Fatale #2

Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Phillips

I'd found the first issue of Fatale to be a little confusing (although still very good).  This second issue helps make things a lot clearer, as the whole issue remains in the 1950s, and makes much clearer the relationships between the principal characters.

It seems that Josephine, the femme 'fatale' of the title, has been using men to prolong her longevity for some time.  Her current 'protector', police detective Walt Booker is on the way out with her, and she's begun to manipulate Hank Raines, a reporter, into helping her dispose of Booker, and to take his place.

As is to be expected with a Brubaker/Phillips production, this is a very capable comic.  Brubaker is taking his time laying out all the groundwork for the story, introducing us to the Bishop responsible for the cult suicides we saw last issue, and giving us a few hints as to Josephine's secrets, without giving anything much away.

This is a very cool comic, although I can't help but wonder if it won't read much clearer in trade.