters are just as irritating as the previous ones. We don’t really get much of a glimpse into their lives and personalities and everyone suffers from same-face syndrome, so they just fade to the background. I actually found myself missing the dead characters because these ones were so terribly drawn.
This arc is so far removed from the previous one that it’s hard to believe it’s the same series anymore. I’ve lost all hope for proper answers and must admit defeat. I will read the next (hopefully last) volume, but, at this point, this series is dead to me.
Individual reviews:
#6, #7, #8, #9, #10
The volume focuses on the humans instead of the ‘gods� or aliens. The first volume was bloated and the pacing was stretched to the max in favor of family drama. This one does the same, but with religious and political espionage. Being heavy in action is a negative since the art is a blur. I spent more time trying to figure out what was happening.
There are mostly new characters, with the exception of old boy Hauer. The new characters are just as irritating as the previous ones. We don’t really get much of a glimpse into their lives and personalities and everyone suffers from same-face syndrome, so they just fade to the background. I actually found myself missing the dead characters because these ones were so terribly drawn.
This arc is so far removed from the previous one that it’s hard to believe it’s the same series anymore. I’ve lost all hope for proper answers and must admit defeat. I will read the next (hopefully last) volume, but, at this point, this series is dead to me.
Individual reviews:
#6, #7, #8, #9, #10
January 2, 2023
I really thought we were going to get a little more backstory about the gods here. We didn't, and I'm not sure we do in future issues, either? I'm honestly on the fence about whether or not to continue, but I'll wait until the third volume is on Comixology Unlimited to make the determination. The art is still beautiful, though.
July 29, 2022
This comic series went from a time jumping heist story to a political intrigue story, and it totally lost me. We move ahead into the future for new characters, even though we really didn't get to know the previous ones very well, and I think we're supposed to see a bit of a change in the society but things were pretty bare bones in the last volume, so I didnt notice what the changes were.
I mentioned in my review of volume one that the art was either going to "floor you" or turn you off. While I didn't mind the vibrant stylish color palletes against the black backgrounds in a book focused on space battles and floating gods, I thought it did a huge disservice to a book about politics and religion.
With no characters to care about, and art that seemed to clash with the story, I checked out pretty early on this. I mean, I kept reading it, but I wasn't enjoying it, and it never rebounded with an idea that made me flip back to see if I missed anything.
I won't be picking up volume three.
I mentioned in my review of volume one that the art was either going to "floor you" or turn you off. While I didn't mind the vibrant stylish color palletes against the black backgrounds in a book focused on space battles and floating gods, I thought it did a huge disservice to a book about politics and religion.
With no characters to care about, and art that seemed to clash with the story, I checked out pretty early on this. I mean, I kept reading it, but I wasn't enjoying it, and it never rebounded with an idea that made me flip back to see if I missed anything.
I won't be picking up volume three.
August 6, 2024
Kolejny tom i mam mieszane uczucia.
W porównaniu z pierwszą księgą dostałem więcej historii świata i relacji miedzy różnymi planetami/światami więc to zdecydowanie na plus. Lubię kierunek w którym to wszystko dąży ale obawiam się trochę, że w ostatnim tomie autorzy bedą chcieli na szybko pozamykać wątki. Zobaczymy - obym się mylił.
Na minus to duże przeskoki czasowe - mamy w tym tomie aż 5 takich momentów i czułem się zagubiony. Często musialem wracać do poprzednich stron i upewniać się w którym roku aktualnie jestem i jak to odnosi się do aktualnej sytuacji. Zmiana wyglądu postaci czasami pomagała się z tym połapać, ale nie zawsze.
Wciąż czyta mi się to dobrze. Ciekawy jestem jak zakończy się ta historia
Ocena: 3.5/5
W porównaniu z pierwszą księgą dostałem więcej historii świata i relacji miedzy różnymi planetami/światami więc to zdecydowanie na plus. Lubię kierunek w którym to wszystko dąży ale obawiam się trochę, że w ostatnim tomie autorzy bedą chcieli na szybko pozamykać wątki. Zobaczymy - obym się mylił.
Na minus to duże przeskoki czasowe - mamy w tym tomie aż 5 takich momentów i czułem się zagubiony. Często musialem wracać do poprzednich stron i upewniać się w którym roku aktualnie jestem i jak to odnosi się do aktualnej sytuacji. Zmiana wyglądu postaci czasami pomagała się z tym połapać, ale nie zawsze.
