*Written by Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly* Art by Marcus To* Colors by Irma Kniivila*

Last month when I introduced you to the new book Joyride by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, it could have been a one hit wonder. I’m here to tell you that is certainly not the case because along with the amazing Marcus To and Irma Kniivila; they have delivered us another fantastic book. Joyride #2 is out this week from Boom Studios and it was such a pleasure to read. If you don’t want spoilers, stop right here; I plan to spoil the hell out of Joyride #2.

“It’s never too late to be yourself”- Dewydd

Book number two picks up with our three intrepid teens that have commandeered a space ship rather illegally. The first stop on Uma’s crazy space joyride is a mere 25 light years from earth. Surprise, Uma has found trouble yet again; or shall we say trouble always seems to find her. She has stolen a shiny trinket and is being chased all over this alien marketplace. Catrin is convinced that “the girl with the shoes” is going to get them all killed! I love how Marcus To and Irma Kniivila manage to make Uma stand out in these amazing panels. She is the bright shinning star amid a sea of the mundane. It really goes to show how colors and art can really set the tone of a book or a character. In this particular panel Uma stands out just as much as the shiny bauble that she has procured.

While Uma is having the adventure of a lifetime being chased by alien thugs, Dewydd is in over his head. Catrin has assumed responsibility for looking after him, and seems to greatly respect Dewydd. She calls him “the hero of Toronto,” but clearly Dewydd is keeping this secret from Uma and us in the process. I wonder why he has chosen to keep something so big from his best friend. Dewydd is determined to turn his back on who he was and be a different person, and it all comes back to his quote “it’s never too late to be yourself”. If ever there was a theme for Joyride as a whole, I think this would be it. He managed to sum up in one quote what I believe is the message that Lanzing and Kelly are trying to convey overall with Joyride.

In typical teen tradition, Dewydd decided to go get a space makeover and realizes how absolutely ridiculous he looks now. Meanwhile Catrin is having a meltdown of her own and has totally lost her shit. Uma ends up making a deal with an alien named Kolstak the Wander aka “space frog” or “salamander super-friend”. He hitches a ride with them on their ship, and they find themselves in a space chase. Uma is way too excited about all this trouble they have gotten into at this point, calling it the best day ever! They decide the best course of action is to stop running away and start running towards something; that something being the most dangerous place in the galaxy. They are headed straight into the PQZ (protex quarantine zone), talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire. Uma doesn’t know any other way to live.

Don’t look back is such a great title for this book, Uma certainly lives by this code. She lives and could possible die by the seat of her pants, and I can’t wait to see what trouble she will get her cohorts into next. Issue #2 of Joyride has everything you could want in a great comic book; amazing art, impeccable story telling and a very exuberant heroine. What is even better is that this book is great for all ages. I would encourage my daughter to read Joyride, and you can feel safe doing the same. Lanzing and Kelly have made Joyride such an actual Joyride that I am going to give this second issue a 9. Check out Joyride on sale this Wednesday from Boom Studios.