Nuclear Power #2 Is Social Commentary in an Explosive Package

Nuclear Power #2 Review

Nuclear Power #2 is an action-packed ride with social commentary mixed in. Nuclear Power #2 is written by Desirée Proctor and Erica Harrell, with art by Lynne Yoshi.

In an alternate world where the Cuban Missile Crisis led to nuclear war, what remains of the United States has come together under the authoritarian rule of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is walled off from the nuclear wastelands beyond. However, things are not as people are told and a couple of women are about to learn the truth.

Nuclear Power #2 is published by Fanbase Press, and is available from May 19, 2021.

Nuclear Power #2 Story

Alternate history stories, particularly those dealing with the Cold War, are always an interesting beast. They have such a fine line to walk, creating a unique world while also remaining familiar enough that you can buy that it could be a possible world. Proctor and Harrell manage this with Nuclear Power. While people gaining powers from radiation, known as ‘variants’, may be less realistic, the world itself is very much something that may have come to be following a nuclear fallout as a few scramble to take power by what means they have.

The issue is immediately into high gear with a great action sequence that moves at a good pace and maintains tension throughout. It’s a nice mix of super-powered spectacle and also the tighter, more intimate action you’d expect from an espionage story. This then shifts towards a more political story as certain details come to light, and in turn show exactly how this series looks to deal with the social and political commentary it wants to discuss. The creator’s describe the story as ‘The Handmaid’s Tale meets X-Men’ and it becomes very clear why that is.

Nuclear Power #2 Art

I have to say I was dazzled by the art. Yoshi uses simplicity in the most powerful way, only showing you exactly what you need to see to make sure it has the biggest impact. The colours are especially evocative, using only hues of a singular colour; red for the scene within the American Union and green for those in the irradiated wasteland. I really loved the noir feel it gave the story, and again it helps you focus only on what is most important to the story.

I only have one issue and that comes from the lettering. For the most part it is great and works well, except for one scene where two characters speak to each other in captions. Here the simplicity in colour does some harm as the captions look the same, so it is difficult to determine who is speaking at a glance. It can be deduced that it is a back-and-forth, but I feel something to help distinguish the speakers would help with the ease of reading.

Nuclear Power Conclusion

This is only the second issue and already Nuclear Power looks to be an explosive mix of action and commentary, pun definitely intended. If you’re looking for something that both has something to say as well as spectacular action then this is for you. It will be interesting to see if the story holds any punches in the future, but so far it looks to be swinging strong.

Proctor and Harrell clearly have strong voices that want to be heard and this book is letting those voices shout. If this is just their opening gambit then I cannot wait to see where this series is headed and what else they have to say along the way.