REVIEW: Black Cotton No.5

It is a wonder to see black & white comics making a comeback to the U.S. medium of the funny books. Our friends in Japan can’t have all the fun now ! Inks are heavily emphasized in Perugini’s style in this fifth issue of “Black Cotton”. Emphasizing the gravity of the stressful situations surrounding the Cotton family in the tale.

Protests regarding inequalities due to the U.S. ethnic caste system all on the backs of a woman being shot dead in the streets by a peace officer. The press has a field day in the tale with enough sound-bites that would make any “Dark Knight” fan want to tune in. And the Miller influences don’t stop there with sporadic appearances of ninjas and sword fights that look like they belong in a Sin City anthology, but somehow find there way to nustle in the panels of “Black Cotton” comfortably – the perfect juxtaposition to the rough faces drawn by Perugini.

Yes, the faces are beautifully pencilled, as lips meet other lips and dance on the tips of goblets at dinner tables fit for the king’s of today, but there is a haggard look of each character despite their status, and the whiteboard background only makes such observations that more evident and impossible to look away from, just like this book is impossible to put down.

Indie company Scout has got a winner here with “Black Cotton”. I would not say this is a welcome jumping on point for new readers – the plot is already well established and there is no leeway for catch up. Yes, when the book is over you might find yourself forgetting the character’s names, but there will be another issue; and those character’s will be there with the next chapter – along with the gorgeous art, social commentary, and biting instances of humor that accompanied this chapter: “Only Shot”. Certainly there must be more in the chamber for Hawkins & Perugini’s run. With five in the can, these two are just too good to run out of ammo at this point.

Score: 4/5

(W) Patrick Foreman, Brian Hawkins
(A) Marco Perugini
(A/CA) Marcelo Henrique Santana