Comic book reviews for Black Magick #1, Black Magick #2, and Black Magick #3 by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott
Average rating: 4.6/5 stars
Black Magick #1 by Greg Rucka
Art: Nicola Scott
Definitely an interesting and impactful way to kick off this new book with fire. Though it’s not hard to make me really like this book as Rucka rarely disappoints and Scott’s art is top notch here, not to mention all the backmatter fun with Trautmann doing the art/layouts. It also makes it hard to review. However, I am a big believer in reviewing books I actually like, especially independent, creator-owned comics. Especially because the artist is a woman and because the main character’s a woman. Though I am happy to say that there’s now enough — at least at DC and Marvel — female character lead books that I can turn those down with all-male teams behind them. This was not true years ago, when I never actually worried about spending too much money on comic books because there were only like five books.
Okay, here are a few things that make me really excited about this as hinted/explored in the first issue:
- Having Rowan being a Wiccan instead of just some magic-type like in so many superhero books. Wiccans are a real religion, so if we can get priests, rabbis, imams, and all other types of religious folk in other books, this is a cool thing. (Granted, college-me who was a practicing pagan would’ve like this a lot more; now I’m just a cranky atheist.)
- A cop story from Rucka. The details will be great.
- Incredible art from Scott, which pushes her styles and makes it more beautiful than I’ve ever seen. I loved the sepia tones with only the fire bringing more color in. Scott’s expressions on each character’s face is amazing. In the past, I’ve found her art to be somewhat almost too cheesecake, and this brings it back in. (Not that we don’t see plenty of gorgeous people.)
- Backmatter and layered storytelling over the history of time. I feel comics are the medium to do this type of story in, and it creates such a rich reading experience. And based on Rucka’s other work, I know this team can pull it off.
In conclusion: You should pick up this book.
Black Magick #2 by Greg Rucka
Art: Nicola Scott
Not sure how much more we really learned about the entire world here and about Rowan, who’s very much a closed character.
Her police partner Morgan is pretty flirty, or seems that way. I’m glad Rucka made it very clear that it was just his feelings of closeness to her. However, I don’t think he knows she’s a witch.
I thought Rowan crying about the fire and it bringing memories of burning witches felt real. While there’s large hints that she’s much older than she presents, it still could be a shared memory of her ancestors. It does feel like any cop who had to burn someone or saw someone burn to death close up would have those tears regardless.
I’m very much looking forward to finding out more about Alex: about her powers and about her history with Rowan. She seems to suggest that the rest of their coven doesn’t have actual magical powers, just are part of the pagan religion.
Black Magick #3 by Greg Rucka
Art: Nicola Scott
I’m curious about how many lines Rowan will cross and how many rules in her cop life she’ll be breaking. Since we don’t know her very well, it’s curious to already see her replacing evidence in order to magically suss who’s after her.
Scott’s art remains incredibly gorgeous. One thing I’d like to see them use is the coloring as a red herring in future tales. The bright colors certainly stand out and draw your eye compared to the sepia tones. I did need more light to read this book.
Morgan once again seems a little overly affectionate toward Rowan.
Alex is a character which I’d like to learn more about. Particularly her connection to Rowan and all those questions which issue two brought up like just how old they are. We don’t get any answers (or really even that many more questions) here.
I wondered when we were going to see the modern day Aira/Hammer. And clearly, they’re getting blamed for whatever’s happening to Rowan since they don’t seem to know anything about what’s going on either.
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