REVIEW: 'Black's Myth' #1 by Eric Palicki, Wendell Cavalcanti, and Rob Steen

Someone is after werewolf P.I. Strummer but with the help of her djinn assistant Ben, she may live to see another day if her next case doesn't kill her first. 

 

BLACK'S MYTH #1

Writer: Eric Palicki

Artist: Wendell Cavalcanti

Letterer: Rob Steen

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Release Date: July 7, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Meet Janie "Strummer" Jones, just an ordinary werewolf PI, trying to make it on the mean streets of LA. When the case of a lifetime falls into her lap, it's up to her and her charming djinn assistant Ben Si'lat to figure out just how many silver bullets have been used, and just where do silver bullets come from anyway? A new horror series from writer Eric Palicki and artist Wendell Cavalcanti, with lush covers by Liana Kangas (Trve Cvlt). Every AHOY book comes with extra prose stories and illustrations. Issue 1 features a stunning variant cover by Jamal Igle (The Wrong Earth).

Score:

★★★1/2 (3.5/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Being born and raised in Los Angeles I have an affinity for stories based in my hometown. Whether it's novels, comics, movies, or TV shows there's a sense of pride in seeing the City of Angels depicted. There's a certain vibe that comes with it. Sometimes it's a snarky laid-back approach by the central characters in otherwise heightened situations with a backdrop of sunshine and palm trees. It's not always an accurate depiction but when done right the mood is dark while portrayed in the light. Shows like Amazon's 'Goliath' and 'Bosch' have it and despite not having color, 'Black's Myth' captures a sinister atmosphere vividly. 

Eric Palicki's script provides a great introduction of the fearless and confident werewolf P.I. Janie Jones Mercado aka Strummer and her charismatic djinn assistant Ben. It opens up with her pulling a silver bullet out of her side while she was on assignment following a philandering husband for a client. She's perplexed about the brazen daytime shooting but Ben's persistence leads to clues to a larger mystery. It's a wonderfully breezy opening chapter that quickly sets the stage for more action and intrigue going forward. 

Wendell Cavalcanti creates some cool character designs from Strummer's punk rock style to Ben's chill laid-back attire. The action is sparse but well choreographed. Cavalcanti's thick lines put the emphasis on the foreground characters and shading helps fill out backgrounds. Overall, 'Black's Myth' is a cool confident L.A. mystery filled with intrigue and supernatural action. It's one of this week's recommendations and that cliffhanger will have you back next month.