Wciąż czyta mi się to dobrze. Ciekawy jestem jak zakończy się ta historia
Ocena: 3.5/5
December 7, 2022
This volume begins 50 years after the first one. Jason, who was with Captain Malik, is essentially imprisoned by religious zealots. They worship Malik, who apparently came back from his death as a dead god. Jason has to play along, and he is kind of their intermediary to Malik, but he has no freedom. Then people from the inner worlds come along, ostensibly to see/worship Malik, but really to steal him and use him as the other dead gods have been used. But they are not the only ones with hidden motives; almost everyone in this volume has them.
I expected to like this book better, since we got some backstory in Volume 1. And I did like it. But I couldn't always recognize the characters, and the art was still great in places bit too chaotic in others. Still good space opera, with intrigue and backstabbing (some of it literal). I hope the series hasn't ended; there are too many questions left unanswered.
I expected to like this book better, since we got some backstory in Volume 1. And I did like it. But I couldn't always recognize the characters, and the art was still great in places bit too chaotic in others. Still good space opera, with intrigue and backstabbing (some of it literal). I hope the series hasn't ended; there are too many questions left unanswered.
July 4, 2022
This title moves fast. Fifty years at a time. The time jumps make it hard to follow as does the art, since everyone looks the same. Before we were harvesting gods, now someone's gone and come back as a god, and his followers are cray! Hope the next volume brings things together more ...
January 12, 2025
The first volume was promising.
Although the art being nice, it was too chaotic.
The second volume is worse in terms of storytelling and due to the art difficult to follow.
Although the art being nice, it was too chaotic.
The second volume is worse in terms of storytelling and due to the art difficult to follow.
Read
February 12, 2022The first volume ended with a leap into the interstellar dark, a first glimpse of a live space-god. You might expect the second would pick up there � but rather than answer any of the big questions just yet, it jumps forward in time. Gods have stopped appearing, destabilising the economy, and a new faith has grown up around Malik's actions in the first volume. I say 'faith'; as is the way of religions, it has already splintered, and not amicably. I strongly suspect this one will read better in a trade than it did as singles, and that in turn the series will read better once it's completed than it does in separated books, but alas, the market isn't there to publish like that and so, much like the characters, we grope forward, hoping it will all make sense in the end, and certainly without the procedure being prone to quite such horrible backfires and betrayals as some of the poor bastards here encounter.
December 1, 2024
Comparatively weaker compared to the first and third volume, this book delves deep into human conflict and the desire and betrayal spurred by war and power. Yet, it has a compelling continuation, where we see power played out - how dictators become so consumed with power and ideals that human lives become fodder.
The world-building is excellent, and the art is ridiculously amazing as per Di Meo's style, but in terms of pacing felt a bit awkward and stilted. Regardless, the impact is there, and the ending cliffhanger built the anticipation for the final volume well.
The world-building is excellent, and the art is ridiculously amazing as per Di Meo's style, but in terms of pacing felt a bit awkward and stilted. Regardless, the impact is there, and the ending cliffhanger built the anticipation for the final volume well.
January 10, 2024
A different kind of story than the first arc, but still intriguing. The art is beautiful. 4.5 stars rounded up. I didn’t know the series was going beyond this trade, happy to see new issues are coming out.
2024 reread
85
Lots of time jumps, lots of backstabbing, lots of close ups of characters faces. Unique art but plot was not as strong as volume one in my opinion. Grading tougher this year and this one gets a 4/5. Will read vol three next.
2024 reread
85
Lots of time jumps, lots of backstabbing, lots of close ups of characters faces. Unique art but plot was not as strong as volume one in my opinion. Grading tougher this year and this one gets a 4/5. Will read vol three next.
February 2, 2022
If the author wanted me to care about characters betraying other characters it would have helped if they'd first made me care about any of the characters.
