Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye vol. 2: Every Me, Every You

Cave Carson’s cybernetic eye may be part of this series’ title, but the last time we saw the explorer that titular eye was making a break for it.  That leaves Cave in a very bad place as the first issue in this second volume begins with a flashback to the time that he met Superman.  Or is it really a flashback at all? Parts of this issue are a huge head trip as the title character has to come to grips with whether he wants to continue the fight against the Whisperer and his minions.  While it holds together well enough to make sense, it’s a stark shift from the feel of the first volume which was a fun adventure brimming with irreverence. It’s also a good indication of what the reader is in for with the rest of vol. 2 as things just get crazier from there with Cave and company barrelling through multiple universes to stop the bad guys.

So if you thought that the first volume was too weird for you, then you’re REALLY not going to like this volume.  Those of you hoping to see writer Jon Rivera, with Gerard Way still onboard as co-plotter, really let his freak flag fly are going to be in for a treat because as crazy as things get he’s still able to keep the characters and their goals involving and relatable.  The real star of this volume is Mike Oeming’s art as the narrative’s descent into alien psychedelia really gives him a chance to go nuts. Virtually every page is a visual onslaught on the senses as Oeming draws mental freakouts, malformed aliens, and familiar DC heroes with a mad energy that keeps you reading even if things don’t make a lot of sense.  So yeah, this second volume of “Cave Carson” is definitely not for everyone. Those that it is for, however, are going to love it to death (and should wait in rapt anticipation of the next series: “Cave Carson Has an Interstellar Eye.”)