Deuce of Hearts #2 Review

Writer: Ricardo Mo / Artists: Tony Gregori, Claudia Aguirre, Ryan Ferrier / Vault Comics Last issue of Deuce of Hearts dropped a big cliff hanger in the form of a child. *Cues up Pusha T on the playlist.* A little girl named Sophie sits on the stoop of Sullivan’s place with a four-page letter that may or may not be sealed with a kiss. She’s looking for one Mr. Sullivan Husk as she’s sure he’s her father. WELP. Sullivan Husk is a self serving and flighty man who is always just one step away from having his body dropped in a river to be sleeping with the fishes. This guy has been established by the creative team to have burned too many bridges. He now has a kid tagging along. In the backstory of Sullivan and Joni-Sophia’s early years, we’re rewarded with a gem. Sullivan was young once. Young and in love. And the app’s existence goes back some years too, perhaps in its earliest years it was a catalyst in the heart breaking circumstances that took a toll on Joni. We’ve seen our guy completely wing it before in the last issue: for luck, for resilience, for other qualities to keep his head on his shoulders. Yet I hadn’t realized other qualities could be gained in more dire circumstances: like a instant resistance to illness while on your death bed to make you feel good again. When I read the tagline for the comic: “Love is a commodity. Trade up.” I hadn’t expected to be thrown such a curve ball yet it is a great way to set up the characterization of who Sullivan Husk is: a man sha…