The Losers Omnibus, Vol. 2

The Losers Omnibus #2

by Andy Diggle, Jock (Illustrator), Ian Rankin (Introduction)

International action and intrigue explode in the new title that inspired the 2010 Warner Bros. movie.

Collecting issues #13-32 of the hit series, THE LOSERS BOOK TWO finds the hard-luck black-ops band flying from Qatar to Turkmenistan amid oily dealings and flying bullets. Includes a new introduction by Ian Rankin and new cover by Jock.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Espionage, War

480 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2010

About the author

Andy Diggle is a British comic book writer and former editor of 2000 AD. He is best known for his work on The Losers,Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Adam Strange and Silent Dragon at DC Comics and for his run on Thunderbolts and Daredevil after his move to Marvel.

In 2013 Diggle left writing DC's Action Comics and began working with Dynamite Entertainment, writing a paranormal crime series Uncanny. He is also working on another crime series with his wife titled Control that is set to begin publishing in 2014.

Reviews

[Wing Kee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A wonky ending could not sustain an enjoyable story.

World: The art is good, but the fact that it's not all only Jock made me sad a bit. It's still very tonally consistent and stylish but it's not the same. The world building here is solid to a point, the ramping up of the mystery and the cogs behind Max is interesting until the Max reveal and the all the cloak and dagger stuff with who you can and cannot trust is abandoned and not really taken care of. I like the story but much like a lot of world building the landing does not stick (more in the story and characters below).

Story: The story moves a long fast and it's one of the best things about the series. It's precise, it's simple and it's fun. With this second omnibus the first 2/3 is great and follows the same line the first omnibus did, fun heists, quiet character moments, and wonderful banter. But like books such as Revival the reveal of the mystery is what really breaks the book, well not break but really hurts it. Max as a character is dull and his agenda stupid making readers roll their eyes, where once was a mysterious badass is now just a idiot of a character. Add to that the story then shoves aside all the cogs and machinations of who in the American Government they can trust and how high it goes and what are the stake for a finale that was kind of a whimper instead of a bang. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. I have to get into Clay and what happens to him cause it's an example of writers writing themselves into a corner and then not executing it well. When Clay dies, it feels like nothing cause there is no time for characters to react in the world and also for the reader to feel it, why because it's in the middle of action and it never lets up and even when it does characters don't address it, plus the stupid twins thing took all the impact from the story. The explanation of who Max is was not needed and really depowered the villain...booo. Then there's the end which literally goes out with a bang and that's it, yes there Stegler talking about hunting what's left but that's it? Everyone elses sacrifice is not really dealt with in a please way...a poor poor end.

Characters: I like the characters, they are basic and not deep but at the same time the banter is good and the chemistry wonderful. Clay and Aaisha was fairly tacked on and out of nowhere and unearned which was an issue. The stuff with Aaisha and her motivations also didn't really land cause the story by that point was just too chaotic to matter. The rest of the cast was dealt with rather poorly in the end with the exception of Pooche. Argh....Max what a dumb character and what an easy target to paint a over the top mwaa haaa haaa as a villain when the rest of the series has been tonally different, Max is a dumb dumb dumb reveal.

This series did not end well for me, the end did not justify the journey especially for the villain. Oh well.

Onward to the next book!

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, write this off as another series that couldn't sustain its style and premise. It's so frustrating to have read Book One and have enjoyed it so thoroughly, only to watch this series tumble downhill until it landed on its face at the bottom. Obviously I'm saying all this after giving it 3 stars, so it's not utterly terrible or anything, it just really does not live up to its potential.

The first book is an all-out thrill ride with fantastic heist scenes, driven forward by the suspense of not knowing how the "heist" is going to go, and watching our heroes adapt as things fall apart. It's what the entire series should've revolved around, and is essentially what it presents as.

