Genius, Vol. 2: Cartel

Genius (collected editions) #2

by Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Rosi Kämpe (Illustrator)

The greatest military mind of her generation returns in the follow up to the winner of Top Cow's Pilot Season. Seventeen-year-old Destiny Ajaye took on the LAPD in her South Central Siege and paid for it -- not with her life, but with her freedom. Now, Destiny is sequestered in the Madrasa Institute, a government school for prodigies. But will she use her gifts to wage war at the military's behest - or is she already planning another revolution?
Collects Genius: Cartel 1-5

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

136 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2018

Reviews

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius and getting better

[Paul Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destiny Rides Again – further adventures – compulsive reading

This violent comic collection revolves around Destiny, genius strategist of the title, as she is recruited by the Madrasa Institute who recruit her to work black opps. She however has plans of her own and these develop during this volume.

This is a fascinating series, led by an interesting character, clearly illustrated and I look forward ot seeing how Destiny's adventures progress in the next volume. Highly recommended.

[Lukas Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so torn on this. The character is amazing, the story is really interesting and very dark, but somehow this volume seemed a miss. I am guessing it will tie back in nicely come volume three, so I'll stay on board.

[Gamal Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The high concept of Genius 2 is 60% La Femme Nikita, 30% Sicario, and 10% MCU humor. It's an entertaining combination, although some of the character designs make following the spy vs spy vs drug dealer plot confusing.

[James Makumbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit more ... rebel than last

This comic could inspire many people I know.
Just when you think you know where she is going, she swerved left then right.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A step down/away from the first book, but setting up good chaos to come.

[katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has been ....chaotic..... lately but Genius is so fun & easy to read

Destiny is back again to kick ass. and she does!!!! s/o to my old professor for having us read the first volume in class

[Shelby Fielding · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that feels incredibly apathetic at first, seemingly following the route of a great deal of indie comics in being alternative narratives for the big two publishers by simply being “mature.” There’s a great deal of bloodshed, a casual nature to violence that feels like someone simply changing the station on a radio, from one violent mess to another. Yet, when the blood settles, there is a through-line through the bleakness that feels well-wrought and heavy. A story that quickly changes from the veneered fantasy of a genius military mind let loose on a shallow stand-in for “bad guy,” to something layered by asking who is the bad guy? The one who commits the violence? Or the one who gave them no other option than to choose survival over death? It’s a steady work that arrives at insightful conclusion that is direct with its message, and also boosted from a more steady art direction. Kampe and Simpson bring a vibrancy and cleanliness that was missing from before, a much more well-rounded effort that annunciates those story beats with clarity and texture. It’s a more well-rounded work than it’s predecessor, even if it doesn’t feel like it at first. While maintaining a similar theme of asking us to look at those trapped and cycles of violence and demanding we break from the propagandized attachment of villainy and instead look from a wider lenses and ask who are anger should really be pointed at, those with power or those without?