An ongoing title from Image, The Silver Coin, brings forth a new tale in issue 7.

Written by Ram V, with linework and lettering by Michael Walsh, and colour by Walsh and Toni Marie Griffin, “Tzompanco” is a real shuffle of the deck.

In Las Vegas, a cowboy can’t believe his luck. He’s hit the jackpot on the slots! Finally! Meanwhile, a grizzled, long-haired fellow is recounting a bit of the history of the conquest of Mexico. You see, the Tzompanco casino development is based on the same architectural appearance as ancient Aztec monuments. And that’s the hook upon which this story is hung and swung.

Ram V, of course, needs no introduction. Writer of Swamp Thing and several other recent story titles, Ram V brings his game. It’s all about the game of chance, beating the odds, surviving the ups and downs in long-haul gambling. He keeps the dialogue tight and necessary, scenes all advance the plot, no extra fluff here.

As the cowboy’s run of luck continues, the story develops, he gets invited into higher stakes rooms, and who knows where things will go: go broke or go home?

Walsh’s artwork is at once well crafted, dark, and appropriate to the spirit of the story. The colour is terrific, a nicely played straight man to the ever-evolving words and pictures. Silver Coin #7 is heads and tails above a lot of other books this month. Check it out!

Image, The Silver Coin #7, $3.99 for 26 pages of horror content. Mature

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!!