Then, in Book Two, something changes. The heist writing essentially goes away, replaced with lots of pretentious, conspiracy-theorist, cliche rhetoric about America's responsibility as a global power and what might happen if a top dog at the CIA went rogue. The plot spirals further and further away from the grounded, suspense-driven narrative of Book One, and instead keeps trying to outdo itself with Big Twists and Shocking Reveals. This goes total Bond Villain by the end, building to a completely unearned, insane final showdown that doesn't at all fit with the tone established in the first book.

All those story gripes aside, there are some great action scenes here and there, and the art, which jumps around to different pencillers throughout, is still always solid. The characters get some further development (nothing too deep, though), and you definitely get more of a feel for how The Losers function as a unit.

But, really, it just feels like such a missed opportunity. This series had so much promise, and to see it squandered is a big disappointment. So much so that I don't think I'd even recommend reading past the first book, cause it will not be satisfying. Oh well.

[Lucas Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, you know when you read a big, bad book, and it's just so good that you have a wonderful time reading it, and then, all of sudden, is over? The Losers Book Two is good just like that.

We see our group now, trying to still get to Max, but now, we see the bigger picture. We see who Max really is, and how deep the guys on top can go for power. It's just doing some shit, for some other shit to happen, then you can profit with that shit, and then use the money to make another shit that will be so much worse. Andy is just making a critic so strong against capitalism and the people high above, managing our lives, that will make you think (again) about all the morons that should've been taking care of us, and are taking carre of themselves.

The art is great again, with Jock, alongside other artists, making a great job on the book. Just that issue with Aisha on Turcomenistan that was really awful (on the art). Aisha had a weird "anime" hair and was yper sexualized. We really didn't need that.

This is a really good series, guys, a series that had the spirit of the Vertigo label back in the beginning of the 00's. If you got your hands on Scalped, 100 Bullets and other crime stories, you should try this one as well.

[e · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume turned out to be nearly twice as the long as the first, covering issues 13 - 32 (the series conclusion). The gaps between the movie and the comic became even more evident in this volume, as Aisha's and the Loser's origin stories are revealed to be decidedly more political/topical than in the film (both are set in Afghanistan and feature terrorism, rather than drug trafficking). In terms of the pacing/overall plotting, there are a few different arcs within this volume, although reading them in short succession, it felt more like one continuous march towards Max (and the end).

On a whole, I like the direction of the plot. Things never dragged and even though I had been spoiled about some fairly big things, the action was fun and the reading experience enjoyable. However, the very final stretch was somewhat marred by two things. One, the final Max twist felt rather cartoonish. The series, while hardly chained to gritty realism, had, at it's core, always seemed on the verge of plausible. The appearance of the secret twins trope really pulled me out the action, especially after I'd already had to accept the also over the top nature of Max's final plan. Two, Aisha's endgame was a bit disappointing. It didn't feel out of character and the comic never really pushed into the team the same way the end of the movie did (or at least felt like it did), but I wish there had been more emotional payoff if they truly needed to resort to such a betrayal.

On the upside (if it can be called one), the final bits of Jensen and Cougar KILLED me. I knew the basics of what was going to happen, but really, that final hug.....THAT IS WHY THEY'RE MY OTP AND ALSO WHY I WAS A MESS AFTER READING THIS. Also, the final page was basically the perfect conclusion to the series. Insanely in character and it managed to wholly encapsulate what made the series fun.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed book 1, but this book was really fantastic. It has all the frantic action of the first volume, but with a lot more focus on the characters. In this volume, we really get to know the characters a lot more; we find out what happened that started this whole mess; and we get a really fantastic (and fantastically long) ending. And serious reveals at the end: Max's evil plan is surprising, and (even though I knew it was something big), bigger than I could have imagined. The origin of Max is crazy and interesting enough to make it really, truly memorable, and the final arc is brilliance, with tons of surprising turns. I wasn't sure what the hype was all about with the first volume, but this one sold me on it.

