‘Bitch Planet’ #2 continues the strong debut of this empowered series, by both fleshing out the hierarchy of the world and developing our hero, Kamau Kogo, as a person. We are introduced to an athletic competition, known as either a Duemila or a Megaton depending on your socioeconomic background, which seems like it might possibly be a horrifically violent sport. It’s not completely clear how it’s played. What is clear, though, is that it will factor hugely into the futures and freedoms of the women at the ACO, in particular Kamau.
WRITTEN BY: Kelly Sue DeConnick
ART BY: Valentine De Landro
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: January 28, 2015
Review by Katy Rex
In contrast to the first action-packed issue, this one has focus. Specifically shifting the narrative to Kamau and the aftermath of the riot. Last issue, Marion proved her naivety about the system with her wailing protests of innocence. This issue we get to see Kamau’s resolve; she knows she’s innocent but that her innocence is irrelevant to her incarceration. The giant pink Welcomebot has been transformed into a giant pink Guiltbot, and the emotional burden of being barraged with her own presumed guilt as a form of punishment says a lot about the way the genders are valued in this world.
The focus of this issue is the Duemila/Megaton, about whether Kamau will put together a team of women from Bitch Planet upon the request/demand of a guard, and about the role that the sport plays in their society. Sports-viewing and athleticism are, according to Kamau, part of the indoctrination their society mandates, but at the same time, the (literally paternalistic) authorities on the world are concerned with the viewership and equally with the engagement of society with this sport. However, the countermovement also seems to place value on it, as the women with the resistance (Lizzie and Keiko, from last issue) encourage Kamau to participate.
The art is stunning, with vibrant colors by Cris Peters and bold textures from Valentine De Landro. The dramatic differences in style and palette between Bitch Planet and the home world are wonderful– the home world is done in a much more traditional house line style, and the palette is a little more muted, while the ACO is awash with white screens and faded, almost-transparent backdrops, lending it an air of the surreal in the face of its brutality.
Whatever the future holds for Kamau, it is your duty to be part of it. ‘Bitch Planet’ is one of the best books on the stands, add it to your pull list now.
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Katy Rex writes comics analysis at endoftheuniversecomics.com, comicsbulletin.com, and bloody-disgusting.com. She also writes scholarly articles for various academic journals. She really likes butt jokes, dinosaurs, and killing psychos and midgets in Borderlands 2. She has a great sense of humor if you’re not an asshole.