Writer: Charles Ardai
Penciller: Ace Continuado
Inker: Juan Castro
Colorist: Asifur Rahman
Letterer: David Leach
Cover Artist: Derrick Chew, Jay Anacleto, Ace Continuado, Cosplay, Thaddeus Robeck, Brao, Kyuyong Eom, Cedric Poulat, Tiago de Silva & Miki Okazaki
Publisher: Titan Comics
Price: 3.99
Release Date: December 11, 2024
Rosaline Preiss should have been safe at the convent in Montefiacco. But when “Lady Godiva” and her photographer tried to abduct her after their brochure shoot, Dahlia and Cesar charged to her rescue. After stealing her away on the model's horse, Dahlia rides to the exclusive mountaintop health spa and hides Rosaline in the nurse’s station. But when Dahlia leaves to find an escape route, Lady Godiva breaks into the nurse’s station to attend to the bullet wound in her shoulder. Is Lady Godiva a model, a mercenary, or a Mandalorian who doesn’t believe in wearing armor? And what will she do when she finds Rosaline hiding among the bandages? Let’s burn into Heat Seeker: Combustion #2 and find out!
Story
Mercenaries tried to prevent Dahlia and Cesar from taking Rosaline out of Venice. Now, the model has taken the twelve-year-old under her wounded wing. After shooting her “photographer,” the woman speeds off with Dr Bessemer Preiss’ daughter on a snowmobile. But this leaves Rosaline’s would-be rescuer trying to pursue the girl while evading more mercenaries patrolling the exclusive health club in Italy’s Dolomite mountains.
As Dahlia searches for the researcher's daughter, the mercenaries pursuing her in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2 force her to draw on her experience. While Dahlia might have trouble justifying her unconventional career path to some people, Charles Ardai reveals experiences that shaped her. These skills help her evade pursuers while racing after the girl she vowed to protect. Thankfully, Dahlia has a friend in Cesar, who admires her concern for Rosaline and leaves the convent to help her.
While some might suspect Rosaline of Stockholm Syndrome, Lady Godiva is returning the girl’s kindness. The mercenary never felt right about her orders. The way Rosaline aided her, knowing she wanted to abduct her, clinched the deal. The mercenary knows her boss’ intentions for Rosaline are ignoble. So, the woman risks her life and future to protect Rosaline in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. If only someone could help them disappear!
Art
The Quietus Spa & Sauna may not be as exclusive as Piz Gloria, but its remote location limits the routes down the mountain. Amid the falling snow, Dahlia slips past gunmen in her green coverall that doesn't cover her front. Like James Bond, she opts for a high-wire act and skiing, pursued by mercenaries on snowmobiles. Dahlia meets a man evoking Nick Fury more than Eric Kriegler, backed by BA Baracus and a team of mercenaries. Later, Dahlia joins a sister act heading down the mountain in a yellow bus but leaves the singing to Whoopi Goldberg.
Asifur Rahman lavishes deep and nuanced color on Ace Continuado and Juan Castro’s art in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. Although Dahlia begins her journey amid gray and white, yellow and pink seep into the sky as the sun rises. A mercenary falls to his death amid flaming yellow and orange. White clouds emulate a bird taking flight as men in black block Dahlia’s path. Lady Godiva’s green pants link her with Dahlia, although the escape artist’s one-piece radiates vitality. But the flesh that fills panels inside a beige stone building trimmed with orange and brown wood is for your eyes only.
David Leach launches black uppercase words into white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes, while giant letters come before a fall in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2. Sound effects help us hear a cable snap, gunfire in an alpine forest, and Dr Preiss’ hurried gait. A familiar logo adorns a brown box near a green helmet, while black letters beneath images on Dahlia's phone cast light on Dr Preiss' angels of death. Thanks to Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
When Rosaline’s would-be kidnapper risks her boss’ wrath to help her escape, the biological researcher’s daughter learns she is not as unique as she believed but more special than she imagined. Dahlia Racers and Cesar must play catchup across Europe, hoping Dr Preiss' employers don't find his daughter first in Heat Seeker: Combustion #2.
Rating 9.5/10
For more covers and a look inside see my preview of Heat Seeker: Combustion #2.
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