New from Dark Horse comes Blackwood #1. And in viewing my crystal ball, I predict a hit title!
The four-issue Blackwood miniseries is written by Evan Dorkin, and illustrated by Veronica Fish, from layouts by Andy Fish.
Here’s the setting: it’s Harry Potter meets Stereotypical Teen Horror Movie. But that just paints it in broad strokes, and Blackwood is a lot more than a quickly rendered black velvet painting. The scariness and freshness is in the details.
Wren Valentine arrives at the Blackwood train station, heading for the School. She’s been having creepy visions while on the train, and now has a nasty nosebleed. The locals are suspicious and nasty.
When she checks out her residence, her housemates are a wide scoop of socially challenged young people, with all the behavioural aspects that go along with being a teen.
The school is a dark and creepy place. The dean has some strange antisocial behaviors. And at night, the mausoleum is NOT the place to wander around, even when you’re accompanied by a pack of fellow students.
Writer Dorkin and artist Fish grab us by the collar right from the first panel of this completely engaging tale. It’s got teen angst by the bushel, a suspenseful tone and fetchingly earnest vulnerable characters.
Do yourself a monsterous favour, and give this a read. I’m on for the ride, heaven help me!
Dark Horse Comics, Blackwood #1, $3.99 for 25 pages of content. Not rated, assume Teen.
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