Prism Stalker: The Weeping Star

Prism Stalker #2

by Sloane Leong, Lucas Gattoni (Letterer)

The planet Eriatarka grows more inhospitable as it's colonization at the hand of the Chorus continues.

Vep and her fellow students are reaching the end of their basic combat training in the pneumatic arts and begin to exercise their abilities outside the colony-city of Elefstris. Their subdue the unruly planet bent on scouring the Chorus' presence from its surface. But what exactly are they subjugating? And what will the cost of conquering be?

The follow up to the hit series Prism Stalker !

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics Manga

184 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Sloane Leong is a mixed indigenous cartoonist, artist, and writer. She explores themes of survival, displacement, relationships, spirituality, identity, and mental illness through genres like science fiction, horror, adventure, and slice-of-life. She is currently working on the second arc of her sci-fi adventure comic Prism Stalker and has a new book coming up in 2020 from First Second called A Map to the Sun.

Current projects: A MAP TO THE SUN (First Second, 2020), PRISM STALKER VOL 2 (Image Comics, 2021)

Reviews

[Bogi Takács]

I blurbed this one! Such an awesome book. Here is what I had to say (this is the full version and it's shortened for the promo materials):

"A diamond-sharp look at colonization and imperialism, Sloane Leong’s PRISM STALKER faces the demons of classic science fiction head-on. In the second volume, Vep and her fellow students have learned how to manipulate the planet’s strange energy field, only to become ever more enmeshed in the campaign to seize the land and destroy its inhabitants. Who are the arbiters of sentience, and who decides which beings deserve life? How do people justify violence – even to themselves? PRISM STALKER shows with fearsome clarity and breathtaking psychedelic visuals how autocratic power holders turn subjugated people against each other. Read it and draw strength from it: it’s a story that grows more timely with each passing day."

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Source of the book: e-ARC from publisher

[Ian Mathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This stands for me reading the whole series to date.)

Wow, this was not quite what I expected from what I'd heard about the series, but what it is I found even more vivid and enrapturing than I expected. The pretty brutally direct take on colonialism feels complex and insightful enough to at least start tackling the many complexities of that topic, and the world and character building are both extremely involving. Every single facture we see is fascinating, the alien biome reminds me a bit in feel of Scavengers Reign (a later work than this!) and I mean it as a compliment when I say the title's partial nod to Tarkovsky feels apt. I can't remember the last time I hit the end of a series to date and felt this much hunger to see what was going to happen next. (Arguably Rucka and Lark's Lazarus, but that's slightly different in that I was very clear on the status quo there when I started reading it.)

[Lora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll admit I was halfway through this book when I finally realized my confusion with the, um, “plot” not to mention the, ah “art” was due to this being somewhere in the middle of a series. Although I have a hard time imagining that the first book was any better than this one. Unattractive pseudo psychedelic not to mention completely confusing, art. Add to that pretentious fake-esoteric dialogue and you’ve got…not much. And of course the lettering had to be so small that normal people need a magnifying glass only to be left disappointed by the excruciating awful literary mish -mashes. Not good.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I've been waiting on the next instalment of Prism Stalker forever. And here we are, and I love it all the same. I absolutely love the art, the beautiful vibrant colours and the abstract shifting forms are intoxicating to look at. The story itself continues similarly to the first Prism Stalker series, though the overarching plot of some nefarious conspiracy falls a bit flat as I wait to find out more and receive clarity. But the individual character moments, especially between Vep and Sabrian, speak louder and are more moving than the original.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was alright. It's a continuation of the Prism Stalker series that Image published in 2019. It's about a woman going through some kind of training to be a space police officer with other aliens. There's some inklings that something nefarious is happening behind the scenes. The art is really inventive and reminds me of Paul Pope. The colors are bold and vibrant giving the comic an alien feel. I just wish the writing was less obtuse.

[Whatcha Reading Heather? · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also a 3.5/5 star rating because I feel like there can absolutely be more that can be added to continue the story. I do get more of an understanding of the characters and the overall politics, but I still want more. Definitely hoping that there is a 3rd volume but I can also see this being used an open-ended conclusion to the 1st volume.

[ShireenWrites · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are more intense and action-driven for the characters/prisoners in Volume 2 and I appreciate being entrusted with a digital ARC. This Volume gives me sci-fi She-Ra vibes.

[Donald Armfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art, its oddity and the color choices are gorgeous. The story arc fell dead for me.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

trigger warning :: if you have a hard time with self reflection or don't know the difference between shame and guilt this book may traumatize you.