Nerdly » ‘VR Troopers #2’ Review (Boom! Studios)

18th Nov2025

‘VR Troopers #2’ Review (Boom! Studios)

by Phil Wheat

Written by Mairghread Scott | Art by Sebastian Piriz | Colourist: JP Jordan | Letterer: Taylor Esposito | Published by Boom! Studios

VR Troopers #2 wastes no time proving that BOOM! Studios haven’t just revived a ’90s property, they’re actively rebuilding it into something with real emotional backbone. The issue opens with a wonderfully grounded scene of the trio grabbing breakfast, and it immediately clicks in that very Nerdly way: character first, plot second. Ryan’s unease, J.B.’s steadying presence, Kaitlin’s instinct for finding the cracks others miss – it all comes through beautifully in just a few pages.

This chapter really belongs to Kaitlin, though. Sneaking into Ziktor Industries under the guise of a journalist, she brings the kind of energy and intelligence the TV series never fully allowed her. The tension is sharp, the corporate corridors feel hostile, and the slow burn of “something’s not right here” pays off with one of the issue’s strongest cliffhangers.

Ryan and J.B.’s dojo subplot offers a nice counterbalance, giving us more insight into Ryan’s complicated history and the growing sense that his Virtualizer isn’t just a weapon, but a problem waiting to explode. The pacing is rapid, occasionally too rapid, but it still manages to hit the emotional beats needed to keep the story anchored.

Once again, Sebastián Píriz’s art does the heavy lifting, updating the VR aesthetic without sacrificing any of that tokusatsu charm. The armour looks tactile, the action feels dynamic, and the shadows cast across Ziktor Industries add a cinematic weight that the franchise never had the budget for in the ’90s. When the final reveal hits, it actually feels threatening.

If there’s a flaw, it’s that the issue tries to juggle a lot at once. A couple of transitions snap by a little quicker than ideal, but the momentum and intrigue more than make up for it.

VR Troopers #2 proves this isn’t just nostalgia bait, it’s a smart, stylish reinvention with a confident voice. If BOOM! keep this level up, we might be looking at one of the most satisfying 90s revivals in their entire catalogue.