Author: Greg Rucka
Artist: Leandro Fernandez
Publisher: Image Comics
Released: September 16^th, 2020
Received: Own
Warnings: Slavery, torture, graphic deaths

The tale of one group of immortals (or nearly so) continues in The Old Guard Vol. 2: Force Multiplied. This is a volume I had been looking forward to, because I still had so many questions about the series.

Andy, Nicky, Joe, and Nile are still together, and still undying. They are in the middle of a hunt against human traffickers, when several new complications rise up, none of which they are prepared for. Least of all Andy.

Andy may be the oldest, but that doesn’t mean she’s the most emotionally equipped to deal with dilemmas that cross her path. Especially when said dilemma is from her past. If anything, she’s grown more tired by the day.

The Old Guard hit new heights when it’s adaptation to Netflix (that is admittedly what brought my attention to the series). Created by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, the whole series is about of group of immortals using their abilities to try and leave a positive mark on the world.

Well, for the most part that’s true. Force Multiplied kind of brings that into question, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, I love some of the emotional and ethical debates that this series has brought to the forefront.

On the other hand, there are some pretty gritty themes covered, and it can be a lot to digest. A lot. And it doesn’t automatically mean that they’ve address all of the concerns raised either, which can potentially be a problem (with any luck, this will be something addressed later?).

On the whole, I would have to say that I enjoyed the second volume less than the first. It was a bit of a letdown, though I do respect some of the risks that they are trying to take, both with storytelling and with specific characters.

On the bright side, the artwork is still fantastic. I love that rougher look that comes with this series. It works nicely with the graphic nature, as well as that vibrant color palette (seriously, I love the deep colors used in this series).

All things considered, I would say that The Old Guard Vol. 2: Force Multiplied is worth reading if you’re a fan seeking answers. Though be warned, you might not get all of the answers you seek. In fact, more questions are likely to hit you as you read. Still, I don’t regret taking the time to read it.