Review: Black Cloak #1

They say that nothing ventured is nothing gained. With this little idiom sitting in your head consider this, what would one of the best most consistent writers currently working at Marvel possibly do as their something ventured? Like many of those who have gone before, Kelly Thompson of Captain Marvel fame, is writing for Image Comics for the first time.

The city of Kiros stands as the last bastion of civilisation. After the great war, the city folk came to realise that having a common enemy helped bring everyone together. Now, those differences look to tear them apart. Holding the seemingly always fragile peace are the Black Cloaks. Now with the prince of Kiros dead, along with a ‘maid and the last person to see him, it is up to Phaedra and her Black Cloak partner to solve the case, hasty! But in a world where a Black Cloak is hardly respected, but is feared rather than revered, the protection of the office carries more than it weight of distrust and hate, something of a common problem across all quarters of the city.

For anyone who listens to the No-Price Podcast, or read my previews reviews, you will know the esteem that I hold Kelly Thompson. Striding away from the cross media icons of Marvel may seem like a bit of a risk. Yet Thompson delivers a story that feels like a mix of Blade Runner, with fantasy elements thrown in for good measure. The strength in Thompson’s writing is the intelligence with which she writes. At no part does she actually give a play-by-play of this new world. Instead, it is the investigation into the murder that provides the reader with the hows and whys of this existence, although, please bear in mind that these are coloured by the characters disparate worldviews. The dialogue may seem a tad different to your expectations; for Marvel Thompson delivers the required level of quips and humour. Here, things are a tad darker as Phaedra has to deal with her with the present situation, carrying its own implications on the past. How this affects things will be built upon in future issues.

The art is provided by Meredith McClaren who delivers a very stylised, almost European art. I remember seeing McClaren’s work on Super Sexy Fun Time and was totally enamoured with it so much I had to interview her on Outside the Panels (click here) I am pleased to see her work once again, though of course here there is less sexy and fun times for those involved. World building is hard; there has to be references to recognise to compete with the newer elements. McClaren does well to consolidate both of these aspects. There are some minor inconsistencies around facial elements, though these do not detract from the excellent storytelling, delivered in a manner that demands your attention. McClaren also provides the colors for the book, doing so in, at times, an over digital way. Normally I am against this style, but here it offers another opportunity to create the strangeness in this new world. Becca Carey provides a nice easy font that reads so well, she gets a cover credit! Well done Image Comics.

Comparisons abound, when made are purely metaphorical. The idea of a disliked police force and a multi tier society can be seen in any number of movies and books. By taking this road, Thompson is showing her writing mettle for those that may think she is just all about a certain Carol. I am massively impressed by the setup of this book and look forward to how things play out.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art & Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Created and written by; Kelly Thompson
Created and art & colors by; Meredith McClaren
Letters by; Becca Carey
Published by; Image Comics

For more information about Black Cloak check out Comic Crusaders Podcast #289 (click here ) for an interview with both Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClaren by Comics Crusaders owner Al Mega!

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network