posted 02-25-2002 03:12 AM               

Volume Two of The Invisibles kicks off with Bloody Hell in America, a four part action story that features King Mob, Jack Frost and his fellow cell members regrouping after events in Volume One. They wind up in America, at a mansion that doubles as an Invisibles safe house thanks to the support of its owner. As the group prepares to return to action, the remnants of another cell arrive at the safe house – a recent attack on a hidden New Mexico military installation has gone horribly wrong, and several members are dead or captured. Worse, says cell leader Jolly Roger, the enemy is hiding a cure for HIV at the installation, so there’s far more at stake than revenge for the deaths of a few Invisibles -–although Roger's determined to get that, too.

There are those who criticize Bloody Hell in America’s emphasis on action at the expense of that mad Morrison ideology, but I think they’re off base. Certainly the climactic confrontations get into the kind of mind games and intellectual warfare that mark The Invisibles. The dialogue, humor, joyous energy and characterization that typify the series are here in abundance. More importantly, many of the stories that will unfold over the course of the next two books are clearly set up here, including the relationship between King Mob and Ragged Robin, the influence of the uber-creepy Mister Quimper, and billionaire Mason’s pursuit of a higher understanding. This story is a prologue, and a highly effective one.