Two Moons: Indigenous American Mysticism Meets The Civil War
Image Comics’ new historical horror series Two Moons allows us to see the Civil War from the perspective of an Indigenous American Shaman
There is clearly a deficit when it comes to Indigenous American representation in the world of comic books, but Image Comics has introduced a compelling and eerie tale with an Indigenous Union soldier in the American Civil War as its main character in their new series Two Moons.
Creators John Arcudi and Valerio Giangiordano bring us to the front lines of the Civil War where we are introduced to Virgil “Two Moons” Morris as he is having phantasmic visions in his sleep. These elements of mysticism are dispersed throughout the first issue providing us with some insight into Virgil’s culture, but he seems disconnected from it for some reason. It is clear that we will eventually learn why he is reluctant to embrace the spiritual aspect of his heritage and that he’ll need to accept that part of himself to triumph against the upcoming evils.
What makes this story unique is that the American Civil War is typically viewed as either North versus South or Freedom versus Slavery, but there aren’t a lot of stories that give voice to the Indigenous people during those tumultuous times. Two Moons allows us to see how an Indigenous soldier was viewed by his fellow servicemen and what that Indigenous person hoped to gain from participating in a war for a country that marginalized their people.
Arcudi has brought his same brand of authenticity and complex storytelling from his other titles like B.P.R.D and Rumble. One can’t help but get lost in the genuine dialogue of the soldiers as they talk about their impending attack or the accent of the Irish nurse that assists Virgil in getting supplies. There is also a great deal of mystery regarding Virgil and his relationship with his tribe, which only adds to the suspense of the supernatural events also taking place within this world. Arcudi’s delicate balance between realism and mysticism only makes Two Moons that much more engaging to its readers.
Giangiordano, known for his distinctive art style that is typically found on numerous Marvel title covers has brought a detailed aesthetic to these battle hardened soldiers. The rich and earthiness colors of this wartime environment are provided by Dave Stewart who has also worked on such titles as Rumble, Conan, and Gideon Falls. The collaboration of these two artists has created a gothic world with a sinister undertone of darkness that seems to be waiting to pull in unsuspecting victims.
The first issue of Two Moons shows great promise as we get to know Virgil Morris and the demons that haunt this Union soldier. It is too soon to tell if these phantoms are a figment of his imagination or actual manifestations of tribal mysticism, but it will certainly be interesting unraveling this mystery in the upcoming months. Hopefully this series evolves into a story that not only provides a chilling tale of horror but also a point of view of what roles the Indigenous people of America played in the war between the states.