August 11, 2022
Akcja albumu Znajdujemy ich, gdy są już martwi #2 przenosi nas 50 lat do przodu w stosunku do tego, czego byliśmy świadkami w pierwszym tomie. Kosmos stał się dość niebezpiecznym miejscem, w którym nieustannie ścierają się rywalizujące ze sobą religijne frakcje. Każda ze stron konfliktu jest gotowa dosłownie na wszystko, co pogrąża wszechświat w niekontrolowanym chaosie. W takich realiach musi przetrwać siedemdziesięciojednoletni Jasoh Hauer. Członek załogi Vihaan II, który był świadkiem przeobrażenia człowieka w Boga. To właśnie on staje się celem podróży tego bohatera i kilku jego towarzyszy. Żaden z nich nie spodziewa się jednak tego, że ich śladem podąża siła, której potęgi nie można lekceważyć.
Pierwszy tom serii stał się szkieletem dla nowego, bogatego i mocno złożonego świata. Al Ewing starał się połączyć widowiskową stronę science fiction z dobrze wyczuwalną nutką dramatu, dodając do tego masę filozoficzno-religijnych akcentów, dzięki którym historia nabrała wyraźniejszej głębi. Scenariusz pierwszego tomu był więc dość intrygujący, chociaż nie pozbawiony pewnych zauważalnych błędów. Czy zostały one wyeliminowane w kontynuacji? Niestety nie. Zanim jednak przejdziemy do tego, co poszło nie tak, należy docenić zalety dzieła. Największą i najważniejszą z nich jest umiejętność twórcy do łączenia akcji, religii, filozofii i polityki w jedną zwartą całość (której nie powstydziłby się sam Frank Herbert). Wyobraźnia scenarzysty pracuje na najwyższych obrotach, dzięki czemu potrafi on mocno angażować czytelnika (spragnionego bardziej złożonego sci-fi).
Niestety nie idzie to w parze z odpowiednio ciekawymi postaciami. Pomysł na wyraźny przeskok czasowy (50 lat) i obsadzenie w głównych rolach nowych osób to moim zdaniem duży błąd. Już w pierwszym tomie postacie nie zawsze były należycie charyzmatyczne, co utrudniało ich zapamiętanie. Teraz odbiorca ponownie musi poznawać bohaterów od nowa (nadal są oni troszkę zbyt mało wyraziści) nie mając pewności czy aby na pewno za chwilę nie znikną oni z kart komiksu. Pewną łyżeczką dziegciu są również niektóre troszkę za bardzo przekombinowane wątki. W niektórych fragmentach komiksu scenarzysta trochę za bardzo (i niepotrzebnie) komplikuje historię powodując jej nadmierny chaos. Pomimo wskazanych „niedoróbek� lektura komiksu nadal potrafi być na swój sposób satysfakcjonująca. Z ciekawością pochłania się kolejne strony, aby móc dowiedzieć się co będzie dalej.
Pierwszy tom serii stał się szkieletem dla nowego, bogatego i mocno złożonego świata. Al Ewing starał się połączyć widowiskową stronę science fiction z dobrze wyczuwalną nutką dramatu, dodając do tego masę filozoficzno-religijnych akcentów, dzięki którym historia nabrała wyraźniejszej głębi. Scenariusz pierwszego tomu był więc dość intrygujący, chociaż nie pozbawiony pewnych zauważalnych błędów. Czy zostały one wyeliminowane w kontynuacji? Niestety nie. Zanim jednak przejdziemy do tego, co poszło nie tak, należy docenić zalety dzieła. Największą i najważniejszą z nich jest umiejętność twórcy do łączenia akcji, religii, filozofii i polityki w jedną zwartą całość (której nie powstydziłby się sam Frank Herbert). Wyobraźnia scenarzysty pracuje na najwyższych obrotach, dzięki czemu potrafi on mocno angażować czytelnika (spragnionego bardziej złożonego sci-fi).
Niestety nie idzie to w parze z odpowiednio ciekawymi postaciami. Pomysł na wyraźny przeskok czasowy (50 lat) i obsadzenie w głównych rolach nowych osób to moim zdaniem duży błąd. Już w pierwszym tomie postacie nie zawsze były należycie charyzmatyczne, co utrudniało ich zapamiętanie. Teraz odbiorca ponownie musi poznawać bohaterów od nowa (nadal są oni troszkę zbyt mało wyraziści) nie mając pewności czy aby na pewno za chwilę nie znikną oni z kart komiksu. Pewną łyżeczką dziegciu są również niektóre troszkę za bardzo przekombinowane wątki. W niektórych fragmentach komiksu scenarzysta trochę za bardzo (i niepotrzebnie) komplikuje historię powodując jej nadmierny chaos. Pomimo wskazanych „niedoróbek� lektura komiksu nadal potrafi być na swój sposób satysfakcjonująca. Z ciekawością pochłania się kolejne strony, aby móc dowiedzieć się co będzie dalej.
