Black Magick #2
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Nicola Scott
Image Comics
After an unexpectedly good issue #1 of Black Magick, writer Greg Rucka takes a big breath with issue #2.
The series started out with the promise of magic mixed nicely into the world just outside our window, and that was a compelling aspect of the story.
While I suspect that will be a huge, lynchpin, aspect of the story, this issue was much more of a straight police story.
As a police story it wasn’t a particularly exciting story either. This one has bridge issues written on practically every page.
Every story requires such issues. The fill in of some of the backgrounds is needed in the story. They set the stage for what is to come. That it is as early in the series as #2 is a bit unfortunate though.
We do get to know the lead character Rowan Black a bit better though, and she looks to be a character readers are going to truly dig as the series continues.
With Rucka at the typewriter I am also quite confident this series will ramp up in terms of action. In fact with an ad at the end of this one noting Black casting in issue #3, I suspect we’ll be getting just what we were hoping for after the aforementioned issue #1.
The only real downside to this issue (#2) is that if this was the first taste of Black Magick there is little here to make you a fan.
But my advice, hang on for a while, I think this one will be worth staying involved with.
Tokyo Ghost #3
Rick Remender & Sean Murphy
Image Comics
Tokyo Ghost grabbed my attention with issue #1, and with #3 it has elevated to be the best thing I have read from Rick Remender, and that is a big statement since I loved Fear Agent and am digging Low a lot.
This series started in an American city that was all but a video game with people plugged in and oblivious to the corruption around them.
Now with issue #3 the story has fully switched to Japan, a place minus tech where people are living in tune with nature or as it is called in the story ‘Neo Bushido’. That essentially means a medieval-feel, and I’ll admit that hits a sweet spot for me.
This book really has Remender taking a breath and setting the mood and pace of what appears an idyllic place free of invasive tech. It is a place constable Debbie Decay has dreamed of as a way to save her tech-addicted partner Led Dent.
It seems to be working, except for the creepy guy hiding in the bush muttering things about revenge.
The art is amazing, the story great. This one that is must read for me for as long as the series plays out.
