While we slowly inch our way to better months, better weather, and increased sunlight here in the northern hemisphere, there still seems to be a dark pall across many of our imaginations.
And we love it!
Horror’s pop cultural resurgence in comic books (did it ever really go away?) continues pace and, over the last few years, witches – not zombies – have been front and center in that renaissance.
Back in late October, Image Comics released Black Magick #1, the first issue of a new monthly series from industry favourites, writer Greg Rucka, and illustrator Nicola Scott. Although perfectly timed for the Halloween season, the comic didn’t make this particular column. I almost feel like I need to apologize to you readers because believe me, that particular issue made waves. Bot did it! And I’ve been making quick work of my monthly Black Magick Wednesday runs ever since.
Follow me after the jump for the low-down and the importance of Black Magick #5 – out today!
Black Magick #5
Written by: Greg Rucka
Illustrated by: Nicola Scott
Published by: Image Comics
Every month, Rucka and Scott have been unraveling their gothic noir thrill ride relentlessly. Five monthly issues have detailed a rich tapestry of story, seemingly thousands of years in the making.
Witches exist. So do their hunters. And so does something much, much more terrible.
Police detective Rowan Black, herself a practitioner of witchcraft, involved with an ages old sect in the city of Portsmouth, is instantly caught up in a dark struggle with mystery and evil at its core. For unknown reasons, something is conspiring in the shadows; someone is hunting her.
Black Magick has been a thrilling joy to read each and every month as the well-thought out and well-researched story delves deeper and deeper into witchcraft lore. Greg Rucka (Gotham Central, Lazarus, Stumptown) has fashioned a historically rich narrative that pleads for further reading – and readers get it with ancillary material at the back of each issue where family trees add mystery and ancient texts raise fingers to pursed lips. The beautiful and haunting black and white art of Nicola Scott (Birds of Prey, Secret Six) is punctuated by perfectly timed colour – when needs arise – leaving the on-the-edge-of-your-seat reader full of dread or excitement or both.
Black Magick has quickly become one of my favourite reads. Hopefully you’re reading and enjoying it, too, but if not, why pick up the fifth issue of a series now?
Because of the ending. Oh! What an ending!
Make the run to your local comic book shop and pick the last issue of the very first “Awakenings” story arc. And while you’re at it, pick up the first four monthly issues of Black Magick, too. You’ve got a few months before the series picks up steam again with issue six – and you’re going to want to be around for all the devilry that is sure to come next!
You can get a sneak peak at today’s issue, and all of Nicola Scott’s artistic witchcraft, right here.
