Calum Petrie reviews Dishonored #2…
A face from Corvo’s past draws the Lord Protector deep into a nest of jeopardy. Meanwhile, Officer Cottings’ investigations lead her to Wyrmwood Place in the heart of Dunwall’s arcane district.
Issue #2 starts with flashback scene depicting a young childhood Corvo and his long lost sister. The setting is the tropical jungle-like Serkonos, and the two siblings discuss the carefree worries of what the future will bring; a fiercely loyal Corvo claims he will protect his sister.
This introduction fills in a slight gap in Corvo’s story that did not exist in the first game, as there was no real mention of his family or siblings. An interesting, if not cliche, story telling technique helped to flesh out a characters missing back story. There is something else of note from this scene, as Serkonos is the setting for the upcoming Dishonored 2 game released later this year.
The scene quickly changes to a dual telling of information gathering between Corvo and Officer Cottings, and the two use their skills to track down information. Corvo uses his abilities granted to him from the mysterious Outsider to use stealth as his best option, while on the other hand Officer Cottings uses negotiation and bribes to gain her information. The two stories run side by side to heighten anticipation and see which line of inquiry pans out.
Both investigations lead them to the less than desirable areas of Dunwall, where gangs roam the streets and houses of “ill repute” are frequented often. Eventually both receive the information they were looking for and encounter results they were not expecting. After the dust settles and the issue comes to its closing, once again Crovo finds himself face to face with a fragment of his past.
The closing section of the issue is less about sleuth work – instead both characters are dealing with threats of violence. The confrontations leave the issue on a high note and showcase come outstanding artwork that is to be expected for the world and its setting.
The issue is an extremely enjoyable read and the story arc growth of Officer Cottings is a welcome one as a lighter mirror to Corvo’s dark and twisted world.
Rating: 7/10
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Originally published September 7, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
