Absolution Volume 2: Rubicon

Absolution #2

by Christos Gage, Daniel Gete (Illustrations), Paul Duffield (Illustrations)

Christos Gage takes his network television, hardboiled crime sensibilities back to the violent world he created to reveal the fate of police superhero turned vigilante, John Dusk. With Dusk's fall from grace, every scumbag lawyer in the city is leading the charge to have the criminals he put away released from prison. But the thugs are finding that life behind bars is safer than facing Dusk's brand of permanent justice on the streets. As the body count increases, the former friends and lovers in Dusk's life face the difficult challenge of trying to bring in one of their own. With a bounty on his head and pressure mounting for his arrest, the authorities take an insane chance by unleashing an unstoppable maniac to take him down. But sometimes the cure can be far worse than the disease. John Dusk continues his slide into darkness with this all-new collection of Absolution Rubicon #1-5 and the Happy Kitty Special.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Crime, Science Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2014

About the author

Chris N. Gage is a writer for comic books and television.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually was highly entertained by Absolution. But how was Rubicon? The followup that came out YEARS later? Well let's talk about it.

John is still doing what he does. You a criminal? You get away with terrible shit? Well this is the Punisher with superpowers. He will cut, murderer, slash your ass. This is his way, the only way, his mind is now set on it after seeing what the criminals can do. So what happens when the mayor of new york releases a super powered evil piece of shit who can adapt to basically any situation? Well then we got a even bigger problem.

Good: I loved the idea here. For John to basically help the people in need and isolate himself away from regular people/police force. I also really enjoyed the art once more, it works really well. John is also pretty funny and it asks the right questions. The fights are pretty epic here too and some fucked up deaths.

Bad: I still hate the happy kitty character. Oversexualed characters are annoying to begin with but having a Chinese ninja warrior who's panties are always the highlight is kind of just cliche and bullshit. I just hate it, and she gets her own chapter dedicated to her but it's pretty bad.

I'd probably go little lower rating for this one then the first but I'll round it up to a 4 out of 5. Highly entertaining once more and I think Avatar's best series I read for them.

[Jahni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this more than the first volume but damn—killed the villain off so EASILY. I liked his powers.

[Ill D · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s always a (not-so-pleasant) surprise to see follow ups to crap.

More of the same with a Terminator II type villain.

[Dmitry Yakovenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolution, Vol. 1 & Absolution Rubicon

"Искупление" — это оригинальный проект, что не похож ни на Marvel, ни на DC, но похож на всё комиксы Марка Миллера сразу. То есть он громкий, пафосный, эпатажный, жестокий, затрагивающий серьезные темы и шокирующий своими больными и жесткими сценами. Впрочем, помимо всего этого он ещё отличается отличной историей, интересным миром с персонажами и роскошным экшеном, которым он наполнен до предела.
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Оригинальный том и его сиквел рассказывают историю Джона Сумрака, что живет в мире, где супергерои прекрасно работают вместе с полицией на благо мира. И всё бы хорошо, но после всех ужасов, которые Джон пережил за долгие годы своей службы, он начинает понемногу сходить с ума из-за посттравматического синдрома. Увидев за жизнь столько зла со стороны преступников, Джон решает сам стать преступником, чтобы искоренить это зло. Проще говоря, он становится серийным убийцей преступников.
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Данный сюжет не нов. Хороший парень решает преступить черту и начать убивать плохих, но очень уж тут колоритные персонажи, очень уж интересно развивается история, очень уж яркий и красочный экшен. Первая история демонстрирует мощный уровень драмы и неплохую детективную историю, сиквел под заголовком «Рубикон» в основном давит экшеном и эпиком. Вместе эти две истории создают одно единое отменное целое, что при своей относительной простоте очень хорошо развлекает. Вполне заслуживает внимания.

[Maja Shinigami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this shit.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even for all its violence, I loved this series. Picking up six months after the end of the first series, John Dusk is a wanted man but still taking care of business by eradicating the dregs of society. Then the mayor gets the bright idea of releasing the most powerful and most dangerous villain ever in order to take down John Dusk. Talk about the cure being worse than the disease!

Parts of this reminded me of the Don Pendleton Executioner series starring Mack Bolan (the inspiration for the Punisher) and the big battle reminded me of the fight between Miracleman and Kid Miracleman from the classic Alan Moore run, which is high praise indeed.

Overall I thought Absolution was a great series and it's too bad it didn't continue.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice art and plot. Interesting take on a hero gone bad and the world's reaction to him. Recommended

[Jevgenij · Rating 4 out of 5]

As simple as the first part, still pretty entertaining and satisfying.

[Vanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drugi dio ovog serijala donosi supernasilnu priču progonjenog Johna Hunta. On se sklanja u jedno susjedstvo čijim je stanovnicima dosta živjeti u strahu zbog bandi koje su zavladale ulicama. U stvari, prikazuje očajne ljude koji preuzimaju kontrolu nad svojim staništem. Prihvaćaju Johna kakav je, i zajedno se bore protiv oslobođenog psihopata Polymatha. U zamjenu za čuvanje susjedstva, stanovnici ga se ne odriču, a policija nema pravo na njihov teritorij uhititi ga. Johnu se pridružuje i Happy Kitty koji je najčudniji lik u serijalu, nevjerojatnih ubilačkih sposobnosti, a koja preživljava u svome svijetu. Happy Kitty na kraju ovoga omnibusa dobiva i svoju priču, što je meni bilo baš super.

[Albert Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

picking up where the previous Absolution left off, we follow John Dusk as he gains new friends, fight corrupt politicians, a mutant that adapts top attacks, and a scorned ex-wife who's out for his head on a platter

[Al · Rating 2 out of 5]

A plot uninspired, full of clichés added to a juvenile fixation on sex and on super violence.