Brutal Nature #2

The second issue of IDW's Brutal Nature presents a striking cover by Ariel Olivetti: a bare-chested young warrior with facial paint sits in a composed, cross-legged stance at center, his expression intense and resolute, while eight distinct ceremonial and fantastical masks — ranging from skull-like faces to horned visages to mechanical-looking helmets — float in the hazy blue space surrounding him. The image radiates a sense of ancient power and difficult choices, suggesting this protagonist carries the weight of many identities. Writers Luciano Saracino and Carlos Guzman are clearly building something ambitious with this Mesoamerican-inflected world.