Riesgo suicida Vol. 2

Suicide Risk #2

by Mike Carey

Hasta los buenos tienen que ponerse en plan sangriento.

Ahora que se ha revelado el verdadero plan del equipo Pesadilla, Leo Winters deberá probar los límites de su creciente poder para detenerles, aunque, ¿se lo está sirviendo en bandeja? ¿O causará todo ello una tragedia aun mayor que la que intenta detener Leo arriesgándolo todo?

Mike Carey (LUCIFER, THE UNWRITTEN) y una de las dibujantes favoritas entre los aficionados, Elena Casagrande (HULK, HACK/SLASH), suben el listón en este palpitante segundo arco de RIESGO SUICIDA, que también incluye la historia suelta dibujada por Joëlle Jones (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, HELHEIM), aplaudida por la crítica.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Crime, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.

Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.

Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.

Reviews

[Lono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Carey really amps it the hell up in Suicide Risk Vol 2. I had a suspicion towards the end of the Suicide Risk Vol. 1 I was gonna like this one and I do. This volume contains issues 5 through 9 and is a really quick read.

The first issue contained is an origin tale for a new character in the story named Ada. Joelle Jones handled the art chores in this one and I likey. I’m sure Ada’s gonna end up being real important later in the story. The next 4 issues focused on our “hero”, Leo Winters, and the mess he’s got himself into down in Central America. Surrounded by baddies and with his back against the wall, he’s gonna have to come up with something special to pull his ass outta this fire. Carey is doing a really good job in getting me on board with Leo and I’m getting more and more interested in where he’s going with this title now. The last issue in this one is, as Kat would say, AMAZBALLS. Did I spell that right Kat?



Elena Casagrande and Joelle Jones both do nice work with the art and it’s pretty good. I also give a shout out to Andrew Elder (colorist) and his contribution to the series. He color work is pretty bad-ass.



If you liked Suicide Risk Vol. 1 you’re gonna like Suicide Risk Vol 2. Carey has me by the short and curlys and aint lettin go anytime soon. This book just seems to be getting better and better.

Get this review and more at:

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ada Robins is not a happy camper. Her husband is abusive and unemployed, her daughter has an unwanted pregnancy, her son is dealing with shady characters he owes money to, her barely-mobile mother-in-law is a chore and her job barely helps her to make ends meet. She is approched by a black marked powers dealer and her offer couldn't have come at a better time. Ada's power allows her to materialize things out of mid air. She starts solving her problems using money where possible and violence where not. She feels that she has memories of another time when she was another person, but retains control of herself for now.

Back to Leo who defeated Diva in the last volume and is now rescued from falling rubble by the supers in the Nightmare Scenario team. They want him to help with aquiring control of the Mexican province of Yucatan. Leo reluctantly joins them to save his family. He is more shaken by the news that he is supposed to prevent the world ending with the help of his daughter who is secretly also a super and just learning about her powers.

The Yucatan takeover is discussed by the UN whose hand is forced by Prometheus, the leader of Nightmare Scenario, to recognize his claim and declare it an independent republic. The US bombs the capital - which is also Nightmare Scenario's headquarters - with an FAE missile, but Leo uses his power to counteract its destructive capability. Then he kills Nightmare Scenario one by one, except their seer Just a Feeling who came to his side because of a vision where he is a potential savior of the world. As a result of defeating Prometheus, Leo's consciousness is replaced by that of Requiem.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This went nowhere I expected, based on the premise at the end of the last book. Separate storylines, various discoveries of powers and plans - more supes and bad deeds, so this is shaping up again.

It would be terrible if they were all Bond villains - and one is, to be sure - but others are a lot more...relatable and worth getting to know. Even the one-off story in the first issue - she's an interesting or at least well-described character with an easy-to-grant-her-revenge-story origin.