October 11, 2023
We Only Find Them When They're Dead Volume 2: A Disjointed Journey
In the highly anticipated second installment of We Only Find Them When They're Dead, I am once again thrust into a mesmerizing universe filled with captivating artwork and a narrative that ventures into the unexplored realms of space. However, while the visual elements continue to shine brilliantly, Volume 2 finds itself marred by a significant flaw that hampers the overall reading experience.
One of the most striking issues with this volume lies in its structure. The story unfolds through a series of disjointed time jumps, leaving readers grappling to connect the dots. While non-linear storytelling can be a powerful narrative tool when executed effectively, here it feels forced and confusing, making it challenging to fully engage with the plot. The constant shifts in time disrupt the natural flow of the story, leaving me longing for a more coherent and linear progression.
Nevertheless, the artwork in Volume 2 remains a beacon of excellence. The visual presentation continues to be a testament to the talent of the artistic team, with each panel masterfully crafted to bring the universe and its inhabitants to life. The attention to detail, especially in the depiction of celestial bodies and alien species, is commendable and manages to maintain the high standards set by the first volume.
Regrettably, the captivating visuals cannot entirely compensate for the narrative shortcomings. The story, which had initially gripped readers with its promise of exploration and mystery, loses its appeal amidst the tangled web of time jumps and disconnected events. Characters that once held intrigue begin to fade into the background, and the emotional depth that was prevalent in the first volume becomes overshadowed by the confusion of the storytelling.
We Only Find Them When They're Dead Volume 2 is a visually stunning yet narratively disappointing continuation of the series. While the artwork continues to dazzle, the haphazard time jumps detract significantly from the overall reading experience. Fans of the first volume may find themselves yearning for the cohesiveness and narrative clarity that initially drew them into this cosmic tale. Here's to hoping that future installments will rediscover the balance between visual brilliance and compelling storytelling that made the series a standout in the first place.
In the highly anticipated second installment of We Only Find Them When They're Dead, I am once again thrust into a mesmerizing universe filled with captivating artwork and a narrative that ventures into the unexplored realms of space. However, while the visual elements continue to shine brilliantly, Volume 2 finds itself marred by a significant flaw that hampers the overall reading experience.
One of the most striking issues with this volume lies in its structure. The story unfolds through a series of disjointed time jumps, leaving readers grappling to connect the dots. While non-linear storytelling can be a powerful narrative tool when executed effectively, here it feels forced and confusing, making it challenging to fully engage with the plot. The constant shifts in time disrupt the natural flow of the story, leaving me longing for a more coherent and linear progression.
Nevertheless, the artwork in Volume 2 remains a beacon of excellence. The visual presentation continues to be a testament to the talent of the artistic team, with each panel masterfully crafted to bring the universe and its inhabitants to life. The attention to detail, especially in the depiction of celestial bodies and alien species, is commendable and manages to maintain the high standards set by the first volume.
Regrettably, the captivating visuals cannot entirely compensate for the narrative shortcomings. The story, which had initially gripped readers with its promise of exploration and mystery, loses its appeal amidst the tangled web of time jumps and disconnected events. Characters that once held intrigue begin to fade into the background, and the emotional depth that was prevalent in the first volume becomes overshadowed by the confusion of the storytelling.
We Only Find Them When They're Dead Volume 2 is a visually stunning yet narratively disappointing continuation of the series. While the artwork continues to dazzle, the haphazard time jumps detract significantly from the overall reading experience. Fans of the first volume may find themselves yearning for the cohesiveness and narrative clarity that initially drew them into this cosmic tale. Here's to hoping that future installments will rediscover the balance between visual brilliance and compelling storytelling that made the series a standout in the first place.
April 10, 2025
🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead: The Stealer
2021
Comic book
Rating: 3/5
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead Volume 2 ambitiously expands the mythos of the first volume, jumping ahead in time and introducing new characters, conflicts, and questions. While it continues to deliver striking artwork and intriguing sci-fi concepts, it doesn’t always land emotionally or narratively.
