Creators: Ira Friedman & Joe Simko
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Joe Simko
Colorist: Valentina Bianconi
Letterer: Dave Lentz
Cover Artists: Joe Simko, Kit Wallis & Mark Ellerby
Publisher: Titan Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 12, 2025
Rocky loves drumming and smashing. Phoebe is an artist and
activist. But after winning yet another game of chess by smashing the
gameboard, Rocky is bored. So, he accompanies his friend Phoebe to the sight of
her next mural.
Bo loves competing. His sister Darby, is a thrill seeker. After
celebrating Shatterday at Napoleon Bone-Apart Skullastic Middle School, Darby
dares Bo to approach the border. What happens when the son and daughter of
Futurra’s president venture over the border and get lost? Will the young Retrovian
Rocky smash the Futurran foreigners? Or might Phoebe feature them in her
upcoming mural? Let’s grab our trading cards, leap into Craniacs #2, and see!
Story
When Rocky and Phoebe meet Bo and Darby, everyone hides. But
as curiosity overcomes fear, they explore their differences. The kids discover
they have similar interests, even if their societies express them in different
ways. After a day of playing together, Darby concocts a plan. Rocky will guide
her through Retrovia, and Bo will escort Phoebe to Futurra.
In Craniacs #2, Darby and Phoebe wear disguises to blend
into these different societies. Phoebe discovers that, aside from the
technological differences of Futurra, the kids there still enjoy art. Rocky
shares his passion for music with Darby. The thrill seeker likes rock music,
but the Retrovian concert energizes her like never before. As they discover the
differences in their societies, the kids make new friends. And it’s not long
before children in each society see Darby and Rocky, and Bo and Phoebe, having
fun together, despite Retrovia and Futurra’s proscriptions against
intermingling.
While Bo and Rocky think of themselves as leaders, Darby
instigates the first border incursion. Letting the boys remain in their worlds,
she convinces Phoebe to cross the border in disguise. As the girls provide the
impetus for exploring other cultures in Sholly Fisch's story, they also inspire
other kids to intermingle.
While the kids enjoy playing together and exploring each
other’s worlds, Rocky’s mother and Bo and Darby’s father eventually notice that
their children aren’t following their usual pursuits. Riley and Alex are the
leaders of their respective cultures. In Craniacs #2, the Retrovians’ Grand
Chieftain and Futurran President Alex wonder what their kids are getting up to.
Art
Although the Craniacs’ skin wraps tightly over their skulls,
the characters have no trouble expressing their emotions as they discover
Retrovians and Futurrans can have fun together. Rocky sports purple skin and
carries a club or drumsticks. Phoebe is a blonde with a pink streak in her
upturned hair, while a red horizontal stripe crosses her eyes. A blue-and-red
racing stripe runs diagonally across Bo's features. Darby wears rollerskates
and a helmet.
Valentina Bianconi lavishes a beautiful palette of vivid
colors on Craniacs #2, while Joe Simko places his engaging characters in eye-catching
settings. Vehicles fly through the sky in Futurra, where President Alex strides
through the city as a giant hologram. Compared with the Jetsons or the Back to the
Future 2 world of Futurra, Retrovia evokes the Disneyland Jungle Cruise. And
after rocking out at an open-air concert, no trip to Retrovia would be complete
without enjoying a Tiki Tonic in The Shrunken Skull. Operated by a Retrovian
boy, the lounge rivals Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room with its enchanting
ambiance.
Dave Lentz fills white dialogue balloons and colored
narrative boxes with black and colored uppercase letters. The letters turn gray
and lowercase for lowered voices, while smaller uppercase letters indicate
distant voices. Heightened emotions prompt words to swell and change color,
deforming balloons in the process. But despite the hovering skull signs that
warn citizens of the dangers of crossing the border, sound effects accompany
the joys of exploring other cultures in Craniacs #2. Thanks to Titan Comics for
providing a review copy.
Now, let's take a look inside:
Final Thoughts
The Retrovians teach their children the joys of nature. The
Futurrans share their love of technology with their children. Each culture
teaches its children to hate and fear the other. Yet the ancient site that
marks the forcible merger of their worlds could help the two societies to form
a more amicable bond in Craniacs #2.
Rating 9.8/10