Leo gets sucked into a supervillain team and has to follow their lead - and quite the lead they're striking. Skirmishes with the UN are a pretty strong staple of "world is changing" comics, and this arc is no exception. Prometheus is scary, and his posse of supervillains are unique-ish and pretty unbalanced.

So why do I feel so empty after reading this? Outside of the climax (which felt a little like the first book), something seems missing. Maybe it's in how the lead is becoming more distant, less tormented by the grey decisions being made. Maybe it's because there's little reason to care about so many of the people who live or die in this book.

I'm interested in what Leo's becoming - I wanna see what happens when his full powerset manifests and what kind of person he becomes when that happens (although at the rate he's acquiring them, he's gonna have to die or else this story is headed towards apocalypse) - but the journey there is feeling a little formulaic, or at least a bit predictable.

If this series just goes the way of The Boys or any other villains-getting-taken-down series, and every trade is "introduce more villains and see them dead by the end", this is going to be as shallow and boring as another season of Arrow (the had-promise-but-is-terrible TV show).

I'm still in - I've got volume 3 right beside me and I'll give it a go - but this story better take a different course next or I'll throw in the towel and paint Carey a lazy faker.

Let's talk about the art by Casagrande. She does a good job - especially where the superpowers are illustrated - but their choice of colourist does them no favours. It's not that the colours aren't *good*, it's just that they're good and not great. There's a lot of places where the colours are left flat, with no details to give the illustrations any depth. Maybe it's a stylistic choice, but after seeing a colour progression illustrated by Nathan Fairburn (http://nathanfairbairn.tumblr.com/pos...), I can't help but notice how much less work this one did.

[Valentin Derevlean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stele

Ceva mai bună decât primul volum, povestea lui Mike Carey despre polițistul Leo Winters devenit super-erou într-o lume plină de super-eroi negativi devine puțin mai clară, complexă și cumva mai expresivă. În continuare, asemănarea cu universul Wild Cards sau The Reckoners al lui Sanderson e pronunțată. Însă nu te plictisești și vrei să citești benzile noi. Așa că probabil voi cumpăra și volumele următoare.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suicide Risk is my new favorite thing in comics. With it, Mike Carey has upended the traditional superhero genre to create something new and interesting. Super powers are bought on an illegal substance-like black market, gifted by a powerful control rod of unknown origin.

But here’s the catch: these supervillains and heroes don’t have origin stories or tragic takes of woe. What they have instead is a mysterious and possibly alien past life which they (and the reader) see only in flashes and glimpses and barely seem to comprehend.

The second collection of the series finds California cop Leo Winters, now gifted with superpowers he barely understands in effort to avenge his injured partner, digging deeper into the mystery of Requiem, a name he is referred to by the various other superpowers he encounters.

Following the events of the first collection, Leo finds himself being rescued by an unlikely crew of supers (I’ll just say supers since heroes and villains is, as always, ambiguous depending on who’s perspective we’re talking about) who call themselves Nightmare Scenario. Forced to work with them in order to prevent a potentially greater disaster and to save a loved one, Leo soon finds himself caught up in a battle for control of a city…and with an ever-expanding knowledge of how the world works that he is at a loss to explain.

Back on the home front, Leo’s daughter Tracey is having problems of her own. Problems that are foreshadowed to have a major impact on her father’s life, and indeed the world at large.

Carey has created an intriguing and fast-paced world that is wonderfully complemented by the art of Elena Casagrande. The super characters introduced in this installment are more dimensional than most of those from the first installment (Diva, who is absent in this collection, being the most notable of the original characters). The most memorable of the new crew are Just A Feeling, a deeply sympathetic member of Nightmare Scenario who may not be able to see the future, and Cage, whose superpower is the ability to summon demons.

Hints of Requiem’s past and Leo’s future are doled out amid plots of war, government conquest and good old fashioned revenge that culminates in one heck of a cliffhanger ending. I cannot wait for future issues to see how Carey and Casagrande continue the story and weave everything together. Based on the few issues I have read so far, I’m hoping this series continues for as long as Carey’s most notable comic works, Lucifer and The Unwritten.

