Postal, Vol. 2

Postal (Collected Editions) #2

by Matt Hawkins, Bryan Edward Hill, Isaac Goodhart (Illustrations)

Small town. Big problems. Mark Shiffron is more than the mailman of Eden, Wyoming. Now he's the problem solver, working with his mother, the Mayor, to keep a town full of criminals from tearing itself apart. As ambition and desire grow within him, Mark uses his unique perspective to try and keep Eden under his mother's control. But can the Mayor keep her son under her control? The second arc of the controversial and unflinching POSTAL once again journeys into the strange darkness of human nature, making one thing clear: every paradise comes at a price.

Collects POSTAL #5-8.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Crime, Mystery, Horror, Comic Book, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2015

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this volume hit and miss. I loved the boxing story but couldn't really get behind the opening story that felt like a direct ripoff of the movie Strangers. But overall a great series.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this volume. I love weird ass towns, with weird ass people, that usually end up in death.

Mark is a really weird guy. Yes, he has aspergers but he's still weird in general. His mother is a evil bitch who has a lot up her sleeve. You also have his father who's done some truly fucked up shit, but you don't know everything he did.

The story continues the mystery, builds better character bonds, and makes you start to see how all these characters connect. I have to say I'm impressed with how much better the dialog has become. Like it felt more natural this time around and the last few pages made me want the next volume right away...oh wait, already grabbed it.

Also Bryan is a awesome guy. So that's a plus. Check this stuff out!

[Sooraya Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark gets snatched by a Manson-like family. An encounter that seems to change him.
Maggie the waitress appears to have a lot of secrets and agendas of her own. I believe she's going to play a major role in upcoming volumes.

[Melissa Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues from volume 1. It starts off with a bloody bang. Then continues on to tell the story of Eden, Wyoming and its inhabitants. The artwork is still just as nicely done as before. The story itself kind of went all over the place and made me have to slow down and pay extra attention but other than that, it was still an awesome book.

[David Msomba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man!!!The Story line is so good,like watching a real good crime movie,the art is superb which makes hard to put it down.....

I started the first volume yesterday,I couldn't stop

I had to pick up Volume 2,I'm glad I did.....such a great series.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

It doesn't feel like a whole lot happened in this volume. It's more a 'putting the pieces in place' kind of volume, and Mark and Margaret's relationship gets tested; Margaret is trying to shape him into her pet but he's completely aware of her actions. The Aspergers plays a bit more of a part here than in the first volume it feels like. At the same time, we get mostly slice-of-life stories from individuals in Eden rather than a cohesive tale. This volume also includes the FBI Dossier, which makes for much more condensed reading in contrast to the normally brief dialogue of the regular series. All told, it's a notch down from the previous volume, but serves as an important piece of the world-building.

[Aldo Haegemans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden is a quiet town aching to explode into violence and murder. The mayor is the main thing preventing that from happening. Her deal with the FBI keeps Eden secret from the rest of the world, but for how much longer? Each issue is a short story that is pretty much standalone, so that's a step down from the previous volume. Still, the setting and characters are just as cool. I don't think you have to be a psycho to enjoy this book. I suspect it helps, though.

Mark's mail truck is hijacked by a pretty young woman who steers him toward a house where a wounded man wearing a bull mask thinks himself a god. He is a bit of a madman who has killed several people. He now ascertains whether Mark can be his new disciple. The sheriff steps in to save Mark and kills the two. Mark gains a better understanding of the importance of spending time with Maggie.

Laura's job as mayor is a tough one when you're surrounded by criminals. Emily is a young woman who suffered 3rd degree burns over the whole of her body during a meth cooking accident. She has had enough and threatens to blow herself up with a grenade. Laura convinces her to give up the grenade, but the girl still kills herself later on.

Eden is a quiet town, but sometimes they need to witness some violence. The mayor gives them just that in a barnyard boxing match. The challenger is using Mark's ability to notice details in order to find an opening in the champ's defense. He repays mark by making him more attractive for Maggie.

Johan was suspected of killing and burying a child in his back yard. He always claimed he was innocent. Now he lives in Eden, but some folks want him dead. Laura needs him to set up a surveillance system only she will have access to, but Maggie is already plotting his demise. Maggie kills Johan with some help from Mark. Fortunately for Laura, Johan already sent her the plans for the surveillance system.

[Nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I devoured this one.

Even still, it goes down a star for a few reasons. I'll also be getting into vague spoilers here, so click away if you want to be cautious.

The first reason is a big one, but it's also very unique to my personal preferences, so I wouldn't necessarily hold it against the volume as a whole. When I read stories that have to do with an isolated town, world, universe etc, I want it to remain that way - isolated. The second the outside world or real world starts to penetrate the story, I get annoyed. I like to be immersed in the fantasy (in whatever form that takes), and the whole "the outside world will discover us" trope or the "outsiders coming in" trope kinda ruins that for me. The FBI involvement is just looking like it's going to be an even bigger plot line in future volumes, and I am not looking forward to it. I just want to see how this situation could be handled in-house. That's the content I'm looking for and eat up without hesitation. At times this theme has been the reason I've walked away from a series, and I hope it won't be the reason I walk away from this one.

