Declan Shalvey knocked it out of the park with the first issue of Marvel’s Mystique, a twisty spy caper that pitted the shape-changing mutant against Nick Fury Jr. in a race against time to… Well, something. Mystique’s goals aren’t clear, and that’s part of what’s worrying Ol’ Spy Nick. And the series only gets better in Mystique #2.
That’s because the theme Shalvey is playing with starts to become abundantly clear. And it makes sense for both the title character and Nick Jr., as what’s being bandied about here is identity. Who is Nick now that he has a desk job at the far more ground-level S.H.I.E.L.D., not to mention his father (Nick Fury) being back in the game. And on Mystique’s end, who is she now that her wife Destiny is seemingly dead, Krakoa is gone, and the whole status-quo of the mutant world has changed from the more simplistic X-Men versus Brotherhood dichotomy of years past?
This issue in particular digs deeper into that idea, not only who Mystique is without the Brotherhood, but also whether she really was part of the Brotherhood to begin with? She’s not Magneto with his big, bombastic ideals and plans. She’s amorphous. Liquid. Hard to hold on to. So naturally she comes face to face with Avalanche, a character who deals in shaking up the status quo. Why she’s coming for him, and what happens next is indeed a dark turn for a character we came to love over the Krakoa-era in particular. But it’s a nuanced and enigmatic portrayal that allows us inside every character’s head — except Mystique.
On the flip side, Shalvey (of course) excels with the art in this issue, turning in clean lines and action sequences that are the equivalent of him pulling wheelies in the parking lot. A sequence where Mystique battles Avalanche and jumps into various mutant shapes based on need is, as with the first issue, a surprising delight. But his pacing is also pitch perfect, as showcased in a scene where Nick Fury Jr. is confronted by a very annoyed Maria Hill.
Two issues in, it’s clear this series is going to be an all-timer for a character that has at least one all-timer series. If you’re looking for an expertly drawn, ridiculously exciting and thought-provoking spy thriller? Look no further.
Mystique #2 Rating:
Mystique #2 Official Synopsis:
BROTHERHOOD BROKEN! With Nick Fury on her tail, Mystique seeks out an old ally from the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. But is this a reunion or a trap? And who’s caught who?
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