[Vittorio Rainone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secondo episodio migliore del primo. Perché ora Leo Winters non attraversa tutto il range delle possibilità da "semplice umano" a "dio fra gli dei". Si limita a gestire la propria situazione, salvato e al contempo attaccato da un supergruppo di individui senza scrupoli, soprattutto nella scelta dei nomi, ovvero i "Situazione da Incubo", capitanati dal potentissimo Prometheus. Peccato per loro che Requiem, l'avatar dietro Leo, sia a un livello talmente superiore da sbarazzarsi dell'intera squadra in pochi attimi, nel finale dello scontro. In ogni caso: storia adrenalinica, a tratti crudele, ma nel modo giusto (non gratuita, insomma), con personaggi che finalmente sono davvero messi a fuoco e bruciano come dovrebbero. Anche se sembra che il meglio sia dietro l'angolo. Da notare, in positivo, anche il racconto iniziale che spezza la trama principale e parla della nascita di una nuova super criminale dal simpatico nome di "Accesso Istantaneo".

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things really get rolling here, as Carey starts to expand out the world and takes us on a journey to the truth of what's actually happening. The reveal here is shocking, and shows just how good Carey is at a) surprising a reader and b) being willing to take his characters into corners that others might fear to tread. There's a lot to like here, including the introduction of a world that's so much larger conceptually than we were first led to believe in volume 1.

Casagrande's art continues to be pretty strong, though again, her style that sometimes leaves details blurred may not be to everyone's taste. Still, being asked to switch on a dime from something that's very down to earth into epic, heroic danger isn't easy, and she handles it very well.

This second volume was even better than the first.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

[This review is for the entire series, comprised of 6 volumes]
I had never heard about this when it came out; Patrick at the comic shop said they pitched it as a cop drama so as not to give away the major plot twist that happens in the second or third issue and forever takes it away from cop drama territory into meta-superhero drama in the vein of Watchmen, Irredeemable, Welcome to Tranquility, and the like. Carey also effectively weaves in world-building (without overcomplicating it like Morrison, Ellis, and Hickman) and interrelationship conflict. It's so much to attempt, and like few others have, he pulls it off. He covers a lot of familiar territory--multiple dimensions, fascist governments, apocalypses, and more...and just as the story seems like it's going to slip into cliche, Carey takes it in a different direction. He is also remarkably good at maintaining a consistent internal logic and natural exposition. I will note that the ending seems a little abrupt and a little too clean, but sometimes a story this packed with, well, story can be hard to end in any kind of satisfying way. I don't hold it against Carey, who is now on my list of writers to keep an eye out for.
P.S. It also has a strong female central character, who emerges later in the story...another way Carey upends the norm for this sort of thing.

[Alexandre · Rating 3 out of 5]

this went from ok superheroes comic to overdrive ! 3.5 stars

[Fantifica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reseña de Lorenzo Martínez · Nota: 8,5 · Reseña en Fantífica

En el primer volumen recopilatorio de Riesgo suicida Mike Carey nos planteaba la posibilidad de que los superhéroes tuvieran sus capacidades gracias al mercado negro, lo que abre un sinfín de posibilidades en un mundo en el que existen los superpoderes. ¿Puede una ama de casa convertirse de la noche a la mañana en una superheroína o una supervillana? ¿O un oficinista cansado de su rutina acudir a un traficante de poderes y pagar para que su vida dé un giro de ciento ochenta grados?

Por lo visto sí se puede, aunque afortunadamente Riesgo suicida ofrece algo más que eso, ya que cualquiera con acceso al pinchazo de las capacidades sobrehumanas no tiene por qué usar sus nuevas habilidades para el bien: también puede ser un completo egoísta. No todos somos iguales, y hasta la persona en apariencia más inofensiva podría ser el supervillano que destruye España (por decir un lugar cualquiera) o controlar todo el tráfico de drogas del continente.