The second reason I went down a star is because of something I didn't see. Seriously, where the actual hell was Mark's Father in this volume? He always seemed to be looming in the shadows, but he didn't make a big appearance in a big way like I kept hoping for. We saw him in a flashback, but not in the present. Sadness.

Honestly, there was just too much FBI in this volume that took away from other things I would've liked to focus on more instead.

Things I did like: Mark was good. Love that character. I get wildly pissed when people try (and sometimes succeed) at using him, but sadly I think that's realistic for the world, so I'll deal with it. He is starting to push back and do some scheming himself though, and I love that. Did I mention I love him yet?

Maggie continues to be intriguing. I really really like that I still don't quite know what to make of her or what her true motivations are. I think I know who she's loyal to, but I feel like first and foremost she's loyal to her own ideas, and those are also slightly suspect. But I like her. Tentatively. She's generally gentle with Mark in a way most people aren't, and I appreciate that. I truly believe that she cares for him, I just don't know how the depth of her emotions and how they'll play out. I definitely want more of their relationship.

The blood and gore and fucked-up shit continues to exist in Vol 2, and I like that those things aren't fading way as if the first volume was going for shock value. I also continue to concern my family that this is what I want to rest my eyeballs on in my free time. Whatever.

The boxing story line was awesome. Enough said.

The art is still stunning. Goddamn.

I picked up volumes 3 and 4 from my local library, so I'll probably go at them soon enough. Excited to see what comes next and exactly how much blood will be spilled before all is said and done.

I'm guessing a lot.

[Whitney Jamimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am caring for Mark more and more as each issue goes by. The secrets of the individuals of Eden and the secrets of Eden itself are slowing revealing themselves to be a convoluted web of chaos and I absolutely love it! I just want to know what is going to happen next from all sides, Isaac, Maggie, the FBI, Laura. It’s all hitting the fan at once it seems: I love the juicy drama, give me more!!

[Cristina | Books, less beer & a baby Gaspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I am enjoying the plot so far and I am very curious with the upcoming volumes, but the opening story for this volume was a little bit out of the bloom and seemed like just a filler... I liked that the characters are developing and things are slowly being revealed. Let's see what's coming next!

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5?

Not sure I'm that interested on where this is heading to. I sure can say I'm disappointed there was little plot development in this one and, what's worse, the promises held in volume 1 very ending were nowhere to be seen in volume 2.

None of the characters is particularly relatable, and even if you might think that's something predictable given they are all criminals, truth is they are just not interesting enough to keep me really engaged, not even Mark.

All in all, entertaining but pretty stereotypical, I might still go on for volume 3 to see if there's anything new to keep me hooked... at least the art is pretty.

[Dani (ダニ ¦ 다니) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume didn't blow me away but I guess it was more of a filler to set up for what's to come so I'm curious to see where the next volume is going.

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh, what is happening in this town, and to our friendly postman

[Jourdain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ends with Mark helping Maggie kill the "pedo" Johan that was working with Laura for technology. FBI is getting mad at Laura for all the dead bodies. The Eden community is starting to not trust Laura and her laws. The FBI guy who hired Maggie just got denied his proposition but a agent showed up asking about Eden. An Armenian girl is on her way to Eden.

[Aron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! I think this is a highly under rated & under read series. It's very well written & drawn, has some excellent characters that are really interesting & multidimensional, plus the overall story is fantastic! If you like mature comics with a good stories, characters & artwork you should definitely be reading this, it's one of the best series currently in production. Highly recommend!

[RG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really improved on the first vol. Each issue is kinda like a mini crime but it explores the town a little more as well. There really isnt a massive plot, its more questions about different characters.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another dark violent tale, but the lead character is a mailman named Mark, so that makes it special, right?

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume slows down a bit. It is like the series is changing gears. It is a solid story and you do want to know what will happen next.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects issues 5-8 + the "FBI Dossier" one-shot. I am continuing to enjoy this series.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The father and son storyline goes onto the back burner for some side trips and character studies of other residents of the town. I'm still struggling to care about this book.

[Robert Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2 of Postal sees Mark help his mother keep control of
Eden. Another brilliant volume and feel like I'm in safe hands with these creators. 5 stars from me ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5?

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The looming menace of Mark's father Isaac gets backburnered in v2. Instead we're given several independent stories that serve to flesh out Eden's history and some of its notable residents. It's a solid volume.

