The second volume of Luke Arnold and Chris “Doc” Wyatt’s exceptional graphic novel series offers a metaphysical exploration of a near-apocalyptic event, pushing even deeper into profound, existential questions about individualism, self-determination and the value of living life to the fullest in a world that’s fleeting, unpredictable and sometimes cruel.

This book begins where the first volume left off (so it’s best to start with Essentials: Vol. 1). Mathematician Harris Pax and his companion Buttons (an interdimensional being inhabiting a rapidly decaying abandoned mortal body) are racing to save humanity’s survivors after a collision with an alternate dimension.

To stabilize reality and offer a subjectively safe existence for survivors, the pair must establish the last of three “safe zone” reality stations and return to the bunker where their crusade began. As they do so, they encounter a slew of survivors, all trapped in their own realities, including an oil rig worker, a man who has gleefully constructed his own private universe, and a lonely lighthouse keeper who speaks with the philosophical nihilism of a Fellini film. Ultimately, they face off against members of the alien consciousness seeking to absorb humanity, waging a battle to save Earth’s reality, which would also mean Buttons’ demise.

The authors once again offer a story that’s as visually breathtaking as it is thought-provoking. Seven artists lend a distinct feel to their respective chapters, a varying visual approach that underscores the book’s theme of shifting realities. What’s more, the book pushes the boundaries of its physical format with a fold-out section during the climactic battle scene.

All told, this volume — beautifully presented in a gold-embossed slipcover — ramps up the stakes and sense of weight from the first book. More impressively, as the artists offer eye-popping visuals and the writers delve into deep philosophical questions, they also manage to offer succinct observations about human existence and the value of individuality.

In short, readers will find this an utterly immersive, thought-provoking offering.