Boom! Studios 2018
Written by Saladin Ahmed
Illustrated by Sami Kivela
Coloured by Jason Wordie
Lettered by Jim Campbell
One woman’s search for the truth that destroyed her family. Hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter Elena Abbott investigates a series of grisly crimes that the police have ignored. Crimes she knows to be the work of dark occult forces. Forces that took her husband from her. Forces she has sworn to destroy.
Alright first issues are supposed to create buzz about the series, draw readers in and leave you wanting more. That’s it job and I have to say that Saladin and Sami do that and so much more here. I would have been content to read a story where Elena was just simply fighting for her spot at the paper and writing stories in an era where the truth was more easily hidden. It wasn’t until late in the issue where we learn there’s more here than meets the eye and that while upping the intrigue factor isn’t what hooked me.
The way the book is structured is amazingly well done. I love the introduction of Elena, how she’s seen by her fellow reporters, by her boss and those who are on the papers board. There is nothing held back when it comes to Elena because as we see her we get this almost immediate impression that’s hard pressed to change. That moment she walks into the story smoking with her outfit and the camera around her neck and from there on out she’s an impressive figure. The only thing missing is how she got that way, or if this has been her persona from the get go. Saladin actually manages to put some of those pieces into this issue and that only serves to make us want more.
There is some magnificent characterisation going on here as well. As much through the artwork as the writing I might add. Still we do get a good hard look at the people in Elena’s life and while they may become her supporting cast or they are just those she sees everyday because she’s kind of OCD when it comes to her mantra, “order it’s what keeps chaos at bay.” So the fact that she has the same routine and sees the same people well by extension they are her supporting cast.
The interiors here are extremely nice to see. I love the attention to detail in the character both prominent and background as their faces are showing us the emotion, feeling and parts of what them tick. While Elena has this great sexy kind of hardened look Wardell feels like he stepped out of Fat Albert and the Gang and we can see the innocence in him beautifully. The way page layouts are used so that we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a very strong eye for storytelling. Backgrounds are hit or miss here and honestly I’d like to see them used more, don’t tease me with them only to cut them out halfway through a page otherwise they are utilised so that they expand the moment and the scene and the world Elena lives in and sometimes, more often than not, it’s a wow factor.
I am so very impressed with the writing here. The way the whole book comes together here and the impression that it leaves you with this is standout surprise gem. Set in Detroit in the 1970’s when racial tensions were still high and Negro was being replaced by Black, and the Black Panther’s were around as well. So add in the tensions surrounding a strong woman who happens to be black in a predominantly male industry and dealing with cops, again male dominated, and what is accomplished here is really something magnificent.
Read this and you won’t be disappointed and Elena’s spirit, drive and determination will stay with you.