[Ginger Vampyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The movie took elements from the second volume as well, but not really a whole lot. The graphic novel storyline of the Losers is much darker. The stakes are higher and things are not neatly wrapped up and concluded. It is also more tragic and while great for a storyline is not something I really enjoy. I did like this story though, a good logical progression of events and psychological road map of the characters.

[gradedog · Rating 4 out of 5]

So awesome. Actually it ended a little weird, but still excellent. Sad the ride is over...

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is for the entire comic (issues 1-32):

I used to keep putting this off because the movie adaptation was just so trite and bad, so it surprised me that this comic is entertaining and aware. The sequences were engaging and fun, although I find the New Jerusalem arc a bit of a mood-killer with its break from the consistently underplayed narration, I get that it’s the conclusion to the culture of domination, but the way it’s done is just over-the-top. As for the content, I thought this one would recycle the tired old narrative of US benevolence like its adaptation did, but I’m glad I was wrong. I’m also glad for the sympathetic treatment of Asian characters and their side of the story.

The comic is segmented into fast-paced heists, and contrary and through that, Diggle pushed the story forward in a slow unfolding, pushed the conflict full of restraint, had his protagonists chase for and peel back the truth steadily, articulated each character's sides with balance and circumspect, showed The Losers in gradual disillusionment of what they really fought for (to the point of trauma for Cougar), and through all of those silently and carefully asked – 'Is democracy the thing we're really fighting for all these years? Or American interests?'

The 15th and 30th issues are impactful, the first with the extremist Fahd getting mercilessly tortured by a barefaced supremacist, and the latter with Aisha's burning pronouncement over Jensen's entitledness: 'Death to America.' America engineered their nation’s ruin, killed their people for profit, and the bitterness, anger, and resolve over it can be deeply felt, but that is wholly lost to the first-worlders with their self-centeredness and audacity.

On the other hand, Max as a symbol of imperialism is such a genius, the personification a good device to signify America's sins ('You can't kill America. I am America.'), the veil that was put on them in the earlier issues amplifying their abstraction. Even upon the level of the individual, Max’ sins can be seen as a conglomeration of their father’s sins and of the people around them who taught them, they are a product of their society ('I'm what you made me,' they said to the president), their ideology was shaped by the policies of America, shaped by the perpetuation of violence, alienation, and entitlement, shaped by the everyday. It's not only Max responsible for the crime, other people are also responsible for conniving with, tolerating, and obeying them.

This one's really good, and I can overlook the not-so-nicely done executions / plot decisions, aside from one that I'm really bothered about: Diggle writes with so much control he ends up with such an ambivalent messaging. This work seems to counter the belief of a kind-hearted nation and at the same time insist it despite. Although greatly hinted through Max' character, this never bluntly admitted the more systemic workings of injustice, in fact this book seems to devolve accountability as it particularly extricates and distances the whole of government from evil deeds by speaking about the institution in a positive light, making Max' case seem an outlier. Thus, Max as a sole personification of America's ills can be easily construed as just the sole individual's fault, their collaborators not examined to see the depth of deception, nor the devices that have empowered their actions reconsidered. The ending gives credence to this interpretation as it shows the CIA finally reforming and deciding only to purge people engaged with black ops, not putting the very institution to accountability nor deeply examining the policies that encouraged such practice (except maybe the obvious, eradicating S.O. 21). Nothing will change in the system, Max only became the classic scapegoat. Also, opposed to Max' and Aisha's view, The Losers and Stegler insist believing on a heroic America, which shows a privileged and naive view of the world, a failure to see policies as working against the very values they are espousing, a denial of state's deliberate oppression. There's no problem in conveying such opinion, the problem lies in dignifying it by giving it as much weight as the other (more informed) one.