La posibilidad existe y Carey utiliza a Leo Winters, el personaje que ya nos introdujo en el primer arco argumental, para llevar adelante un cómic con mucho ritmo que tiene sonando de fondo la canción de si superar a los demás a nivel físico da derecho a amenazar a los habitantes de una ciudad o tomar por la fuerza lo que te dé la real gana, solo por ser un súper.

En estos cuatro números de la serie que forman el segundo arco argumental, Leo Winters vuelve a ser el centro de atención y siguen presentes sus dudas sobre hacer o no lo correcto: ayudar a hacer el bien enfrentándose a los villanos de turno o ayudar a esos mismos criminales a llevar a cabo sus planes. Como ya dijimos en su momento, Riesgo suicida es la clásica historia del bien y el mal con elegido de turno, al que pone en una situación difícil que se ramifica en dos frentes bien distintos: intentar de alguna forma volver a su anterior vida o dejarla atrás y afrontar su nueva condición como reencarnación de Réquiem. Porque lo que propone Carey es que en nuestro interior se oculta un héroe o un villano, y que el pinchazo es únicamente una forma de que salga a la luz y termine por suplantarnos. El momento de nacimiento del héroe lo reduce Carey a un mero trámite que pierde toda magia y espectacularidad, y por eso me gusta.

En este segundo arco argumental de la serie Carey nos da mucho más de este particular universo alternativo que es Riesgo suicida e introduce elementos que ya son palabras mayores, como por ejemplo que de pronto una banda de villanos quiera tomar un país y convertirlo en su propiedad, o ampliar el alcance y consecuencias de los poderes de los que han comprado la inyección. Es decir, que con Un escenario de pesadilla tenemos mucho más que lo que vimos en la primera parte, y precisamente por eso el cómic gana en calidad.

Recuerdo que en el primer volumen comenté que el dibujo de Elena Casagrande no me parecía especialmente llamativo, y aunque no era malo, sí que echaba en falta otro tipo de cualidad pictórica. Pero hay que reconocer que en estos números el estilo de Casagrande, aun siendo el mismo, ha mejorado bastante y ahora presenta las viñetas de una forma más dinámica, lo que ayuda a valorar más positivamente el conjunto. El quinto número tiene a Joëlle Jones como artista invitada, y se trata de una historia independiente sobre un ama de casa que, harta de su marido, sus hijos y el sobón de su jefe en el supermercado, decide pagar la inyección y cambiar totalmente su existencia hasta límites insospechados. ¿Haríais vosotros lo mismo?

Si os van las historias de superhéroes tenéis que echarle un vistazo a Riesgo suicida, para mí de lo mejor que está sacando BOOM! Studios y una apuesta diferente pero que juega con los planteamientos clásicos del género.

[Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second volume of Suicide Risk stumbles a bit toward delivering on the promises of the first volume. Precious little plot and character development occur as Leo's history and story are sidelined in favor of the super villain team of Nightmare Scenario.

Unfortunately, as the mechanism for unlocking superhuman abilities is expanded on, Carey opens a risky door that could upend the meaningful character development that has occurred thus far. Leo's behavior becomes somewhat erratic, but hopefully can retain verisimilitude as his alternate persona, Requiem, begins to emerge. To abandon Leo altogether would squander the effort that comes with presenting such an engaging character to readers and do a disservice to the narrative.

