Friday, Book Two: On a Cold Winter's Night

Friday #4-6

by Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martín (Artist)

BOOK TWO is finally here! A young adult detective hero finally grows up in this second volume of the genre-defying post-YA masterpiece from award-winning creators ED BRUBAKER (RECKLESS, FRIEND OF THE DEVIL, PULP, KILL OR BE KILLED) and MARCOS MARTIN (THE PRIVATE EYE, Daredevil), as well as acclaimed colorist MUNTSA VICENTE. Friday Fitzhugh's best friend and partner Lancelot Jones (the smartest boy in the world) has been killed, and the police in their small town of King's Hill are not up to the task of solving the crime. Now, Friday must pull herself out of her grief and hunt the cold winter night for justice-all on her own this time.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Mystery, Fantasy, Crime, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2022

About the author

Ed Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.

In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first book, I vowed I would wait until the series was completed before reading it again, but I got impatient and wanted a fix and read this second volume anyhow. We're in the midst of the mystery and things are only getting more convoluted. It's engaging, but, again, this story would be better read all at once instead of in these little installments. Here's hoping I'm strong enough to wait next time if the third volume is not yet the conclusion.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter Four. The Christmas Present -- Chapter Five. The Casebook of Lancelot Jones -- Chapter Six. In the Nick of Time -- Afterword -- Sketchbook

[Alex Sarll]

The creators of Friday are always terribly apologetic about how slowly it's going, but given the snowy setting, and the way they keep packing so much action and intrigue into the short days around year's end, I'm absolutely fine if they just keep releasing a volume each Christmastime. For the moment we're still with the same former child detective, back in her old home town and now investigating the death of her former sidekick, killed in their old clubhouse. Which was obviously suspicious, so why did the Feds rule it an accident, in the process giving the local authorities a bollocking for child endangerment over all those years they were letting adventurous kids do their work for them? And what about that mysterious stone dagger? I'm not sure if Marcos Martin's art is quite as luminous this time out, but it still feels a lot like the sequel to an old show you'd stumble over on YouTube one December night, and I very much mean that as a compliment.

[Michele Monteleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ora so dirvi esattamente come si manifesta la sindrome di Stendhal, avrei voluto non finisse mai, vorrei avere ora per le mani il prossimo volume.

[Whitney Jamimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 reread: The final volume is here! I will be picking that one up tomorrow to binge.

2023 initial thoughts:
Instantly regretting picking this up even though it’s not complete! Here is where my series binger personality is kicking myself in the ass because this was so goooood and all I want to do right now is finish out this series and the third and final volume is definitely not out and isn’t going to be out this holiday season like the first two were. I guess I just need to look at it in the light of I’ll be able to do a reread and pick up on alllll the clues when the final volume comes out.

If anyone enjoyed the first volume but weren’t in love or are on the fence if they should continue, 100% you need to do it! This second volume kicks everything up a notch or two from the previous installment. Friday is such a badass and I love her and her aesthetic so so much.

It seems like often times comic books will be like a three volume run but by the time you get to that third and final volume it all feels rushed. As of right now anyway, the pacing for this series if perfect and the way I am imagining everything we are at a perfect point to end act three, the final act, with the same perfect pace. I think Brubaker is going to be able to achieve what many comic authors cannot and end this thing in a satisfactory way without feeling hurried through.

This Friday series has been such a treat, I hope once it’s done it gets the omnibus treatment as I will 100% buy it to go along with my trades. In the mean time I will be telling my comic friends about this one so they can get on the wagon with me and we can all eagerly await and binge the final volume together once it comes out!

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not quite ready for the shift from noir to sci-fi. At first I was mad because I was enjoying the noir but the sci-fi hooked me by the end. Eager to read the next volume as soon as it hits the shelves!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are taking a mind-bending turn. Great illustrations and setting--a grown-up mystery for former fans of "Encyclopedia Brown."

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friday Fitzhugh (I swear Brubaker writes these books just so he can come up with ridiculous names) continues her investigation into the goings on of her small town that she fled years ago.

I love the concept of seeing former kid detectives all grown up, the kind of harmless adventure books you read as a kid only looking back on them with distance you see that it's all kind of messed up.

That's what is happening with Friday here. Trying to figure out this final case while figuring out her own part in all of it. It's a fun story and I like that Brubaker mentions he knew how this book was going to end, he just wasn't entirely sure how he was going to get there.

Looking forward to volume three. Hopefully it takes less than a year this time.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb follow-up to the first Friday volume. On a Cold Winter's Night picks up directly from the first volume's cliffhanger, with Friday forced to investigate the killing of her detective comrade, Lance (who might be helping her from beyond the grave).

If the first volume was a little Lovecraftian, this second volume is a lot Lovecraftian - to its benefit! This series already stood apart from Ed Brubaker's usual output, and even moreso now. Marcos Martin's art is stunning as well. Can't wait to read the series front-to-back someday to look for the little gotchas.

[Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited for the next book! I really enjoy this mystery story and the artwork.

