Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 Graphic Novel Collection Review

Titan Comics has published a graphic novel collection titled Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 available from numerous online retailers and high street book stores. Can the second set of four comic book issues collected together in Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 deliver what it sets out to by producing a continuation of the graphic novel sequel to the smash hit original season of the episodic Life is Strange videogame?

Life is Strange is a third-person story driven episodic adventure available via retail stores as a complete season limited edition and digitally on home consoles and PC. Life is Strange was critically acclaimed from the outset; winning such awards as New Game IP on consoles or PC and Use of Narrative at Develop Industry Excellence Awards; Best Adventure and Best Original Game at Global Game Awards; and Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2015. The episodic narrative of Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a prequel developed by Deck Nine to Dontnod Entertainment’s five episode award-winning season, while Dontnod Entertainment was extremely busy crafting the exceptional third-person action adventure Vampyr before the free to download Life is Strange: Season 2 prequel episode The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit leading into the development of the much anticipated Life is Strange: Season 2.

Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 is in genuinely experienced hands as it is written by Emma Vieceli having previously written Doctor Who, Back to the Future and Breaks graphic novels; complimented by interior art by Claudia Leonardi and colour art by Andrea Izzo based upon an original story and characters by Raoul Barbet, Jean-Luc Cano and Michel Koch at Dontnod Entertainment. Meanwhile, lettering is provided by Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s, alongside Jimmy Betancourt.

Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2’s story immediately follows on from the previous graphic novel with Max Caulfield finding herself in an alternative reality comprising a substantially differing timeline; where Chloe Price’s friend Rachel Amber is still alive.

Quality of writing is essentially as on point as the first volume; bringing to the very forefront a heartfelt dynamic between Max and Chloe in so much as how that is changed when factoring in Rachel Amber’s chemistry with Chloe.

Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2’s presentation is amazing from the front cover depicting Max, Chloe and Rachel standing side-by-side as they gaze into the distance of what could be a potentially dangerous future, while four major characters are showcased within a myriad of butterflies, alongside an intriguing synopsis. Elsewhere, the artwork by Claudia Leonardi and colour art by Andrea Izzo throughout the graphic novel collection is as supremely excellent as the first volume as it accurately depicts the likenesses of not only Max and Chloe, but also Rachel. Lettering during the introduction to each chapter and dialogue between characters is as equally thought provoking and stylish as the first volume; courtesy of the talented Richard Starkings, Comicraft’s and Jimmy Betancourt.

Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2’s value originates from fans of Life is Strange wanting to see a further continuation of Max and Chloe’s adventures after the climax of the first volume. Four comic book issues of the Waves graphic novel quadrilogy are combined into a single complete volume with each comic book presented as an individual chapter, alongside additional features including alternative cover art for each of the four comic book issues, character sketches and creator bios that collectively total to 112 pages.

Fans of Life is Strange should also look at other Life is Strange books and graphic novels from Titan Comics including Life is Strange: Welcome to Blackwell Academy and Life is Strange: Dust – Volume 1.

Analysis
• Title: Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 Graphic Novel Collection
• Writer: Emma Vieceli
• Art: Claudia Leonardi (Art), Andrea Izzo (Colour Art) and Richard Starkings, Comicraft’s and Jimmy Betancourt (Lettering)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Length: 112 pages
• Cover: Paperback

Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 graphic novel collection can be purchased in the UK from Amazon and Forbidden Planet or a signed mini print edition at Forebidden Planet and digitally at ComiXology, while Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 graphic novel collection can be purchased in America and Canada from Amazon and digitally at ComiXology. You can also find Titan Comics’ official website including a back catalogue of captivating comics and graphic novels and product details regarding Life is Strange: Waves – Volume 2 graphic novel collection.

The third season of the Life is Strange graphic novel collection is released in four individual episodes with a collection titled Life is Strange: Strings – Volume 3 set to release on April 26th 2020. You can find product details regarding each issue of Life is Strange: Strings – Volume 3:
Life is Strange #9
Life is Strange #10
Life is Strange #11
Life is Strange #12
Life is Strange: Strings – Volume 3