Simone Di Meo’s art remains a standout. The hyper-stylised, neon-drenched visuals and panel work provide the series a uniquely futuristic, almost dreamlike quality. Every page feels like a window into a strange, distant future, and it’s absolutely mesmerising. Di Meo’s work often does the heavy lifting when the script leans into exposition or philosophical meandering.
Al Ewing’s writing continues to be bold, with a willingness to push boundaries and explore complex themes like faith, power, and legacy. However, the story’s time jump and change in perspective can be disorienting. The shift is jarring, and the new protagonist, Jason Hauer, lacks the immediate emotional pull of Georges Malik. The plot leans more into allegory and world building that alienated human connection.
The narrative feels too slow following the previous volume, and it’s weighed down by cryptic dialogue and philosophical monologues. While the ideas are compelling, the storytelling can feel too abstract or distant, making it harder to emotionally engage. It’s stunning and conceptually rich, but it stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. I was slightly disappointed where Ewing took this volume.
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We Only Find Them When They’re Dead: The Stealer
2021
Comic book
Rating: 3/5
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead Volume 2 ambitiously expands the mythos of the first volume, jumping ahead in time and introducing new characters, conflicts, and questions. While it continues to deliver striking artwork and intriguing sci-fi concepts, it doesn’t always land emotionally or narratively.
Simone Di Meo’s art remains a standout. The hyper-stylised, neon-drenched visuals and panel work provide the series a uniquely futuristic, almost dreamlike quality. Every page feels like a window into a strange, distant future, and it’s absolutely mesmerising. Di Meo’s work often does the heavy lifting when the script leans into exposition or philosophical meandering.
Al Ewing’s writing continues to be bold, with a willingness to push boundaries and explore complex themes like faith, power, and legacy. However, the story’s time jump and change in perspective can be disorienting. The shift is jarring, and the new protagonist, Jason Hauer, lacks the immediate emotional pull of Georges Malik. The plot leans more into allegory and world building that alienated human connection.
The narrative feels too slow following the previous volume, and it’s weighed down by cryptic dialogue and philosophical monologues. While the ideas are compelling, the storytelling can feel too abstract or distant, making it harder to emotionally engage. It’s stunning and conceptually rich, but it stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. I was slightly disappointed where Ewing took this volume.
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January 21, 2022
I expected to read this volume, be reminded why so much of the first volume didn't work for me, and then dismiss it. That didn't happen, though, because Ewing did what every writer should do when they need to win over an audience: stage a heist.
Volume 2 of We Only Find Them When They're Dead keeps some of the baggage of its predecessor—overly dense worldbuilding, an art style that borders on incoherent—but it improves in almost every other facet. We focus on an almost entirely new cast of characters, which is good because they have some personality to differentiate themselves. The lore Ewing is playing with is pretty messy, but the political and religious machinations he delves into here are compelling. I'm such a sucker for the double-and-triple-crosses that the abundance of schemes and secret motivations really worked for me.
I'm still mixed on Simone Di Meo's art, as unique as it is. Any moments of action are just about impossible to follow, and the compositions sometimes feel obtuse for obtuse's sake. Granted, I like the overall design a lot and thought the architecture and general aesthetic of this volume were inarguably cool. There's some great energy in Di Meo's artwork, to be sure, but it sometimes felt like I had to wrestle with it to understand what was going on.
I wouldn't say I'm entirely on board with the series yet, especially with how this ends, but I'm going to stick around for Volume 3, which I certainly wasn't to be the case going in. If this volume is anything to go by, the series is far vaster than the Firefly-vibes of the first led me to believe. The world that Ewing and Di Meo have created is weird and dizzying, and despite the inconsistent executions, I'm too curious to wall away before knowing what they're driving toward. This gets a 3.5 from me.
Volume 2 of We Only Find Them When They're Dead keeps some of the baggage of its predecessor—overly dense worldbuilding, an art style that borders on incoherent—but it improves in almost every other facet. We focus on an almost entirely new cast of characters, which is good because they have some personality to differentiate themselves. The lore Ewing is playing with is pretty messy, but the political and religious machinations he delves into here are compelling. I'm such a sucker for the double-and-triple-crosses that the abundance of schemes and secret motivations really worked for me.
