Clown Fatale #2 by Victor Gischler continues the story of four female clowns originally down on their luck but now killers for hire due to mistaken identity. After their first kill last issue, this issue opens up with the women in the office of Burt Talbot, the man who originally hired them and he’s telling them that their first kill attracted too much attention because ultimately burned the shack down. He says it was unprofessional but the women balk at him asking for a discount. So he still wants to hire them for his big job and tells them they have to get it done by tomorrow night and they’ll get $50K upon completion of the job. And he gives them just enough for weapons and ammo but refuses to give them half up front out of concern they’ll skip town. Chloe tells the group afterwards that she would have skipped town with half and is struggling with the notion they’ll have to actually kill the person whose name is in the envelope. So she’s not in the mood to party like the other women who are ecstatic to be making this money. They do have to return to the circus because at the very least they have to return the ice cream truck they borrowed. Will the crew’s return to the circus end up being their last since the Russian troupe, the killers whose contract it should have been, is waiting for them to return in order to get revenge?

I felt that the first issue had promise and the premise of this eclectic group of female clowns with serious issues being given a contract to kill due to mistaken identity was very intriguing. And the Russian group, which should have been the actual group to receive the contract, could make things turn really ugly really fast for the crew and this issue does a really good job handling these issues. Clearly they were fed up with their current situation and boss and they took care of it in a way that is very fitting for this series now: over the top and gruesome. But there is some character development here as some of Tina’s history is revealed as well as Candy’s. It was entertaining and what triggered them taking care of their boss was slightly better than the first one because it felt like a snowball effect where they just keep getting deeper into it. And then the shit hits the fan. And when the real action starts it’s very good. When it becomes obvious Aya has a much more interesting past than we’ve been led to believe because of her skills I found myself rooting for this group of inexperienced contract killers versus this Russian death squad and with the way it was written and drawn it did feel that was the situation. I won’t give any spoilers but there is a shocking moment that raises the stakes in terms of anything can happen in this series so I definitely can’t wait to see how the rest unfolds. And what makes the crew go ahead to try to fulfill the contract didn’t just feel inevitable but as a natural part of the story and the only way out for the trouble they’re in before it’s too late. This issue is nonstop fun and action from the beginning to the end, and should definitely spill over into the next issue. Who knew clowns could actually be THIS much fun?

SUMMARY

Clown Fatale #2 builds off the developments in the first issue and delivers in more ways than expected. The story is well-paced and once the action gets going it’s as thrilling as the crew’s descent (or ascent)?) into the world of contract killing is fast. In the midst of that there is enough character development to give some depth to certain members of the crew to make it plausible how they not only ended up in the circus but how they could end up in the world of contract killing. And with a startling development I’m very interested in seeing what happens next. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to give this series a try but I’m glad I got on this ride because it’s been a fun one and even if I don’t know where it’ll end up I have hope that it’ll be satisfying at the end.

Writer: Victor Gischler

Artist: Maurizio Rosenzweig

Release date: 12/11/13