There isn't a lot of action in the second volume of Warren Ellis's FreakAngels.

Sure, there's another attack on Whitechapel by a desperate group of starving people, but it's no more thrilling than the very similar attack in the previous book. Rather, this slow-paced volume spends most of its time giving readers a little more background on various main characters -- nearly a dozen strong -- who live in, nurture and protect the Whitechapel district of London following the recent end of the world.

Of course, it's a given that the so-called FreakAngels gang also caused in some way, the apocalypse, but the specifics there are still being held back for a later reveal. And Mark, the mysterious 12th FreakAngel who is running loose and wants his 11 former comrades dead, has still not made a direct appearance.

This comic is available for free online, but to my taste a collected edition in my hands is always preferable to a collection of pixels on my computer screen. Either way, this award-winning series is worth a look, particularly given Paul Duffield's dark, well-rendered and highly detailed art.

I just hope the action picks up a bit in volume 3.