I'm still mixed on Simone Di Meo's art, as unique as it is. Any moments of action are just about impossible to follow, and the compositions sometimes feel obtuse for obtuse's sake. Granted, I like the overall design a lot and thought the architecture and general aesthetic of this volume were inarguably cool. There's some great energy in Di Meo's artwork, to be sure, but it sometimes felt like I had to wrestle with it to understand what was going on.
I wouldn't say I'm entirely on board with the series yet, especially with how this ends, but I'm going to stick around for Volume 3, which I certainly wasn't to be the case going in. If this volume is anything to go by, the series is far vaster than the Firefly-vibes of the first led me to believe. The world that Ewing and Di Meo have created is weird and dizzying, and despite the inconsistent executions, I'm too curious to wall away before knowing what they're driving toward. This gets a 3.5 from me.
December 18, 2022
Volume 2 is sort of a closure for the story from vol 1. We are moved across time 50-ish years in the future. One of the God creatures that showed up bears uncanny resemblance to missing captain Malik. With the appearance of living God local colonies have rebelled against the Inner Worlds and the control they exercise over the colonies. Transformed into the religious zealotry, colony will become the place of reverence of Malik as deity and huge space station will be constructed around his God-body frame.
But this back-pedal to the times when these bodies were revered is something Inner Worlds cannot allow because God corpses are become very rare and this brings forth the lack of resources for overall technology of the Inner Worlds and also consumption of the God-meat that does seem to bring benefits to the consumer.
And so, as it is always the case, central government starts an ill-advised adventure to gain access to this specific corpse. Adventure that might bring civil strife into colonies and wider.
Spies, special services, religious zealots, schemes, murders and assassinations - everything can be found in this book.
Some of the questions are answered in this book (I know lots of reviewers of vol 1 were put off because all details weren't given, and I agree vol 1 was very careful not to disclose much) but also lots of others are raised - what was the attitude when these huge bodies were found in the first place? What was the crisis that caused the industrialization of resources cannibalized from the bodies? I guess we will have some of the answers in future volumes.
Art as was case in the first book is excellent and entire dynamic is very cinematic.
Again, book ends on the cliffhanger, but not as big as last one. I gotta admit this comic did capture my attention and I am on a lookout for future volumes.
Highly recommended to fans of space-opera.
But this back-pedal to the times when these bodies were revered is something Inner Worlds cannot allow because God corpses are become very rare and this brings forth the lack of resources for overall technology of the Inner Worlds and also consumption of the God-meat that does seem to bring benefits to the consumer.
And so, as it is always the case, central government starts an ill-advised adventure to gain access to this specific corpse. Adventure that might bring civil strife into colonies and wider.
Spies, special services, religious zealots, schemes, murders and assassinations - everything can be found in this book.
Some of the questions are answered in this book (I know lots of reviewers of vol 1 were put off because all details weren't given, and I agree vol 1 was very careful not to disclose much) but also lots of others are raised - what was the attitude when these huge bodies were found in the first place? What was the crisis that caused the industrialization of resources cannibalized from the bodies? I guess we will have some of the answers in future volumes.
Art as was case in the first book is excellent and entire dynamic is very cinematic.
Again, book ends on the cliffhanger, but not as big as last one. I gotta admit this comic did capture my attention and I am on a lookout for future volumes.
Highly recommended to fans of space-opera.
November 1, 2023
Ewing continues his story of a sci fi future powered by the cosmic corpses of gods. This particular volume has some nice twists, and some nice art, though in general Di Meo's best work is the grand displays--which is entirely appropriate for the topic. My chief issue with the text is one that I feel like I've been saying a lot for graphic novels read recently: they feel like incomplete parts of a larger story, and I felt both like it was just getting started by the time it finished and that I didn't remember enough of the first volume to really follow what was happening. I can't quite decide whether the problem's with me or the books. On the one hand, there are ways of telling more self contained stories that build into larger arcs; in that sense, my dissatisfaction stems more from how graphic novel stories tend to be told now. On the other hand, it does kind of feel that the problem is on my end, that I'm expecting and to some degree demanding a completeness that was never the creators' intention. To Ewing's credit, I'm reasonably confident that there will be a conclusion; even his longest form works tend to build towards a definite end. He holds to that even in superhero stories, where there's rarely any ending at all. This maybe another case where I have to get all the volumes out at once and see if the whole is worth more than sum of the pieces. But at least the story here is compelling enough to encourage that.
