Bomb Queen II #2

Genre noir Author Jimmie Robinson Publisher Image Comics External Links Official Image Comics Website

Last issue Jimmie Robinson began the process of subjecting Bomb Queen to a nasty plot of revenge, which we all know is best served cold. With the return of Ice Queen, that statement could not be more accurate. That revenge is garnished with another helping of flashback pie and some more Bomb Queen character background. In the process, Robinson has found more targets for his wit and presents more tits and ass for our consumption. Returning from her overnight stay with James Barry - the current man of the moment, Bomb Queen discovers that Ashe, her lovable feline companion that travels with her everywhere, is missing. Unable to find her even with Occularium's assistance, Bomb Queen takes off on a quick reconnaissance to locate the cat. She stops by Momma Wong's Laughing Dog Chinese Restaurant, the most logical place that Ashe might be, where we are treated to some unexpected T&A. Momma apparently likes to run around naked as a jaybird. Perhaps that is why, despite all her threats to blow up the joint, Bomb Queen likes Momma; that and the fact that Momma speaks her mind. Bomb Queen likes a woman not afraid to tell it like it is and they seem to be kindred spirits.

At the restaurant, Bomb Queen runs into James. Despite the fact that she is looking for Ashe, Queen agrees to postpone her search while she has dinner with James. Breaking her own cardinal rule of never inviting anyone back to her place, Bomb Queen invites James over when his truck's tire is damaged in a sudden snowstorm after dinner. Surely influenced by the roll in the hay from the night before and the connection she feels like she is making with the lengthy conversations, Bomb Queen thus begins her descent into Ice Queen's plan. The whole encounter seems rather orchestrated by James and Bomb Queen seems all too ready to go along with James' suggestions and some rather obvious planned "occurrences." Things you think would be red flags for Bomb Queen ultimately put her in a precarious position as she ignores them all for some red-hot carnal desires. Sure, love and sex make you do some stupid and foolish things but for someone that is usually on her guard or on the offensive, it would seem Bomb Queen would be able to spot these and back off and cool down. Well, she is gonna cool down in a different way thanks to Ice Queen.

Outside the city's limits, Bomb Queen is subject to the laws of the rest of the country. Dropped twelve miles from the city after being sedated and without her costume and propulsion boots, she is a sitting duck for the state and federal authorities. Though she has traveled out of New Port City before (the Black Light one-shot), that was incognito. Never has she been so vulnerable in every sense of the word. She's naked - exposed to the elements and the gazing eyes of everyone. She's defeated - left for the vultures to pick over and the police to arrest. She's humiliated - beaten at her own game of revenge and soon to realize James is not even half the man she thought him to be. How ever will Bomb Queen get out of this and retrieve all her property from the apparent new ruler of New Port City - Bomb King?

We are reminded that Bomb Queen was the only one of the Four Queens that did not have a natural power. Hers was artificial, provided by the bombs she loves so much. If anyone was to get a hold of her bomb supply, they could probably take over her position or at least match her tit for tat. We see why she did not like having guests over to her house. Now, James, the transformed and transgendered Ice Queen, has stolen all her trinkets as well as Occularium in a government-sanctioned scheme. Since losing her own powers through her life-saving hormone treatment, Ice Queen has no real super powers any longer. In order to exact revenge for the loss of her lover, Drama Queen, she has again resorted to working with some authority figures to inflict pain on Bomb Queen, just as we saw when the trio turned on Bomb Queen the first time. How much will James/Ice get to keep and how much will he be indebted to the government for aiding him in this quest? And just how involved are the two doctors that played a hand in the first volume of Bomb Queen with their relationship with Robert Woods, the aspiring politician. They are not too fond of our favorite explosive mistress it would seem.

Jimmie Robinson has constructed a well thought out story that is intriguing in its craftiness. It carries a few flaws but it is the story that is the strength of this issue. He has managed to mix in more funny satire and wit about sex and violence while bringing us a regular superhero tale, albeit between two villains. And don't forget to read the background information on the letters page. It is insightful to the story. In addition, his artwork remains clean and crisp, pleasant on the eyes. It effectively captures all that it needs to in telling the story. Now we just have to see how he is going to wrap this all up in just one more issue.