'Hacktivist' Volume 2 #1 Review: Alyssa Milano's Comic Book Gets Pulse-Pounding First Issue!

From actress, producer, designer Alyssa Milano (Mistresses), comes the latest thrilling comic book from BOOM! Studios/Archaia Entertaiment. Hacktivist Volume 2 #1  is a pulse-pounding read brought to you by the phenomenal creative team, co-writers Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, and artist Marcus To.

As we previously mentioned, created by Charmed actress Alyssa Milano, the first volume of Hacktivist dealt with the issues of Internet freedom though social media, such as Twitter and the politics behind it. Nate Graft and Ed Hiccox run a successful social media company, YourLife, during the day. But by night, they become outlaws, hackers who call themselves sve_Urs3lf (think Anonymous).

At the start of the second volume, time has passed to six month later. After watching his best friend, Ed Hiccox die, Nate Graft's life has pulled his life back together. Now in charge of VIGIL, the front line of America's ongoing cyber operations, Nate thought he finally had some peace of mind. Unfortunately, there is a new breed of hacker, calling themselves sve_urs3lf, using Nate and Ed's former handle.

The script by Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing moves at brisk pace as their characters deliver snappy dialogue. The main theme of "security vs freedom" is always at the forefront of tense conversations. The first installment does a great job for new readers recapping what happened before in the previous volume, while advancing the plot. The first issue ends on a cliffhanger that promises to blow you away.

The artwork by Marcus To captures a moody and suspenseful atmosphere in the opening pages. To illustrates the heightened facial expressions of characters, who have just realized their world is falling part. Notice how colorists Ian Herring and Becka Kenzie drown out primary tones and focus on a red palette to enhance the inevitable violence.  

Rating: Must Buy 

Interestingly, Hacktivist Vol. 2 #1 feels timely because of the cheating website, AshleyMadison.com, being hacked into and the growing popularity of Mr. Robot on USA Network. The Hacktivist series has something to say and it would be wise to listen.