What did I just read?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is a common thought I have as an indie comic reviewer. I read a lot of first issues, and have to muddle my way through a lot of nonsense to find the absolute gold for you, my dear readers.
And I’ve read some bad first issues. Real bad. So bad I want to stop reading comics and go have a little cry outside.
I also read a lot of confusing comics; works that are not bad, just confusingly written and put together in strange ways. Some of this has to do with the fact that they are mini series that are really meant more for collections than single issues. Some of these are written in a way that is confusing because the art is poorly done or the author is a poor story teller.
And then there are books like Purr Evil; books that are well written, well drawn, and yet confusing as all get out, but in the best possible way.
Confused? Good. Now you’re ready to dive in head first to Purr Evil #1
Here’s the blurb:
THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE MEWING EVIL…
Rita loves her daughter Deb but a dark evil from her past threatens the lives of anyone who gets too close to it. Can the bond between two women overcome a life built on blood and lies? And what secret is lurking in the Morando family’s apartment?
Written by Harvey Award-winning superstar MIRKA ANDOLFO (SWEET PAPRIKA MERCY UNNATURAL Punchline) and illustrated by fan-favorite LAURA BRAGA (WITCHBLADE Future State: The Next Batman Harley Quinn DC Bombshells) PURR EVIL is a stand-out story about the relationship between a mother who gave everything for her daughter and a daughter who needs to figure out her role in a world that she’s about to doom!
So right off the bat, this a a dream team of creatives on this book. Mirka Andolfo is one of the best indie storytellers out there right now, and her mastery of creeping, eldritch horror is always a treat. Laura Braga is a long time favourite of mine, and her work not only on covers but also on the DC Bombshell series is among my favourites of all time.
Which is why, even though the entire first issue Pure Evil left me scratching my head, I still am recommending it.
See, this is a case where I have enough trust in the creative team that, even if I don’t fully understand where the story is going, I still have faith that the story is going to end up somewhere great.
Purr Evil opens with a slaughter. Bodies piled up, eerie ghost fingers crawling from open wounds, which then transitions to a funeral, which then transitions to an arguement, which goes to another argument, which goes to the weirdest Romeo and Juliet set-up I have seen in a long, long time.
Along the way there’s murder, astral projection, mysterious tattoos, secret assassins, and one very angry grandma.
It’s confusing madness that left my mind reeling.
And I can’t wait until issue 2.
See, even though there is a lot, like, a lot a lot going on in the first issue, it reminds me a great deal of Mirka Andolfo’s recent work Mercy. The first issue of Mercy was also a mad mess of plot points, characters, horror and confusion, and I almost gave up on it immediately after I finished reading it, but there was something there, something great, which made me pick up issue 2, and boy, am I glad I did.
Andolofo’s work, really, needs to be read in one go. Single issues just don’t work out as well as they should, and I really hope this will eventually get released as a trade. For right now, though, I am going to encourage everyone to give this book a chance. I get that you have limited dollars, and so Purr Evil might not feel like it is worth it, but I promise you, this is a team that delivers if you give them a chance, and I think this book will end up being something great.
I know I’m going to read it.
Alright, that’s it for me. Next week I’ll be traveling so no article 🙁 but I’ll be back after with fresh new reviews, and in August I’ll be hitting up the Really Cool Comic Con so look for my review at the start of the month! Until then, Stay Safe!
