Analog: A Cyborg-Dystopian Noir, Vol. 2

Analog

by Gerry Duggan, David O'Sullivan (Artist), Mike Spicer (Artist)

The internet has collapsed and secrets are moved around the world on paper by armed "Ledger Men". Hard-drinking human punching bag Jack McGinnis must unravel the mystery of how his nemesis returned to power and survive a burn notice from his old "pals" in the intelligence community. Starring Oona, Sam, Pops and a bunch of dangerous spies, mercs, hitmen, bartenders -- plus a free-range and slightly confused artificial intelligence.

Collects ANALOG #6-10

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Crime, Comic Book

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2019

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. There’s a Rocket about to launch into space. Our main character has been tasked with getting there and removing something and replacing it with something else before it launches. Some great spy stuff with a lot of violent action. Pretty solid wrap up to the story.

[Valéria. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pamätám si, že po prvom volume som písala niečo ako, že to vôbec nemusí pokračovať, aj keď to pokračovať má.. a naozaj nemuselo. Týchto 5 zošitov bolo naozaj zbytočných. Jack už nie je tak sympaticky napísaný, ako bol predtým, celé sa to nesie v takom nijakom duchu, nič ma na tom nezaujalo a ani tých pár scén, kedy lietali vnútornosti a krv to nezachránili. Chýba tomu to čaro, ktorého už prvý diel malo naozaj málo, ale aspoň sa sem tam ukázalo. Nebola to sračka, ani nič zle napísané, je to fajn nakreslené, ale je to skrátka naozaj zbytočné. A vlastne už len zbytočne naťahujem review, keď som všetko, čo k tomu stačilo povedať, napísala v prvej vete..

[Václav · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4,5 of 5 for thrilling action-spy comics)
Yes, the second part is just a second half of the whole thing. The art is still good, the story is still perfect and engaging. I loved the ending and totally enjoyed this comic.

[RG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty random. It lost all what was ok about it in the previous issues/vol

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I have to admit, I came into this having confused Analog with Gregory Suicide somehow, so I was really lost for the first couple of pages. This volume just drops you into the story, and makes no accommodation for new readers (or readers who are almost two years out from reading the first volume). But even so, once I got my bearings again, I enjoyed the ride.
Jack McGinnis caused some major damage at the end of the first volume, and finds himself in even more trouble here, as competing AIs are trying to escape Earth, and one is depending on him. There's lots of action, with the story pretty evenly split between McGinnis and the odd-couple pairing of Oona and Sam (whose interactions I think I enjoyed more than Jack's), with a couple of good twists and a pretty nice finale. If you're looking for deep introspection, though, that's not here. While there are some call-outs to the Doxxing or the impact of the AIs on the world, it's a pretty basic backdrop for the story and doesn't really come into play. Still, if you like big budget action movies, this plays out just like one, and is a quick, enjoyable read with well-done art that works well for the story. Nothing world-changing, but an enjoyable romp.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two was also excellent. It would be five stars but the story seems to have issues with the passage of time in service to continuity. We last saw our anti-Hero stuck in San Francisco on the outs and looking for a place to hide. This volume starts "later" with the team visiting Aunt Sam at her office beating up her people. She then joins the "good guys" on our team and more bloody hilarity ensues. Our hero manages to get beat up a lot and yet keep going.

So my biggest problem with the story is it does not understand time or distance and how long it takes to get to Florida from NYC or from Texas to California.

The AI thing was kind of cool / cute but I'm not sure how the AI is going to survive on Mars unless they have bodies to inhabit and build things in that rocket. I guess that was not important to the story.

It appears Mr Duggan does not like the Zuck man but that character acts more like Musk in the comic. There was some backstory with the "Great Doxing" that seemed like it could have been fleshed out better.

Anyway, despite some nitpicking this was a great Noir story - solid 4 stars.

[Matthew WK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good humor, interesting plot, but a bit convoluted at times. It's almost like they added to much commentary on contemporary times that at times i felt like they lost the main theme. They could have probably slowed the pace a bit and stretched the story to the trades to flesh it out more. It's worth a read, but i don't feel i need to own it. I thought about rereading it as there is a lot going on and a reread knowing the characters and overall plot might reveal some things i missed, but i don't have much interest in spending the time on it again.

[Mateo Sanboval · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second volume is inferior to the first. Without armchair quarterbacking the plot too much, I'll just say that I preferred the story when it was less over the top and James Bond-ish. The enjoyable dark humor is intact in this second installment and I did like some of the new characters introduced here even if they were too briefly in the book. I also wasn't a huge fan of the art change. All the negativity aside, it's still wicked fun. Plus you get an unexpected cameo from the Heynongman himself.

[Paul S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot and art are ok but this volume is missing the charm and commentary that made me like the first volume so much.
I also had issues understanding what was at stake. I mean I got it but... wait, why are they doing what?
I appreciated the closing sequence; that was good enough for me to give the book another quick read-through and bump the score up.
Idk. Maybe I was tired or nearing death.

[Sarospice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wish this story was all in one volume. The noir choices of the main character were brilliant and I got interested in what A.I. wanted to do without us and the planet Earth, but it ends too quickly without answer those questions.

[Trike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very satisfying conclusion to the post-internet caper, complete with rogue AI and enough gunplay for several action flicks. A highlight is the B-25 going up against Predator drones. I mean, c’mon, how can you not love that?

[Mark Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid cyber noir that delivers what you'd expect. The art seems to have perspective issues at times but is pretty decent overall.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this. The story, the characters.....all intriguing.

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a 4 but i think it needs a higher rating 😂

This was a solid typical crime noir but dystopian! Whats not to like?

3.5🌟

[Romano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuenta con muchos elementos temáticos que me agradaron, pero su estilo es mucho menos atractivo que Analog: A Cyborg-Dystopian Noir Vol. 1: Death By Algorithm. Los personajes son menos carismáticos que en la primera tarde, probablemente porque las ilustraciones ya no estuvieron a cargo de David O'Sullivan y a que ahora apostaron por una formula narrativa más cercana a los thriller de espionaje.

En muchos sentidos es una apropiación de Neuromancer, actualizada a problemáticas socioculturales más cercanas al siglo XIX. Nuevamente el mundo ficcional es mucho más interesante que la trama en sí misma, y de alguna forma eso es suficiente.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Analog volume two wraps up like any classic spy caper. The hero takes a significant number of licks, but with the help of allies, undoes the villain, and slips away to obscurity. Like all the expert planners who are one step ahead, McGinnis delivers clever surprises that make his gambits successful. The character in distress is unique, and their parting observations offer the greater perspective.

The subject matter and inner-monologue of our hero offer an opportunity to reflect and consider current events through a window with thick, curvy, smokey glass that distorts the details. But the underlying core remains, leaving room for the reader to explore without feeling instructed or forced.

Analog could and should be extended; the conclusion of the story seems to leave plenty of unexplored territory in the alternate near-future. Hopefully we’ll be treated to additional heroics as information is delivered.