Gate-way #2

Published by: IDW Publishing
Writer: Joe Halpin Sr.
Artist: Juanfrancisco Moyano
Cover: Juanfrancisco Moyano

Undercover narcotics cop Jake Ryan was killed along with a dog named Shadow during a drug-buy-gone-bad and wakes up in Purgatory, within the confines of a seemingly safe community called Hopetown. When people die, they come into Purgatory as “Newborns”, looking as they did in life. Others come to the other side as evil, murderous entities. Lucky for Jake he's not one of the evil things.

He reunites with the dog who was killed with him in the bad dope deal, and makes acquaintance with a lovely lady, one who wants to be with him and not at the mercy of Hopetown. While contemplating his next move as he sits in a large room full of cots with other people in his situation, he encounters some discontent and doubt in others but won't go along with anyone's schemes to get out. Two guys decide to make their own way in Purgatory, and leave the safety of being inside. On the outside they encounter one of the nasty inhabitants of the realm, and both would have succumbed to the powerful strength of the insane thing that stalked them if not for Jake the Narc offering some pitchfork aid.

Jake isn't convinced this whole Hopetown thing is on the up-and-up, and decides to take his chances now that he knows what he's up against. With the advice of one of the police-types that work for Hopetown, who gives him a knife, and with his four-legged buddy Shadow, he makes off to see what's out there for him in Purgatory.

We get a little flashback story telling in this issue but it doesn't add up to much yet. It does however add some needed character development, as so far Jake Ryan isn't all that interesting. But the story is captivating enough for this reader to want to see where it all goes. Halpin writes dialogue that flows well and keeps the action happening, so the book moves along pretty fast. Moyano's art continues to please and maintains its cinematic feel.

The book still hasn't gotten to the point of being the exciting tale it promises to be, but it's a good, fast read that doesn't bog down with heavy dialogue. Let's hope the second half of the mini-series kicks into high gear. At this juncture, we really don't know what direction it's headed.