[Enric Herce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tot el que funcionava al primer volum funciona aquí, però ja posats en matèria, en Brubaker va per feina i posa noves cartes a sobre de la taula, com acostuma a passar arribats en aquest punt, que agradin més o menys va a gustos i en el meu cas n'hi ha alguna que d'entrada no m'acaba de convèncer, però ho dic amb la boca petita, expectant per veure com remata la jugada. Destacar el meravellós tractament del color de la Muntsa Vicente, que accentua els estats anímics dels personatges i el to de cada escena amb subtilesa i encert.

[Álex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aun prescindiendo de los trucos cinemáticos de otros cómics, Marcos y Muntsa siguen destacando con su estilo de dibujo y color. Como dice Ed Brubaker al final (no es un espóiler), está lleno de detalles y pistas que necesitan varias relecturas. Me atrapan los personajes tan multifacéticos, aunque el misterio, cuando va derivando a lo sobrenatural, me saca de la historia. A ver qué tal los siguientes números.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Once again, Brubaker has me thinking in a hundred different directions with this book. Great crime mystery/horror/sci-fi thriller! Looking forward to more of this when it comes out!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this and not just for the first person narration of the title character, a youthful sleuth-ful tough-as-nails Friday, but maybe even more for the quirky, detailed, always changing to another interesting perspective artwork and perhaps best of all, the superbly unique and mood-setting coloring.

I like much less when the bad guys reveal their occult connections and do their demon/snake/creepy and difficult to kill transformations, but it’s a typical comic book “evil” and I’ll keep reading to see what twists Brubaker has cooked up and how beautifully Martin and Vincente will portray them.

[kaitlphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I'm reading this in volumes since it's a hard story to put down. I wish I had the next volume now!

This volume changes the story quite a bit. By the end of the volume it feels like a different genre.

[Philip James Ahlschlager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavy Lovecraft vibe and Easter eggs throughout. Straight on to the next one!

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still super fun, although this really reads as one story, not as 3 volumes. It would have made much more sense to publish the whole thing together.

[GҽɱɱαSM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2*
Tan encantador i corprenedor com el primer volum... la ressenya continuarà a l'últim volum de la trilogia.

[Stephan Brusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sucked into the story again right away. Combined with the wonderful art it’s another great one.

[Bibliotecario De Arbelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aquest segon volum de Firday recull els capítols 4, 5 i 6.

En aquesta segona part, ens endinsem molt més en la història (amb unes il·lustracions i colors excel·lents). Després del gran final del primer volum, posem una mica de llum a alguns misteris, però n'apareixen de nous que fan que aquesta segona part sigui encara més addictiva que la primera.

S'aprofundeix més en els personatges, en el poble, en la trama... Una segona part que fa de transició entre la introducció i el gran final que segur que ens espera. Quines ganes de llegir la conclusió.

Tot plegat fa de Friday una història perfecta per als amants de les novel·les de misteri amb tint d'horror còsmic.

[Zedsdead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heads up: SPOILERS of Book One.

Friday is left reeling in the wake of the boy detective's murder, but she eventually pulls herself together and begins--what else?--investigating.

Brubaker puts together a neat little trail of clues for her to follow. The mystery feels adult, with actual danger and real consequences--Friday is even allowed to feel irritation at Lancelot's penchant for byzantine, time-consuming puzzles--but it also nods broadly to the kid-detective series that this book is based on. Friday walks that tightrope superbly.

And while I'm typically suspicious and skeptical of time travel stories, I have high hopes that Brubaker will keep Book Three in hand and I enjoy how the story has pivoted.

I like v2 even more than I liked v1.

[Estibaliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the good stuff! And I so much wish I owned these instead of being reading them from the library, just so I could go back to the first volume and look for all those hints Brubaker says he hid there... especially after the new perspective we've just been given, with the ending of this second volume.

Loving the weird note of this noir, and the oh so fitting art. And now we got some fantastic and sci-fi elements thrown into the mix to top it up. And it just works so well, it's pure magic(!).

Now to be patient, and wait for the third volume...

[Kerowyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'aime beaucoup l'atmosphère de Friday. Le côté petite ville. Le dessin très 70.
Mais dans ce tome, le mieux c'est que l'histoire prend une tournure beaucoup plus... fantastique. Et ce n'est pas pour me déplaire !

[Andrew Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one was a fun twist on the teen detective troupe, very good until a banger of a twist. Book two picks up right where book one ends and just delivers twist on reveal on twist. So much fun. I can't wait to read the conclusion soon.

[Juju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. It’s the perfect thing to read curled up while it’s cold outside. Kind of like a gritty, grown-up version of Nancy Drew. Yet the colors and illustration style maintain a nostalgic, warm feel. This story hits 🔥

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

yet another thrilling installment with breathtakingly gorgeous art

[Kristin Boldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could only be more in my wheelhouse if a woman was writing it. Surly girl detective in 70s with horror; it's so fun. Gives Stranger Things vibes. More, please.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jest kryminał, jest zagadka, jest klimat Lovecrafta, jest wciągająca historia... Czego chcieć więcej? Wiadomo, księgi trzeciej! :D

[Maiwenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Et bah voilà j’ai eu le tome 2 que j’attendais, maintenant le 3 😭

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgettable.

[Karolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, this part really got me interested and curious about how will the story evolve 🌸🎄