It's hard to decipher whether the author pulled back to cater to a larger audience who cannot take a stronger message yet and to allow them to ponder for themselves, or he just simply doesn't regard the role of the government in shaping the public with much gravity. But then, as I also see this in other writers' works, it seems the comic world is tasked to uphold the icons of mainstream narrative even as their messages thrash against those, so I think it's more likely the first. Whatever it is, and even if the usage of tropes confuse rather than aid, the criticism against the wars waged in Asia is drawn starkly and provokingly enough and is to be lauded. I hope that the steady work given here to contend the evils of US intervention will leave a strong impact to the readers and provoke them into thought.

Overall a good introduction to imperialism with its gentle counter-narrative. A very important read.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong second half of the story started in Vol. I, makes me really wish we could have gotten a sequel to the movie, especially considering how visually faithful the film was overall (and how good the casting was).

Jock is definitely the star here as the art is kinetic and memorable. Diggle's story isn't bad by any means, but occasionally drags in the same way tv shows with a big bad often do as he keeps slipping away despite repeated confrontations. That's also more a matter for format; this was originally done as a monthly serial and that just changes how you do pacing. There's also some geopolitical stuff that either hasn't aged all that well or maybe just never worked as well as they did in his head, but overall this is an action movie on the page so if you're spending a lot of time picking nits at that kind of thing, maybe this just isn't the genre for you.

I dig it. Especially the outstanding art from Jock.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This massive book collects the last 20 issues of the Losers series and its better, at times, than the first 12 issues but still some issues. The group is still after Max and there are still some really solid twists and turns. I liked the finality of the book and some of those twists were really good and made sense. However, most of Max's machinations were Cobra Commander level corny evil. He's also involved in an incredibly dumb twist. Jock was the main artist and did great plus added amazing covers. The gust artists were also up to the task. Overall, a popcorn/summer movie type read that doesn't seem to know if its serious or not.

[Oviya · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really dont know how to rate this
3-3.5??

i love Jensen and cougar

i am angry

this is for sure a dude bro comic, and i need to know more about the writers before i make a few judgements but still

this series is good tho
first one was better as a whole?
but this one had some pretty solid moments for sure.

and
i love Jensen and cougar
did i mention?
i love Jensen and cougar?

saw the trailer, and i-
no

the only good thing about the trailer was casting 2010 Chris Evans as jensen

did i mention
i love Jensen and cougar

[Nathaniel R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art style changes dramatically for what feels like the first issue of the omnibus, but aside from that, things begin to ramp up, backstory on how the losers "died" is revealed, the villain's plan is revealed (didn't see it coming, like not in the slightest), the villain's identity is revealed in a huge info-dump (also didn't see it coming), you fear for your protagonists lives, and they do some cool shit. I'm sad to see the story of the losers end, but its for the best. It was a fun ride all the way through. Also, Aisha's motivations are revealed and she is scary all the way to the end.

[Mark Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What had begun as a model update of the A-Team really hits its stride in this volume and ratchets the stakes up to a planetary level. The mix of solid action sequences, skullduggery and conspiracy tickled my fancy and while it's maybe a little longer than it needed to be and doesn't hold up to a thorough critical analysis (I think Aisha might embody every female protagonist trope there is) it left me thoroughly entertained. Now to be disappointed by the movie.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read both volumes of this over the last two days - very cinematic, effective storytelling with great characters and lots of intrigue. Humour and action, lots of layers. Good stuff.

[Steve Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read. A great ending to the comic series for sure. I wish they would make a second movie.

[Kirby Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compilation completes one of the best graphic novels of this century.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way Military Comics Would End

All of the twists, all of the arcs, all of the conspiracies brought to life. The Losers are one title I'm never going to forget. Great depiction of the underbelly of military politics, how the maximization of short-term profit allows it, and how it affects people. Plus some great characters trying to do the right thing or trying to get their lives back. I really loved how Pooch remains the most memorable for friendship and family. Because these aren't just characters with a mission, they want justice and a life without hurting anybody.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was mostly good, but the villain's ultimate plan seemed a little too over the top, and early James Bond-esque (with the ridiculous villains and their plots to conquer the world). The rest of the book had felt some what down to earth, or at least not over the top, and that didn't fit with me. I did like the villains ultimate motivation, and how while he felt he was doing what was best, he was more than willing to sacrifice as many innocents as necessary.

