Joe Golem Occult Detective #1
Written by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Patric Reynolds & Dave Stewart
Art by Patric Reynolds
Mike Mignola has long been a favourite of mine based solely on his work on Hellboy, easily his most notable creation.
As writer Mignola has always had a good handle on weaving the occult into the modern world, a combination which sets well with me.
Joe Golem operates in the same shadowy world where what we know bumps uneasily up against the things of whispered stories which have long manifested as nightmares.
In this case the story is also very much a pulp detective tale.
For me that hits another sweet spot for me. I like pulpy tales; The Green Lama, The Spider, even Canada’s podcast favourite The Red Panda, being examples.
So I quickly devoured this first issue, and my only lament is that this is to be a limited series; five issues in length. Yes this was a great first issue. It has a nice background which comes across as ancient, yet is set in a more modern era 1965. That is critical here as 1965 is a better fit to achieve the pulp element.
The supernatural side of Joe Golem is of course Mignola’s bailiwick as they say. He thrives in creating such a storyline, and he does it again here. Yes, it’s only a first issue, but the plot line is set nicely, and I trust Mignola to deliver the rest of the way on this series.
This is a story I give top marks to. I am already hoping the mini-series grows in more.
Dragon Age Magekiller #1
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Carmen Carnero
Dark Horse Comics
This is a book I was expecting to like — a lot.
I am an old Dungeons & Dragons player so any comic which fits into the classic fantasy genre draws me.
In most cases the writers though do not come with a pedigree like the one Greg Rucka sports; Queen and Country, Batwoman, and Lazarus (one I have heard great things about and have on my list to search out one day).
And Rucka did not disappoint. There is a story evolving here which could be very good.
Mages using blood magic, a brooding mage hunter with obvious secrets, and something of a trap set at the end of the issue.
It is enough to have me looking forward to where this one goes.
Of course in the realm of magic anything is possible which gives Rucka lots of opportunities to write something quite epic if he chooses. I do hope it lives up to my expectations after issue #1.
The art of Carmen Carnero is excellent for the story too. The magic glyphs early in the book are wonderfully rendered. There is attention to detail I like.
Fantasy fans this one is a must to check out.