November 30, 2024
This one was incredible. The first installment did not really delve into the religious feelings that the giant creatures would have fostered. With the first installment being as riveting as it was, I did not really think about the implications of belief upon encountering something so seemingly alien or divine. This book turns its focus to those implications of whether to use these celestial bodies as physical or metaphysical resources. The narrative continues to jump throughout time. It can be confusing at times, but I enjoyed how it revealed the narrative. The art is great too.
There is a lot of political intrigue, conspiracies, cover-ups, and spycraft in this installment. If I think about it too much, it seem too improbable, but it's sci-fi, and if you roll with it, it's a delight.
There is a lot of political intrigue, conspiracies, cover-ups, and spycraft in this installment. If I think about it too much, it seem too improbable, but it's sci-fi, and if you roll with it, it's a delight.
April 15, 2023
I thought this was a step up, story-wise, from the first volume. It is now 50 years after the events in volume 1 and Jason Hauer, the sole survivor of the Vibraan II harvester crew, has been held in captivity by the people who've set up an ad hoc space station around the body of Jason's former captain, Malik, who disappeared and then returned as a "god" (giant bodies that are harvested for food and raw materials). Now, though, there's a split between the Harvesters and the Worshippers (with direct evidence that a once-human man has been transmuted into a god, this has lead to the rise of a religion based on these beings) and it looks like Malik may be one of the last gods available for harvest. When a team from the inner worlds is sent to steal his body, things rapidly get out of control. I liked the story, I liked the art (even though it is still sometimes hard to make out what's happening, particularly in action sequences), and I'll be here for the next volume.
December 17, 2022
This series was recommended to my partner and I by one of the folx at the local comic shop. I was not quite sure what to expect but the name intrigued me so figured I would give it a go. The artwork is absolutely amazing so that gets an A++. After reading the first volume I knew I had to read more just to see where the story was going, and after reading the second I’m not exactly sure! Some stories you can’t tell where they’re going and you don’t always want to follow along, but this series seems to have just enough mystery and sci-fi to keep you hooked. The use of different timelines is used just subtly enough that it doesn’t get annoying and the character development is spot on. Looking forward to reading volume three to see where this story goes!
July 14, 2022
The common complaint is that the art makes it hard to distinguish what is happening and that the second arc jumps in time/it’s too confusing to figure out. Honestly, I didn’t have any of those problems. The art is functional if you take into account every detail. If you’re skimming past it, you’ll miss what is happening and who says what. As for the narrative, I love stories that don’t hold my hand. As long as you ride that wave instead of crashing against it, you’ll find the experience is exhilarating. This isn’t a typical comic. It borrows from Lost with regards to time jumps, so if you like piecing the plot together like I do, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this book.
September 8, 2022
The story jumps forward twenty years and then bounces around in time to show what happened in between. The god that looks like Malik (is Malik?) has spawned a cult of people who believe that they, too, can become gods and they've taken control of the region of space around the body and the central government wants it back. We follow mostly new characters, and see more of the society of this universe.
The art is a little more coherent, but it still has that washed-out-by-bright-lights look, like you're looking through a smudged lens. And some of the characters are difficult to tell apart.
The art is a little more coherent, but it still has that washed-out-by-bright-lights look, like you're looking through a smudged lens. And some of the characters are difficult to tell apart.
March 24, 2025
Udalosti z predošlého booku sa stali základom pre náboženstvo. A ako to už s náboženstvami býva, objavilo sa hneď niekoľko interpretácií a množstvo fanatikov. Kým prvý diel bol skôr akčné dobrodružstvo kritizujúce konzumný systém, pokračovanie úplne preladilo ústrednú tému. Príbeh sa zameriava na náboženstvo a rôzne spôsoby, ako k nemu pristupovať. Konfrontácia sa tu odohráva medzi vierou a snahou o zisk. Celkovo je dianie vystavané ako špionážna dráma, a aj kvôli dvojitým/trojitým agentom je občas ťažké sledovať, kto za koho práve kope. Ak vás zaujal prvý diel, ťažko predpokladať, ako vám sadne druhý, keďže je obsahovo úplne inde. Ja som bol so spracovaním tejto témy vcelku spokojný.
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