Lawful, Volume 2

Lawful #5-8

by Greg Pak (Writer), Diego Galindo (Illustrator), Irma Kniivila (Colorist)

The witch's curse transforms one's exterior whenever they break the rules, and for Sung, thats come to mean red scales, horns, claws, and wings!

The son of the former Champion, Sung's now one of the most notable rulebreakers in town, and on the verge of getting himself, his mother, and his best friend Eris thrown over the wall and into the wilds. But an encounter with the so-called monsters living out there, more knowledge of how the city elite seemingly keep themselves clean from transformation, and maybe even finding the witch herself will totally change Sung's view.

Award-winning writer Greg Pak (Mech Cadets, Darth Vader) and acclaimed artist Diego Galindo (Stranger Things: The Voyage) bring a fantastic journey of self-discovery and social commentary to a powerful close, answering the question: who decides what is monstrous, and who decides what is beautiful?

Genres: Graphic Novels

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2025

About the author

Greg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing "Lawful" for BOOM and "Sam Wilson: Captain America" (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the "Princess Who Saved Herself" children's book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak's other work includes "Planet Hulk," "Darth Vader," "Mech Cadet Yu," "Ronin Island," "Action Comics," and "Magneto Testament."

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

(B-) 71% | Satisfactory
Notes: A downhill turn, no fuel to burn (no drama, twists nor tension), just super-lazy, purpose-hazy, lacking plot attention.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #5-6 ◦ Issues #7-8

[ℛomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5⭐

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The series itself, and its concept, started out much stronger than it finished. In some ways the story about a city built on planet where doing something wrong causes the alleged wrongdoer to slowly transform into a monster has some potential. I saw possible religious allegories here, possibly in comparison to the Puritans.

And, Sung's moral conflicts are well written at the start. I feel that Pak failed to stick the landing. The moral and ethical conflicts are explained, but that's the key.

Explained. Exposition dumps and the like serve a purpose. But at some point said dumps need to do something, or aid with the story itself, when it comes to drawing the reader in emotionally.

[Chris Beames · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful analogy filled with two dimensional plot propellants that is rushed to the finish line too quickly for you to ever get bored by it's near complete lack of depth.

So why 4 stars? The analogy is just that good. I hope that this gets revived someday and given the love it deserves.

[Raj Bowers-Racine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series kicked off with some fascinating world-building and some interesting character relationships. Unfortunately, Pak's inspiration seems to have run out around issue 5. Nothing else surprising happens and the characters become cardboard.
Needless to say, he does not stick the landing. Disappointing, because the early issues really grabbed me.

[R.J. Huneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down!