Graphic Novel Review - 'The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part Two' by Michael Dante DiMartino (Writer), Irene Koh (Artist)

'Turf Wars Part Two' is very middle-book, with everything moving towards the conclusion in the next book, reaching no resolution on its own. There is less time for character development, and like the previous volume it is too short! The subplots are many as to make me wonder how each of them will possibly reach a real conclusion later on in such a mini-miniseries. There is less Korrasami as well, as this comic volume is mainly plot-driven (slowly-paced as it appears to be), but they do have a couple of nice scenes together. Hopefully it all leads up to something spectacular and mind-blowing in the finale, satisfying the needs of exciting, well-planned and well-thought out storytelling, and the needs of the passionate, progressive fanbase. 

(The kidnapping plot at the end is cliche and predictable; a device that's a little lazy).

That being said, 'The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part Two' contains a lot to like about it. The Mako and Bolin scenes are funny and well-written - I think Bolin is receiving the most character development here. We see the devastating impact that both the industrialism and the turf wars are having on the spirit world, we learn more about how the turfs and gangs work, Lin Beifong is given more to do (albeit in her usual, impulsive, semi-competent style for a police chief) and so is Tenzin (at the expense of Kya, sadly), Zhu Li, now running for president of Republic City, is adorable and so is her oddball relationship with Varrick, and the artwork is as fantastic as ever. You can really see the tension on the character's faces, and their emotional state from their body language, and even their hair. 

And same-sex relationships are still treated as normal. Bravo once again for a children's comic. Though the coming-out issues that were brilliantly, tenderly written in the previous volume, have become non-issues, at least for now, in the wake of everything else being jammed in.

I eagerly await 'Part Three'. How will it handle so much going on and with so many players? Whatever you think of 'Part Two', it will make you want to see what happens next immediately.

Final Score: 3.5/5