As the series went on, Jock's art started to grow on me. I never quite liked how he did people, but I started to appreciate his layouts. He seemed to use unusual, dynamic layouts that were unexpected, but exciting. Though I still have problems taking seriously someone who goes by the name "Jock".

I also liked all the main characters--over the course of the series, they really developed the personalities of the Losers, and they felt like good, realistic characters.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy Volume 2 as much as Volume 1, but I still thought it was very well done and solid. Having the reveal of what happened those years back and what they saw that made them assumed KIA and fugitives was a great way to add depth to the situation. However, I did feel like they might have stretched the story out a little longer than they needed to, they probably could have done in 4 fewer issues, because some of the stuff by the end just seemed like having them chase for the sake of chasing...I can't imagine it's easy to maintain the pace that Diggle kept the first Volume at, so I forgive that. It's still really good, and I still love most of the characters, even the ones you hate. Good solid conclusion to the series. I would definitely read this again.

Be sure to read Vol 1 at least, and I'm pretty sure you'll want to finish the story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sicuramente una graphic novel che tiene con il fiato sospeso per tutta la sua durata.
Premetto che ho prima visto la trasposizione cinematografica del primo ciclo e che l'ho trovata splendida. Motivo per cui, viste le molte differenze, ho faticato a seguire l'inizio del fumetto, nonostante sia veramente ben fatto. Poi quando gli avvenimenti si sono fatti "nuovi" è stata un'esplosione di adrenalina e suspence che non mi permettevano di staccare gli occhi da quelle pagine.
Ritrae in maniera terribilmente spregiudicata un'America corrotta e cattiva, che però ha anche un lato buono formato dalle persone che non vogliono che quelle siano le azioni e le decisioni della loro patria. Inevitabile il non lieto fine, ma sicuramente degno del resto dell'opera.
Concludo con l'augurio di poter vedere al cinema anche i successivi cicli.

[Lin K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A significant portion of this book ISN'T illustrated by Jock. Which severely impairs my enjoyment of it. His replacements differ too much in standard--some of the characters (Stegler, for instance) don't even look like the same person anymore.

And Diggle drags it out far too long, almost turning it into all sound and fury, signifying nothing. Not long after finishing it, I already forget how it ends. This book is, at best, uneven.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily on par with the first book. My only complaint is that the titling is confusing as hell -- the first book is called The Losers, Vol. 1 & 2 and the second one is called The Losers: Book Two. Regardless, it was a great read, and a happy surprise to get in the mail, since this volume/book/whatever is 50% thicker than the first.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaaaand with that I come to an end of my affair with the Losers. It was very good. But it wasn't as great as the first volume of the Omnibus collection. We lost our leads. We even saw some totally improbable storyline happening, that eventually hurt the main narrative. Otherwise, solid stuff, but they had messed up everything when they were making the film. Recommended.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story took way way to long to tell. It was interesting, but could have been wound up a long time ago. The art is not so hot, I can't tell some of the characters apart and that includes the lady.

[Natlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The twist regarding Max was … unprepared for and a cheap trick, IMO. This book is better with interrelationships of the Losers than it is plot. Unfortunately this volume relies heavily on the plot elements.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mix of the absurd and the realistic: absurd action, realistic human interactions. There was a painful exposition of the past, but with good story segues. A few pages of very good paneling, adding something extra to the story telling.

[Kate Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I liked the first omnibus better I think. There's so much going on and it was sometimes difficult for me to follow and keep up with all of plot lines and side characters, but it was worth it to see how everything turned out.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Diggle, and Jock: You just made me a huge fan.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda disappointed. The plot became a real mess. I think watching the movie hurt my enjoyment of it too.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

the losers is a pretty good book the plot was kinda crazy but over all a pretty cool storie to read on the down time