Review by Ian Keogh

As if to prove what a crazy world it is in Bubble City, there’s going to be an election. Apparently it’s some ancient procedure similar to an online poll whereby the citizens can actually choose their mayor rather than accept he’s inherited the position. The mayor is outraged, but he’s soon on a campaign to pick up the best voters money can buy, while as seen on the sample art, officers Schitt and Swamp have differing ideas about the value of elections. As ever, though, Swamp has problems with his dating profile.

The first Justice Warriors had energy and laughs, but was at times unfocussed. With an election coming, though, Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson can still employ a broad focus from ignorant members of the public to the corrupt and cynical elite, but there’s a tighter plot. Vote Harder may be set away in the future with many mutants mingling with humanity, but Bors and Clarkson unashamedly set their satirical sights on the present day. The results are hilarious from the meaningless TV statements, through the graph explaining how many votes people have, to the roles of Schitt and Swamp. The former is allocated to the incumbent mayor’s security detail, while Swamp is co-opted to infiltrate and sabotage the outsider candidate’s campaign, but instincts take over. Perhaps the real result, though, is the genuine emotional tension generated by a clever plot.

Clarkson’s art is more refined than the first volume, still incredibly detailed and attractive, but less experimental with the layouts. There’s also a greater confidence with the main characters, who’re more expressive.

For all of Vote Harder being a satirical exaggeration, it sure has a dark ending, yet it’s consistent with the lack of faith throughout in elections now so open to tampering by vested interests that they’re no longer democratic. Prepare to have all your worst suspicions verified, but with plenty of laughs along the way.