Plot points:
--Mark is kidnapped by a hippie crime family modeled after Charlie Manson's. He's rescued by Sheriff Magnum. The attack appears to be random, completely disconnected from the central story arch.
--Flashback: Isaac forces a young Laura Shiffron to stand naked in the rain while he beheads a man who "touched" her. He drones on about his worldview: will against will, and desire is law. Whatever one can take, one has earned.
--Eden exists with the help of a regional FBI director, Jon Schultz. Laura hides millions worth of stolen gold bars for him, and he keeps Eden off the federal radar. It doesn't even show up on Googlemaps.
--A despondent, badly scarred methhead tries to blow herself up in the town bar. Laura talks her down, but she slashes her wrists that night anyway.
--The Barn Brawl is an annual Eden event in which two locals fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowd. A one-handed underdog hires Mark to watch fight tape and tell him how to beat the gigantic nazi reigning champion. (Curtis wins but loses an eye.) In exchange, Curtis will teach Mark how to be attractive to Maggie the waitress. (And I was surprised by the quality of the advice: 1) you have to want her to be happy; 2) her being happy might not mean being with you; 3) you have to be okay with that.)
--Johan is the pedo hacker working for Mayor Laura. Maggie enlists Mark to give her a plan to kill Johan and make it look like an accident. It goes off without a hitch. **It's strongly suggested that Johan is innocent of the rape/murder he's accused of.
--It's implied that Director Jon Schulz's daughter is being sent to Eden to hide out.
--Agent Simpson, Maggie's handler and rapist, pitches an assault on Eden to his supervisor, and suggests that his CI (Maggie) has become dangerous and should be 'taken off the board'. The supervisor happens to be Jon Schulz, and he shuts down the investigation and assigns Simpson to babysit an Amish gang.
--Just before Simpson transfers out, a new guy--Agent Bremble--transfers in and asks him if he's heard of a place called Eden.

[Joseph Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

The starting abduction seems too coincidental, a happy circumstance to force our postman into showing his will and cunning, and yet the conclusion is also perfect timing, beyond believability.

The presence of the father begins to eat at the reliability of the mayor, leading her to drop the ball on multiple instances.

I know we're supposed to blame the mayor for the first death, but it doesn't make sense how everyone else does too. Surely any one of them could have done something if they were so concerned.

Further, the lack of ramifications after the boxing match is disappointing.

The postman, again neglects his blind spots, proceeding on incomplete information. This part I actually don't mind, as it's believable, and we see people work this way all the time, particularly those who don't have aspergers.

The FBI agent continues to be unlikeable, and you feel like he takes up far too many pages for a set up we all know is coming. What is his motivation, anyways?

Finally, there's some teaser for another beautiful young woman, covered in blood, escaping to Eden. Yay, who cares? Is this supposed to tease some more beautiful woman nudity, of which there already is plenty of?

This was better than the first volume. I do hope for more resolution, but maybe I'm being asperger's myself, picking up loose threads the author has no intention of handling.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more of this series I read, the more I fall in love with it. It is completely messed up - but it is one of those stories that pulls you in within the first few panels and you cant.stop.reading no matter what you do.

If you hate waiting on the next volume to come out, I suggest you pick up the first couple of volumes so you don't have to stop in between reads. Luckily, I picked up volume three at the same time (but I'll get into that later).

Mark is becoming more of a badass and it shows in this volume. In the first, he comes across as more of a pushover but here he shows his strengths..which is analyzing situations and blackmailing those who require it. The first volume introduced the characters and gave backgrounds on them, this one concentrates on building the bonds and the connections between them. The dialog has seemed to evolved as well - how this is possible I don't even know.

The last few pages made me happy that I had the next volume checked out already - the cliffhanger is intense and will keep you up at night if you have to wait to continue the story.

Matt Hawkins continues to prove that he is a God in the comic world. Props to you, sir!

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as dark and messed up as the first volume. Tension and intrigue were built well, and it definitely feels like we're leading up to something big with regards to the main character's progression. Speaking of Mark, I still find him and the way his Asperger's is portrayed really refreshing and engaging. He's a fleshed out, complex character who happens to have Asperger's; not a cardboard cutout labelled and defined purely by a condition. I'm also liking Maggie more and more as we get to know her.

Particularly in the first couple of issues in this volume, the writing felt like it was trying a bit too hard to be deep and philosophical, with arcs that had little to do with the main story, but things quickly got back on track, with the expressive artwork consistently good throughout. I'm very excited to continue with the series!

[Paolo Macri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was good, but not as good as the first. Felt like the first volume set up and showed a lot of different aspects and information about the town of Eden, while this volume was more of an arching building section.

We learn of Agent Simpsons very detailed interest in the town, but felt like that whole part of the volume dragged on a bit to much.

Mark is still a great character anf this volume was still good, but was expecting a bit morem

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume didn't capture me as much as the first, but I still thought it was pretty good. Most of this feels like one-off stories about different townspeople in Eden, but the overarching story comes back by the last issue. Mark and Maggie get closer over the course of the book, and he helps her kill a creepy hacker guy who lives in a trailer on the edge of town. The hacker was setting up a surveillance program for Mark's mom, the mayor.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four somewhat connected stories in the strange town of Eden, Wyoming. While Mark is the main character the town itself could also be considered so. I really enjoyed the art by Isaac Goodhart and think it fits the story well. I wish there was a little more exposition because I didn't remember the first volume very well. Overall, a interesting idea that doesn't come fully to fruition.