In Star #2 writer Kelly Thompson continues to explore themes of trauma and power given to people unable to handle it. With beautiful art from Javier Pina and Filipe Andrade, colors by Jesus Aburtov, and lettering and design by VC’s Clayton Cowles, this issue expands upon the elements introduced in issue 1 and proves to be just as good of a story.

Since the Scarlet Witch showed up at the end of the last issue, she’s whisked Star away to a mysterious place that is both “nowhere and everywhere.” Her goal is to help Star realize how dangerous her powers are, and how important it is to reality itself that she learns to control them. Scarlet Witch isn’t the only powerful person trying to find Ripley for her power- a mysterious group of people have been observing her and are very interested in gaining the power of the Reality Stone- and unlike Wanda, they aren’t as interested in keeping Ripley alive.

Star is still struggling with the trauma she went through when Nuclear Man transported her, Captain Marvel, and various other heroes and citizens, to an alternate Roosevelt Island and tried to kill them. (See Captain Marvel 2019 issues 1-5). Ripley seems like a very realistic character because she has these incredible powers but she’s still very human. She’s unable to just recover from such a traumatic event in the space of one or two issues. And since Thompson was the writer on that story as well it’s satisfying to see her continue Ripley’s character development by continuing these elements in this story.

Visually, Scarlet Witch steals the show in this issue. Her costume design is amazing with Pina and Andrade incorporating her classic headdress but in a way that makes it look stylish and cool instead of goofy. The best scene in the book shows Wanda, levitating and unleashing her full power against the enemies she and Star are facing. Her pose is dynamic and Aburtov creates a beautiful background of pinks and reds that make it look as though the power is exploding out of Scarlet Witch.

Star is in a very precarious position right now. If she can’t learn to control her newfound powers she’ll keep creating rips in the fabric of reality. Scarlet Witch can help her as best she can but if Ripley continues to let her anger and grief control her actions it won’t be enough. With the very powerful people after the Reality Stone, Star needs to act fast or she might lose her life.

GRADE: A