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The Forged #2 and #3 brings to a close the first story arc of the series titled “Operation: Black Box.” These two issues work in tandem to give us insight into the world, flesh out the characters a little, establish the conflict, and answer mysteries while setting up new ones. At the same time, we get a bunch of great action, selling the concept of The Forged being pulp that also has bite.
The Forged #2
After the explosive first issue, The Forged #2 had a big job ahead of it. The next issue needed to somehow up the ante in a way that seemed interesting and natural. While it is probably the most by the numbers of the three issues in the first arc, that isn’t a slight against it. You can tell a master storyteller is co-writing and the rest of the team have decades of history behind them.
The Forged #2 is a non-stop ride of action that uses said action to endure the characters to the readers. The shared history, the banter, everything works towards this end. While most of this issue is just a bunch of people in big mechs smashing alien bugs, this is used to give us a sense of the team’s dynamic. Naturally, this attempt to get the reader to ease into the characters makes the twist hit harder.
Of course, this being a classic pulpy sci-fi adventure means nothing is going to go to plan or rather that plan is not what we thought it was. There was no black box, and the cargo the team was after was another Cassandra — after the manipulation and strange relationship of the previous Cassandra and Victory means we, the reader, are already on guard just like our characters. This is smart efficient storytelling.
The Forged #3
After the introduction in the first issue, the second issue is getting the reader to care about the characters; it is time for The Forged #3 to introduce the main conflict. This comes as an extension of the backmatter material from The Forged #2 (which was very nice to see everything in the book, comic or not, matters). The Empire has made first contact with a strange alien entity that originates in T-Space which is how faster-than-light travel functions in this world, by traveling through an alternate dimension.
While this is not super original, it is a common trope with cosmic horror and sci-fi worldbuilding, the twist is what it is trying to say and how it is presented. The social commentary common in Greg Rucka’s books shows itself as he and Eric Trautmann take the visual style of their world to its natural political commentary extension. The Eternal Empire is essentially asking: “what if the British Empire survived into the space age?” Obvious colonial imagery is used throughout these issues.
The Forged #3 takes the next natural step by establishing this to climate change and waste disposal. The Empire was dumping its waste of all kinds into T-Space, naturally, the native inhabitants did not take kindly to this. Its colonialism mixed with climate change in a really compelling way. In addition to the commentary, Mike Henderson’s art sells the cosmic scale of an otherworldly being. The proportions of the characters are intentionally exaggerated but these creatures take it to a whole other level.
Just a floating eye as big as a ship, ten tenacles that seem to spread as far as the eye can see. It’s the kind of cosmic horror art that will give you nightmares. Meanwhile, letterer Ariana Maher sets up the creatures’ word balloons to overflow, twist, and have multiple tails, giving the reader the idea that it is a chorus of voices.
The Forged #2 & #3 Are Action-Packed!
The Forged #2 and #3 use their oversized nature to pack a lot into each issue. One would normally feel that three issues are too short for the opening arc of a new series, but with all the extra content we do not think we can complain too much. While the issues do follow a very simple storytelling formula, it does live up to its intention of being pulpy but still has bite, and the characters really keep you hooked.