Kill Whitey Donovan, a new miniseries from Dark Horse starts off with a killer cover by Jason Pearson. Let’s peer inside!

Kill Whitey Donovan, written by Sydney Duncan, with art and colours by Natalie Barahona, starts off in Alabama in 1864. A woman is lying on her 4 poster bed at night. A letter is in her hand. Her sister is dead, and her sister’s husband, Jim ‘Whitey’ Donovan, is away fighting in the American Civil War. Donovan has been gone for 8 weeks, and Anna is going to make him pay for her sister’s death.

So, it’s Anna and one of the house slaves, Hattie, making a run for it in the middle of the night. Escaping. Flashbacks tell us more, much much more.

The story is a bit convoluted, (plot points and character names are revealed in flashbacks) so pay attention to the names and the years, but ultimately, this is a solid tale. Plenty of inter-racial tension, of course, and a glimpse of how tough life could be back in the 19th century American south. Plenty to holler about.

The artwork and colour are well handled here. The panel breakdown helps us navigate through the weeds and willows, and Barahona’s colouring is particularly effective. Her use of rich purples and dark blues really enhance the adventure and deepen the drama.

Dark Horse, Kill Whitey Donovan #1 (of 5), $3.99 for 26 pages of content. Assume Teen + rating

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!