Comic Review - Marksmen #2

It's easy to get caught up in post-apocalyptic hysteria. What would we do if the world was reduced to factions of men and women who, fighting for their own best interests, wanted to use technology for their own devices? Would we give up on our own beliefs and join them? Would it be better to start a war fighting for what we think is right? Could we trust our neighbors? Marksmen has been toying with that notion since its first issue; writer David Baxter has created two groups of survivors at war with the other over technology that could help further their development. The question that's posed but never directly stated is why these two groups must fight instead of getting along - and it's this irony that keeps them totally at odds.


The first issue of Marksmen didn't exactly score a bulls-eye. It was a bit too similar to Fallout or other apocalyptic thrillers in its premise and exposition; the deserted landscape and similarly-named factions didn't help. But in issue two, Baxter establishes a more deep-seated conflict between the Lone Star westerners and the technologically-advanced NSD. Characters harbor secrets that only the audience knows; a full-fledged assault between the warring factions ensures enough bullet action for the adventurists; and even an in-depth rundown of major NSD warriors rounds out characters we never had a chance to meet in the first issue.

It's evident Marksmen is attempting to pack a lot of prior history into a short series. So far, Baxter's hitting the mark by divulging small bits of information while continuing to progress the inevitable war between the Lone Stars and the NSD. It's good to see Marksmen headed towards its target, rather than having the factions waver between war and peace. That type of thing might make a good novel, but for a short action comic, it gets rather tedious. There's a nice pace set with issue two, one that has me gearing up for the next assault.

Slash to the Point: Marksmen has developed into a heady post-apocalypse comic in its second issue. What was once a derivative plot has become more complex because of war strategies and espionage; Baxter's use of government politics in each faction also creates dramatic tension as characters inevitably begin to question ethics. Don't write this off as a stereotypical doomsday comic just yet; Marksmen has steady aim so far.