Psylocke and company try to to get a trace on Apoth in Fallen Angels #2, by writer Bryan Hill, artist Szymon Kudranski, colorist Frank D’Armata, and letterer Joe Sabino. This issue gives readers more glimpses into Psylocke’s violent past and sets the team on the next step in their journey to stop Apoth.

In a flashback, Kwannon fools a target into thinking she’s going to help him, reading his mind then killing him and the people protecting him. In the present, Psylocke and X-23 talk and X-23 asks Psylocke for help in controlling her rage, a rage that she sensed is shared by Psylocke when their thoughts were merged. Psylocke agrees but warns her of the path they will walk down. Psylocke goes to Cable, who says he has a lead on an Overclock production facility in Brazil. Psylocke decides against going to help, because every time they leave Krakoa, there’s a chance it may anger the island. Cable storms off, and Dazzler asks Psylocke if she needs a friend. In another flashback, Kwannon saves the wife of the man she killed before… but eventually, the Hand gets the woman, who never gives up that Kwannon helped her, even under torture. In the present, Sinister asks Psylocke why she still uses butterflies to represent her psychic powers, and she answers that it represents her suffering and what she was changed into. Sinister tells her he will keep helping her is she indulges his questioning and Psylocke, X-23, and Cable leave again to go to the Brazilian village. They find it abandoned… except for one last deadly surprise.

The thing that makes this book work so well is Bryan Hill’s focus on Kwannon and her life before she became Psylocke. The plot with the Overclock and Apoth is there, but the real meat of things so far is Hill letting readers get to know who Kwannon is. He opens the issue with her tricking her target into trusting her, then later acting as her namesake, a goddess of mercy, and saving the man’s wife and unborn child. It is a futile gesture, ultimately, but the fact that she did it says a lot about her. She was perfectly willing to do the Hand’s dirty work but drew her own line. It was her way of asserting her freedom, what little she had.

She’s a fascinating character, and she steals the show. This book could pretty much just be about her life and her struggles with who she is, and it would be stellar. As it is, the Apoth plot is perfectly fine, but little is done to advance it in this issue. Of course, this is only the second issue, so giving up the ghost on who and what Apoth is and what Overclock means to his (or her?) plans would be asking a bit much. Psylocke also gets a glimpse of who X-23 and Cable are in this issue- X-23, like Logan before her, lives in fear of her own animal side and is looking for a bit of guidance. Cable is much different than his older self, a more impulsive man willing to do the right thing regardless of the consequences. He’s a soldier, but he’s not a tactician. Psylocke turns down his plan at first, but comes around to it once Sinister offers her another undetectable trip off Krakoa. The fascinating part of all of this is Psylocke’s assertion that Krakoa could bet mad at them for leaving. What does this mean? How much control does Krakoa have over the population, and if it gets mad, what steps will it take?

Szymon Kudranski’s artworks in both the more introspective moments of the book and the action-packed parts. This is a man who knows how to layout a fight scene, and each panel is wonderfully crafted. Frank D’Armata’s colors the whole thing with a darker palette, and it fits the story being told. One of the coolest parts of the book’s art is the way Kudranski draws the panel boundaries in the scene with Mister Sinister. It’s a bit reminiscent of what Chris Bachalo used to do with panel boundaries.

Fallen Angels #2 works so well because it gives readers more of a glimpse into who Kwannon is. He’s taken what a groan-inducing change from the Hunt For Wolverine fiasco was and made it work out so very well because he’s willing to put the work in on her. He also gives readers quick little glimpses into who Cable and X-23 are and their roles on this team. Kudranski’s art makes the whole thing sing. His action scenes are dynamic and well laid out, and he does a great job with character work. There’s so much to like about this book. It’s not the greatest thing ever, but it’s well crafted and an intriguing read.

Grade: B+