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The second volume of Maximum Ride starts off with the imprisonment of Max, Angel, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, and Nudge at the school, the secret research facility they escaped four years ago. They have discovered, with horror, that their former mentor, Jeb Batchelder (who they presumed dead), is actually alive and working for the school. The reasons for the betrayal are unknown, but the teens don’t stay to find out, as they successfully escape shortly after the discovery. The group then decides to head to New York, where a research facility, which is said to hold information regarding them, is located.

One aspect I found favorable was the grander scale of the story, which led to more depth in the characters and interesting plot twists that hook the reader to the series. The volume also ends on a cliffhanger, which practically has me begging for volume three. The writing is improved, but still has the occasional cheesy dialogue snippet.

Another improved element was the characters, which were fitted with new abilities, so everyone (yes, even useless Nudge) serves a purpose in the story. The relationships between the characters are also given more depth, such as the relationship between Max and Fang, which has become…interesting.

Art wise, the volume is a minor improvement, with more polish to the detailed art of the first volume. A favorable improvement was the more appropriately placed chibi moments, meaning less emotional moments become laughable.

To conclude, volume two of Maximum Ride is a much more enjoyable experience than its predecessor. The polished visuals, improved writing, interesting characters and engrossing plot makes this a must buy for those who have read and enjoyed the last volume. I will definitely purchase the third volume of this series, due to the gripping story and improvements which have been presented to me.