XS Hybrid continues with the second volume, Angel Virus, and the artwork and action are just as good as in the first. Some of the questions from the first volume, though, haven't been answered, and some new ones have been raised.
Chang and Mina are still hanging out and trying to keep from getting into trouble. The problem is that trouble seems to always find them, no matter how carefully they try to avoid it. But since Mina seems to be something other than completely human it's only to be expected.
When Jin Hoh, an old friend of Mina's and Chang's, gets roughed up at schoo, he retreats into his computer games. But when he finally comes out of them, he isn't the same person anymore. Jin Hoh has unlocked a secret level that unleashes a biomechanical virus that turns him from the shy shut-in to a badass street biker. This new Jin Hoh wants Mina but not just for her pretty face.
Chang faces Jin Hoh, trying to prevent him from taking Mina, and the scenes that ensue are mesmerizing. Jin Hoh chases Chang through a crowded train station on his motorcycle, while Chang evades him with death defying skateboard stunts.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating all the mysterious deaths and beatings that surround these hybrids. We still don't know what exactly these hybrids are or what they are after, though - the mystery is thick as the series continues.
Song Ji-Hyung is a very talented artist, and the artwork is a huge draw for this series. The action scenes are top notch; motorcycle chases and detailed fight scenes propel the reader forward at breakneck speeds, while close-ups of characters slow you down long enough to absorb everything that's going on.
XS Hybrid - Angel Virus continues a fascinating story of hybrids, steel angels, and a pair of high school teens who are just like you. I'm looking forward to reading volume three and seeing where else the story will take me.
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