Skinbreaker #2 is a total spectacle of an issue, making it clear that Robert Kirkman, David Finch, and the entire creative team (including colorist Annalisa Leoni and letterer Rus Wooton) are firing on all cylinders. This second issue is a raw, intense experience that immediately drops you into the violent heart of a tribe wrestling with the brutal cost of progress.
The issue kicks off with the main event: the climactic challenge duel for the title of Chieftain between Anok and his predecessor, Enor. The tension is absolutely palpable.
What makes this opening so powerful is the contrast between the two men. Enor faces his end with a tragic, almost beautiful acceptance, feeling a burden lifted because he knows his people are in good hands. But Anok is tormented. He confesses to his companion, Dala, “Why can I not become Chieftain without his loss? He can still be of much use to our people!”. However, as Dala reminds him, it’s just not their way. The duel is quick and utterly heartbreaking; Enor practically begs Anok to finish him because if he doesn’t, Thul certainly will, and no one (especially not Enor) wants that brute to lead the tribe.
The second half of the issue introduces the core conflict: Anok’s “new ways” versus the “old ways.” Anok leads a successful hunt using tools and traps, a strategy meant to make life easier, though he still calls for a powerful Breaker to finish the creature. This modern approach is immediately and aggressively scorned by Paca, the grown-up son of Thul from the first issue. Paca embodies the tribe’s traditionalism, accusing the new Chieftain of bringing shame by using tools, claiming they only make the tribe weaker. He sneers that Anok adopts new ways because he’s “not strong enough for the old ways.” Anok holds his ground, arguing that making life easier for everyone is a “worthy goal,” but he sees the danger Paca represents: a path “to ruin… and death.” The whole issue is a tight, brilliant arc about the immense burden of leadership and the tribal conflict that inevitably follows meaningful reform.
The true engine of this book is the meticulously crafted artwork by David Finch, with colors by Annalisa Leoni and lettering by Rus Wooton. The artwork is absolutely lavished with detail and is arguably some of Finch’s best work. Every page is rendered with incredible precision: from the sheer muscle and anguish on the characters’ faces during the duel to the dense jungle, where you can practically feel every vine and tree trunk and clump of fungus. The fight pages are a glorious, brutal flurry of motion and impact.
Leoni’s colors give the book a distinct, vivid atmosphere. The sun-baked oranges and yellows of the ceremonies clash sharply with the deep, saturated greens and blues of the jungle hunt. That pinkish-purple hue of the Chieftain’s ritual weapon is an eye-catching detail that pops beautifully. And Wooton’s dynamic lettering is effective, using sound effects to convey the brutal intensity and clearly distinguishing the characters’ emotional states, from Anok’s inner torment to Paca’s outraged bellowing.
While the issue is phenomenal, there is a slight snag: the character designs are very similar. When the story flashed forward, I completely forgot Paca’s connection to Thul from the first issue and was genuinely confused about why he looked the same while Anok was visibly older. With such similar designs, keeping track of who is who can be a bit of a battle; some simple name cards may help.
The other minor question is one of time: how long has Anok been the new Chieftain? If he’s been in charge for a while now and has led successful hunts using these new methods, how is it still considered the “new way?” The time jump isn’t clearly explained, which momentarily undercuts the timing of the dramatic conflict.
Despite those minor quibbles, Skinbreaker #2 is a phenomenal entry in the series. It’s an emotionally challenging, visually intense read that firmly establishes the new Chieftain’s vision and sets up an explosive internal conflict with Paca, guaranteed to escalate the drama. The craftsmanship is top-tier. You won’t want to miss what happens when Anok tries to steer his people toward a better way against the tide of deeply ingrained tradition. Get this one asap!
‘Skinbreaker’ #2 Kirkman’s Gut-Punch Comic Hits Hard
Despite those minor quibbles, Skinbreaker #2 is a phenomenal entry in the series. It’s an emotionally challenging, visually intense read that firmly establishes the new Chieftain’s vision and sets up an explosive internal conflict with Paca, guaranteed to escalate the drama. The craftsmanship is top-tier.
