Snowpiercer, Vol. 2: The Explorers

Set in the same universe as the original story, SNOWPIERCER, VOL. 2: THE EXPLORERS is set several years into the future as the original SNOWPIERCER. Much of the plot of SNOWPIERCER, VOL. 2: THE EXPLORERS takes place upon this new train, The Snowpiercer 2, aka Icebreaker. This train is larger than the first, runs even faster, and is even capable of stopping for short periods of time. Snowpiercer 2 runs along the same track as the original train did and the people on board are fearful that the two trains will eventually collide. It is during the brief stops the train makes that a particular group of individuals, called Explorers, set out to survey the landscape and see if they can find any signs of the original train, signs of a thaw, etc. The protagonist of SNOWPIERCER 2 is an Explorer named Puig. Puig is kind of a rebel and gets in trouble. As a result he ends up being selected for a suicide mission, he ends up surviving the mission. He becomes a hero, and as a result, and life aboard Snowpiercer 2 completely changes for everyone. SNOWPIERCER 2 ties into the original story, but it’s a much different story. Instead of a social commentary on the haves and have-nots of the world, SNOWPIERCER 2 is more a commentary on how governments can control large populations of people and make them believe things that aren’t really true. It’s still a social commentary, but just a different type of one. If you read the original SNOWPIERCER, then you will want to check out Vol. 2.

I will make this review short but sweet. I absolutely loved this comic. I'm doing this review based on both volumes 1&2 of this series as I have just finished reading both of them. I have already ordered the 3rd comic which comes out March 22nd,2016. I will say that this is a must buy comic series. I watched the movie before I read this series and the movie was a Masterpiece of a film and it's in my Top 10 favorite films of all time. I was very impressed by the story and yes it's very different from the movie so if you're worried about that then there is no need to be at all. The art style was Impeccable. The story is clearly set in a very abysmal setting and it really shows in the artwork and the story. I will finish by saying you need to pick this up and read it. You will not regret it but beware it is definitely mature to an extent with some of the pictures and graphic content even though it is in black and white.

I liked reading the second part as much as the first one. People living in close quarters, on a speeding train, that never stops moving along a frozen landscape. There are caste systems within the cars of the Snow Piercer and the lower class is towards the back. There is food and animals being raised in some of the cars, and the usual human madness goes on all over the train. I think there is a motion picture out about this book. I hope the movie is as good as these graphic novels

Got the first 2 books in this series as a birthday gift for our son-in-law and he really likes them. We'll eventually get him the entire series

I felt this volume, while wildly different in plot, actually captured the tone of the Snowpiercer film better than the first volume. If you enjoyed the film or the first volume of the book, I really recommend this follow-up. It takes place in the same world as Snowpiecer but on a different train. You can probably jump right into this book without reading the first volume, but a few short scenes of the book definitely reward those with the knowledge of the first volume. If you like dark, disturbing, intelligent post-apocalyptic fiction like The Road or Reapers are the Angels, you'll enjoy this.

A solid followup to the first Snowpiercer. It provides a bit more context and background information for the world. If you read the first one, you know you want to read this one. If you haven't read the Volume 1, why are you reading about Volume 2? Go read 1 now.

Watched the movie and had some questions about this universe?Read the first book and had some questions about this universe? Or wondered "what happened next"? Don't read this book looking for answers. Only read this book if you enjoy a good story. Nothing is cleared up, nothing is explained. Overall, I enjoyed it; but I wonder why it was even written.Perhaps I've just been burned so badly from shows like "Lost" or "The Prisoner" where its always questions questions questions, the answer is just around the corner, and things are never quite explained; because even the author doesn't know.

Nice follow up to vol 1. Art is a bit more expressive, story has some more twists and turns.Not as interesting overall or as impressive as the film.

This second installment has no relation to the film, and you will be half-way through the tale before it even connects to the first book. While 90% of this tale is outstanding and original, there are a few points where the story goes off the rails (pun) with some plot devices that seem too convenient or implausible. Nonetheless, it is a great story and is building towards something amazing.

Despite having an interest in graphic novels, I don't know of many French ones. That's even despite visiting Angouléme a few years ago, I'm not up to scratch with French novels.A few years ago a live-action Adele Blanc-Sec was released, which wasn't fantastic but did make me aware of the classic comic series, so I bought a few. Now I find myself in a similar boat as the live-action movie of "Transperceneige" (the original French title) comes out this year and we have the series translated in English for the first-time, just to plug the movie a little more!I basically read through this in a single afternoon/evening. I couldn't put it down. I don't want to give away any spoilers (and therefore ruin the novel and the movie), but it's a slightly crazy idea of the last if the human-race being stuck on a forever-travelling 1001-carriage train. When reading it, I never "felt" that the train was that long, but maybe that just me! The entire setting is depressing and the political/social aspects of the book relate directly to real-life... even though it's 30 years old it still makes a good point about todays world (rich/poor, etc). The artwork, although somewhat dated, suits the tone completely with its stark colouring.I bought both Vol1 and Vol2 at the same time. If you're a collector you'll want both. But with hindsight, Vol2 really wasn't necessary - it's almost a rehash of the first volume, and doesn't really add anything in it's own right. (If you read the notes inside, you find out it came out about 10/15 years the original with a different artist.) I don't know if the new movie will pull material from both sources, but I hope it just sticks with Vol 1.Vol1 - 5/5Vol2 - 3/5

Carries on right in the same vein as vol 1. What you have here is vol 2 and 3 combined, which is sensible as they are one story. It's tough, full of good stuff, and also full of illogicalities that you can happily overlook as a host of familiar themes lead you though it.Still very enjoyable, and I'm sad this is the last one. What I'd like to see is something much later in the saga, when the whole thing is breaking down, sort of an earthbound "Orphans of the Sky". Well, you can't blame a chap for hoping.Enjoyed this, though.

First and foremost, a notice to any potential purchasers; this book contains translations of BOTH volume 2 and 3 of the Snowpiercer saga. Although the title & item description only mention 'Vol. 2 - The Explorers' (L'arpenteur), it also contains 'Vol. 3 - The Crossing' (La traversée). The two roughly follow on from one another, and the English edition packages them both together; between this and 'Vol. 1 - The Escape', you'll have all published Snowpiercer works.The book itself is fantastic. To even explain the premise would spoil Vol. 1, but needless to say, this is a dark, unique tale of post apocalyptic survival. Not for the faint of heart.

This just keeps getting better. Still as graphically encapsulating as the first and the story is so intense. Note: read the first one beforehand.