In the ‘what if’ world of Black Cotton, from Scout Comics, the sixth issue forces confrontations on several fronts. It’s the last issue of this title’s first arc. And what a story!
What if black Americans were the dominant majority of the US population, and white people were the downtrodden minority? And if a black cop from a wealthy family accidentally shot a white woman, what would transpire? And when Asian assassins arrive, wielding their swords and serving it up raw??
Patrick Foreman and Brian Hawkins write the scenes as if there was a ‘what if’ chessboard… the moves, the timing, the stealth of the attack and retreat. We the reader continue to marvel at the ‘performances’ as they are portrayed on stage in the media, and then the backstage, behind the scenes plotting and torment. It’s marvellous fun, watching as our heroes wring their hands, get into trouble, are battered and bruised, with a head full of regret. Never time to think ahead, but lots of time later to wish you had.
The police, the protestors, the sincere and masked faces, never really revealing the truth. It’s trial and error by media.
Artist Marco Perugini’s approach continues to be innovative. His drawings, possibly done by electronic brush and tablet, are fluid and expressive but not laboured. While this approach lends a deceptively casual feel to the visuals, it only works here in its high contrast black and white format because of Perugini’s facility with shape and expressive line. It’s a finely balanced dance of the visual, and very nicely handled. Letters by Francisco Zamora.
Check out the upcoming collected trade of the first volume. This book is such a great read!
Scout Comics, Black Cotton #6, $3.99 for 25 pages of content. Teen
Newsdesk