“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything”.

When we last left our heroes (?), they were fleeing their home as it exploded behind them. After 10 years of marriage, Tyler Durden has been awaken after Marla tires of the mundane suburban life and scales back Sebastian’s medication. Oh Marla, what have you done…
Fight Club 2 #2 begins with Marla and Sebastian retelling the fate of their home explosion. Whom Marla is consoling with, we don’t know (yet), and Sebastian talks to his shrink and the authorities. Traces of homemade Potassium Nitrate are found in his home (heh..), the couple remembers their kid was playing with a chemistry experiment kit. Did the little troublemaker cause an accident? Of course, it is not so simple.
As they go through the motions of piecing together the chaos, the Senior Adjuster points out that the timing is suspicious due to a large policy taken out a few days ago. A surprise to the both of them as it was done in the middle of night. While they were sleeping. (I know this because Tyler knows this). Things get even more interesting when the FBI, wearing familiar hand burns talk to Sebastian. We get some background into Sebastian’s childhood. They ask about his father, who died in a fire. His mother? Died in a separate fire. Interesting. We seem to have a theme of Tyler setting fires to free himself from the clutches of complacency and normalcy. Freedom from his parents then freedom from his job, and now freedom from mundane suburban life.
To complicate things even more, the burnt body of a student was found at the house. But he died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head, from failing a homework assignment. A Project Mayhem homework assignment. Their kid is still alive, a hostage somewhere. It’s time to get the little rugrat back. It’s time for another flashback as little Sebastian and Tyler converse; apparently his father was married 5 times to 5 different women. That explains some of the mental issues.
I’m not going to mince words here; the last 8 pages are fantastic. Marla admits she’s been scaling back his meds to cheat on him with Tyler. Sebastian realizes it’s Tyler who has his kid, and it’s time to revisit Paper Street. He’s going to need to get into a fight to get back in. (I want you to hit me has hard as you can). The whole confrontation between Marla and Sebastian is well done, a great scene. I reread the last few panels a few times soaking it all in.

SUMMARY

Fight Club 2 #2 starts to get the ball rolling nicely, and the action and story pick up considerably in the second half of the book. I enjoyed learning more about Sebastian/Tyler, and was pleased that it wasn’t done in a way that ruined anything. Tyler’s terrorist activities seem to have taken a darker turn over the years, I wonder if that will be touched upon. The return to Paper Street should be interesting; I can’t wait for issue #3. #InTylerWeTrust