The strengths of this volume are in its additional world building. Leo's story moves forward slightly, specifically on the homefront as his daughter Tracey discovers powerful secrets. Although not many of the questions of the first volume are answered, Nightmare Scenario is an interesting crew and the introduction of Just A Feeling promises some big payoffs as the story moves forward.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as laid back and thoughtful as the first volume was, this volume switches to an action emphasis. And it's a significant and impressive switch. Leo's powers are much more prevalent here, and the Nightmare Scenario group is an interesting concept - a group of supervillains who actually do take over a country, with Leo's assistance, but not assent. Their powers, and their actions, and characters are all interesting, and the book reaches an explosive climax, then keeps going. There's also a secondary story, focusing on Leo's family, and the strange things happening to them. All told, this book really improves on the first volume, expanding its concepts in new and fascinating ways, and is enough on its own to justify reading the first book to (not that it really needed the justification)

[La Espada en la Tinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como ya dije en la reseña del primer volumen de la serie, Mike Carey, Elena Casagrande y Joëlle Jones firman una historia muy distinta de las que plagan el mercado del cómic. Es sorprendente, como ya mencioné, que Riesgo suicida empezara a publicarse casi a la par que la novela de Brandon Sanderson Steelheart, precisamente porque los dos tenían unas ciertas semejanzas —salvando las consabidas diferencias, claro está—. En ambos casos, todos los que adquieren superpoderes terminan por adentrarse en un bucle de frustracion, deseo y violencia que les lleva a convertirse en villanos, pese a que sus motivos para hacer determinado uso de sus poderes estuviese justificado.

Sigue leyendo...

[Anchorpete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pretty sure in my review of the last volume I said that Mike Carey is the most underrated writer in comics today. The first volume was great, and this continues the momentum. In this volume, we see the true, horrific potential of what the people who have been given super powers can do in this world. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but a great appeal of this volume is seeing how easy it is to accomplish something on a colossal level, as long as you have a well thought out plan and super powers that break the laws of physics. I eagerly await the next volume.

[Germano Marrello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anche in questo secondo capitolo la trama di Suicide Risk non mi ha affatto deluso.

La storia di Ada, inserita come prologo, è davvero carina e mi è piaciuto il modo in cui ha cercato di sistemare tutti i problemi della sua famiglia piuttosto che andare alla conquista del mondo (cosa che qualunque persona dotata di superpoteri farebbe).

Anche la storia del gruppo di Super con cui Leo si allea hanno un piano unico: conquistare un piccolo stato e governarlo: perché attaccare il mondo intero quando puoi stare tranquillo nel giardino di casa tua?

Si, mi piace molto.

[Nathalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although he is really trying to hold on to his humanity and reunite with his family Leo is dragged into the Nightmare Scenarios' drama of taking over the Yucatan. Although he initially goes along with the plan (to save innocent lives) once he unleashes his powers there is no holding him back. New characters introduced: Ada, the abused housewife turned drug kingpin and Christina aka Just a feeling the psychic dreamer are two to watch out for.

[Ryan Viergutz]

Wow, man, Mike Carey writes twisted sick stuff. It's one of those books that's so short it desperately wants more room to play with its concept of evil superheroes and one possibly evil superhero fighting his nature who's stuck in the center of the madness.

That said Carey clearly is familiar with writing comics and knows exactly how to do it.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suicide Risk takes a rather unexpected turn for its second major arc, but it remains, a strong and enjoyable story that's brutal and exciting and a lot of fun to read. The main character remains very interesting and Carey does a good job of teasing us with just the slightest glimpses of the larger world he's creating.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than vol.1. Probably more like 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up for a creator I like.
The one off story that starts this volume is great, and the main arc within us clearer than volume 1.
Explanations will come in later volumes. I think I stopped reading the single issues somewhere in volume 3.

[Ithlilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I'm definitely hooked, can't wait for the next one, haven't read anything like it. Superheroes that are villains but may have compelling back stories and may come from supernatural entities from the past...then there's the whole demon thing. More!

[Rj Veit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this infinitely more then the first one! Still not perfect but totally worth reading.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to expand the metaphysics of the universe, while keeping us most interested in the characters and plot. Solid writing (and gorgeous art).

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just keeps getting better. This may be the most innovative superhero comic of the 2010s.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo tries to run-down the villains who injured his partner and killed a bunch of other cops. The trail will lead him far and wide and the series will take turns both diverse and unforeseen.

[Fahim Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great improvement over the first volume.