What if the atomic bomb was the least crazy thing being conceived as Los Alamos in the 1940s? What if there were numerous Manhattan Projects, each more diverse and unusual than the last? What if the scientists conducting these projects resented the authority exerted over them and decided to do something about it? The latter is the premise for this second volume as Oppenheimer and co. decide to split from their taskmasters led by the hilariously drawn President Truman as head of the Illuminati, the secret rulers of the world. But independence is an attribute the Illuminati will not tolerate from their subordinates and decide to corral them into submission - by sending in the FDR-controlled robots! Good news for fans of this series as The Manhattan Projects, Volume 2 is as original and fascinating to read as the first volume was. Jonathan Hickman continues his retelling of the alternate 20th century history, this time working in newly-imagined versions of Yuri Gagarin, Laika, and JFK into this enthralling narrative. The difference between this volume and the first is that this volume is much more action-oriented whereas the first was more focused on the scientists, their extraordinary intellects, and their experiments. A perfect illustration of this thematic shift is in issue #8 where Albert Einstein is wearing a gun belt and firing an enormous machine gun. Hickmans inventiveness continues in this book as we see that the Russians, rather than acting as Cold War enemies, are secretly working with the Americans, only publicly pretending there is antagonism in the form of ideological conflict. The different members of the Illuminati are brilliantly imagined as they all have strange superhero-like powers and practice weird occult rituals. And there are many great scenes that stand out like Einstein knocking out a luchador wrestler with his own title belt and Laika (the now-sentient Russian space dog) machine gunning an Egyptian Pharaoh! But Im glad that by the fifth and final issue, #10, Hickman gets back to what makes this series stand out - the sheer craziness of the characters, specifically Oppenheimer. The majority of this book is almost traditional, mainstream comics with lots of action and fighting, which is fine and well done, but what I liked most about the first book and issue #10 is the focus on the strangeness of the cast. I understand why Hickman had to write all of this action though as it sets up the team to have an unfettered and limitless range of stories that can be developed in future stories. Issue #10 is set entirely in the head of Oppenheimer as we witness just how shattered his mind is, portrayed in a kind of nightmarish dream logic. It references an earlier issue where a red Oppenheimer killed a blue Oppenheimer (the continued theme of opposites) and how they were supposedly brothers separated but became one again through death and cannibalism - it sounds crazy but makes sense in the context of the story. Hickman is a big fan of Grant Morrison and this issue really has Morrison-esque qualities to it.
Issue #10 is also the first issue Nick Pitarra didnt draw - Ryan Browne is the artist for this issue. Pitarras work has been top notch so far but Hickman has said the series was behind in schedule so perhaps getting in other artists is the only way theyll get back onto a regular publishing cycle. That said, Brownes art isnt vastly different and it even seems like hes mimicking Pitarras style, so its not a major gear shift and both artists work on this book is outstanding. And coloured by Jordie Bellaire? This is one damn good-looking book. The Manhattan Projects continues to be Hickmans best book hes writing - and hes writing a lot of books. Volume 2 is an excellent addition to the wonderfully bonkers story of Oppenheimer, Feynman and Einstein, and fans of the first volume wont be disappointed - this is an excellent read.
The Manhattan Projects, Volume 2: They Rule by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra is out on 17 April and is available now as single issues at your local comics shop or online at Comixology