100 Girls: The First Girl, Volume 2

By Andrew Chung
December 18, 2006

100 Girls: The First Girl, Volume 2 is the second collected volume in the sleeper hit series by Arcana Studio. Created by writer, Adam Gallardo, and Vancouver artist, Todd Demong, 100 Girls is one of the best books on the market that just flies under the radar when it deserves to be read by a wider audience that craves something different from the mainstream. Unique in its own right, the series still packs all the fun, action, twists, and visual energy that mainstream audiences have come to expect.

Plot

This is the story of Sylvia Mark, a girl that has always felt different from her peers. On the surface it seems it's just the usual teen angst ridden feelings of growing up, but we soon learn it's something much more. Bred as part of a secret genetics experiment, Sylvia is one of 100 girls with special abilities, who must reconnect with her other 99 sisters to become complete again. We follow Sylvia on her quest to find and rejoin with them, while agents of the project, along with werewolf hounds and other freakish minions, come hunting to recapture her.

In Volume 2 of this saga, we follow Sylvia as she continues her quest to rejoin the remaining 97 girls. Her search brings her to the headquarters of the genetics project. An epic battle with her makers ensues as she attempts to reconnect with her sisters.

100 Girls: The First Girl, Volume 2 is relentlessly action packed, filled with fun, suspense, and surprises. The story never lulls and the reader will always remain on the edge of their seat until the very last page. The intrigue and action of the story, and the fun dialogue and characters all draw us in for an extremely entertaining read. And this is not even mentioning how damn cool the book is. With her unlimited range of extravagant powers, Sylvia Mark simply kicks ass.

Characterisation

I'll say it again. Sylvia Mark kicks ass. She almost has invincible powers, and is still just your girl next door. Nowhere near the typical plastic and siliconed heroines of the mainstream, Sylvia is your everyday teenager that just feels different. With the multiple girls in Sylvia's body, her character also inherently opens up an infinite range of personalities. Easy to relate to and sympathize with, she's an awesome lead to an awesome start for a series.

However, that is not to say the book is not without its faults. The sheer amount of characters and action makes some of the characterisation rather thin. Characters like Christy, Jenna, and Sylvia's parents have very little time in the story. With more concentration put on the fast pace and action of the plot, character doesn't seem to play a huge part in this volume. However, it's certain that the development of all the characters is just a matter of time as the series progresses and has more room to play.

Art

Todd Demong's art in the series is a perfect complement to the fast paced and exciting story. The energy and exaggerated visual style has a harmonious synergy with Gallardo's writing. The two have a wonderful chemistry that shines through in the series, where we can't imagine one working with any other on the book.

Demong's bold, exaggerated anatomy, accompanied with his punchy energy that almost literally jumps off the page, ensures readers remain compelled from page to page even if the story doesn't.