Last year, the first volume of Flight
introduced a squadron of talented young cartoonists whose anime/animation influence struck a fresh note among jaded comics readers. This edition shows substantial growth while introducing some veterans, such as Jeff Smith (Bone
) and Doug TenNapel (Creature Tech
). The general theme is flight, but many of the contributors use that as a springboard to examine symbolic journeys into adulthood or love. This thick volume is almost an embarrassment of riches, with exquisite art and coloring throughout. The story content is more variable, from the straight-out fantasy adventure of Khang Le's "Monster Slayers," to the more personal "Dust on the Shelves" by Bannister. Several stories, like Michael Gagné's "Inner Sanctum" and "Sky Blue" by Kness, take the title literally and present storyboardlike flights of fancy. It's hard to pick a standout, but Jen Wang's charming "Destiny Express," about a girl artist who doesn't want to board a symbolic train to her destiny for fear of losing her inspiration, is certainly one of them. This collection strikes a few callow or self-indulgent notes, but the sheer force of creative energy on display is impressive, and young readers should find much to spark their own imaginations. (Apr.)
