Turning into a vampire means giving in to the feral drive to drink blood and losing the chance to have leisurely strolls in the sun. But Danny Garcia is ready to give up everything if it means he can use his newfound powers to become the most popular kid on the planet. But before Danny can begin his superhero journey, he wants to bring his two best friends on board with his plans, which involve turning them into vampires as well. Written by Mark Millar with artwork from Juanan Ramírez, colors by Fabiana Mascolo, and letters from Clem Robins, Night Club #2 gives Danny’s friends a transformative change of lifestyle.
Night Club #2 picks up where the first issue left off when Danny apparates in front of his friends, wearing a wrestling mask. Thinking they are being attacked, Sam and Amy freak out and run in the opposite direction. But Danny soon catches up to them using his vampiric teleportation powers and proceeds to explain his new powers. He proposes a new venture that could help them become popular on social media and make them feel like superheroes. Amy agrees without hesitation, but Sam is still very attached to his human life and approaches the idea of growing fangs with caution.
The power of youth drives Night Club #2 as Danny and his friends are unable to contain their excitement about this curious development. Like any superhero story, the exploration of these new powers becomes the crux of the story. The entire issue seems to be dedicated to fixing any plot holes left over from the series’ debut. Amy and Sam come to terms with their new reality as Millar throws them into dangerous situations and see them take flight. Their energy brings a much-needed sense of excitement to the story. But with the whole issue catering towards a single narrative, the flow begins to feel one-dimensional after a while.
Nothing brings out the rebellious nature of teenagers more than having them jump around the city in wild costumes. Their youthful energy makes each page of this issue fun to look at. The wrestling masks help accentuate their personalities, and Ramírez’s supple ink hatching makes the trio’s mid-air superhero poses look more dynamic. Meanwhile, Mascolo’s colors are right on the money. Although he drapes the backgrounds in murky and muted tones, sudden splashes of striking colors amplify the action and keep the story moving at a thrilling pace. With no narration boxes to distract from the art, letterer Clem Robins keeps the reader’s focus on the dialog, punctuating the script with emboldened words that describe the whims of the characters involved.
Night Club #2 focuses on introducing the team and establishing the rules of this vampire universe instead of moving the plot forward. As a result, the story seems to have stagnated to a point where it is just a cycle of exposition that reminds audiences of the extreme circumstances the characters are stuck in. But it is also fun to watch them try to adjust to their new abilities. Night Club #2 has, for now, pushed back the brewing war that Millar mentioned in the first issue, instead giving the kids and the audience something personal to invest in.
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