COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Imagine Agents #2

First of all, I’d like to apologize for coming up with this review soooo past the deadline. One week late! I feel really bad. But aside from the business of everyday life, I have a legitimate excuse: I had to check out Imagine Agents #1. The issue’s really good that I had to check out the first one, to know what’s going on and what the fuss is all about in Brian Joines‘ world filled with imaginary friends and glowstick-totting agents.

And I wasn’t disappointed. After learning the details, I could really say that Boom! Studios‘ Imagine Agents #2 is really good and even on par, if not better, with the first issue. The topic of imaginary friends could be a really cartoony one but Joines’ got it good as he has he has turned that theme into something adventurous and exciting. To those who have just turned an eye on the title, I’d really recommend checking out the first one but the premise is so simple so it’s still easy to jump in.

Picture Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, or any other material out there that deals with beings conjured by the young mind for the sake of companionship. Now switch Men in Black‘s aliens with those children’s buddies and you get Imagine Agents. Even the agent part’s simple, cliche really but nothing that I mind. One agent’s the veteran ala Agent K while the other’s a red bearded klutz who’s barely been on the field that his partner’s really doubtful of. Joines uses that simple mix to come up with a story that could turn dark later on so don’t let that huge teddy bear and chasing sequence in the cover fool you into thinking this one’s just for the kids.

The story picks up from where #1 left. Elliot searches for Furdlegurr, his giant teddy bear buddy who was kidnapped by a villainous imaginary being called Dapple. He has no idea, however, that his search would lead him into a trap. After handling a giant rag doll aptly named Big Doll, Agents Slatern and Snowgoose also go on a search for Dapple, and their search brings them to Dapple’s original child, Elliot’s mom. Their paths cross and I’m guessing they’ll be searching for Elliot next, before attempting to stop Dapple and his evil ploy to spark up a revolution amongst imaginary beings.

Joine’s done a good job with how he wrote this issue. Info’s being dumped while the dialogue rolls, without disrupting the action and the pace of the story. It’s already halfway in before the end of the mini-series but even if you don’t know about that, you’d realize that the characters are in a pinch and the situation’s getting more dire. There’s so much built up tension that you know it would lead to some big event soon. Oh and Joine’s fantastic with the cliffhanger, just deal with it.

There’s that big touching part in the first issue that drew some “Awwww” from me and I looked for some also here. I thought there wasn’t any but thru the imaginary beings’ dialogues it dawned on me that Dapple and his minions could have some heavy backstory too. Right now we can’t be sure which part of the imaginary friend deal’s the thing that Dapple hates, whether it’s the idea of being forgotten after kids turn eight, or that they can’t be seen by other kids, or that they could be conjured whether or not the a kid would like to be friends with them till they turn eight or not. Most of the rules suck of course, and pondering about it, they could be victims of circumstance. But if the plan involves some takeover, then that’s a different story.

As for the art, Bachan‘s done a great job with the roster of imaginary beings. He got more creative here than most people who come up with superhero costumes and designs. These beings could’ve also worked as aliens for Ben10 when I think about it. There are the cutesies and those that look cool or freaky. After all, they’re supposed to be child-friendly at one point or another. I mean, look at Dapple. He looks so ferocious and mean but a little squinting and you’d see that he could’ve been a nice yellow furry before. It also helps that Ruth Redmond‘s colors go hand in hand with Bachan’s work, making the imaginary beings look alive, yet with looks that would set them apart from the others.

I first read the first issue and I thought it’s a pretty high note to reach for the second one. But #2 just hits that with ease, with its visually fantastic pages and a story that’s the right mix of funny moments, action and drama. It’s sad that it’s already halfway. I imagine Imagine Agents working really well as a full-blown series. It’s a great read for all ages so better pick it up and add that to your reading list.

Review Score:
10/10