written by Jim McCann
art by Janet Lee
Lost Vegas, which began as a rather straightforward heist-and-escape story, takes a dramatic turn toward espionage thriller in its second issue. And, while the groundwork for this turn was well established in its opening chapter, it certainly comes as a welcome surprise. Roland was undoubtedly the narrative center of "Stays in Vegas". The motivations and agendas of the conspirators in his escape—mysterious, telepathic roommate Ink; quirky tinkerer Rinny; and clever dealer Loria—remained unclear. "Sharks and Whales" develops that uncertainty. As it turns out, Ink communicates independently with Rinny. Loria knows more than she lets on about the politics on board the Lost Vegas. And Roland's new acquaintances, Lady Kaylex and her stag-with-science Atho, have their own secrets. Suddenly, the escape of a single indentured servant on board seems a small accomplishment among larger plans.
In a stroke of timing worthy of Roland's spectacular gambler's luck, in the process of his escape he finds that the Lost Vegas is itself being extorted by some of the galaxy's most powerful and corrupt war-mongers. Forced to surrender a large portion of his ship's profits, to provide a de facto site for secret political meetings, and to give over his daughter Kaylex during her period of courtship, Admiral Kyule is strong-armed by one of the Post-God War's most notorious figures, Ensign Scotsorn, known as the Architect. Not only this, his private security team of Nighthawks and fellow Akians are poised to transfer to him the Godspark, a thus-far unexplained weapon of unprecedented power. Confronted with the creature who destroyed his planet, Roland makes a decision which, I suspect, surprised him more than the reader.
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