Issue #1 of Dark Blood, from BOOM! Studios starts off in 1955 in Alabama. Avery, a young black man is being followed by a mysterious white man as he leaves the local diner. 
A confrontation between the two men gives us a glimpse into Avery’s awesome abilities. Interspersed with the events of 1955 are flashbacks even further back, to World War II, which begin to illuminate the reasons why Avery is so physically powerful.
Writer LaToya Morgan, a screenwriter for The Walking Dead and Into The Badlands, introduces us to the characters in this six-part mini-series and gives us a strong glimpse into the oppressive racism of American life at the time.
Artist Walt Barna contributes strong figure drawing, realistic environments, and believable, dramatic scenes of conflict and tension. Colouring is by A.H.G. and lettering is from AndWorld Design.
It’s a slow, percolating start, perhaps, and we long for more caffeine, sooner. But it’s a promising start with much potential. The team needs to give the comic reader more pedal, more metal, more condensed storytelling in order for us to become invested in Avery’s issues.
BOOM! Studios, Dark Blood #1, $3.99 for 24 pages of content.
Newsdesk