REVIEW: The House knows you in ‘Black Magick #3′

YOU ARE NOTICED!

Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott delve deeper on the supernatural and detective-police procedures in BLACK MAGICK #3. The latter is self-evident because the main protagonist Rowan Black, another Rucka-femme fatale creation, is a police detective who tries her best to hide her true background while investigating two gruesome crimes which concern directly to her dark and uncanny heritage. Rucka loves to balance two or so thematic subplots by making sure these interconnecting tales flow coherently and read almost flawlessly. This time around, there are neither action scenes nor the macabre moments that are prevalent in the first two chapters, but the scribe’s dialogues stand out the rest, alongside with the art. His script on the interactions of two students of the occult is both brilliantly authentic and even truly, well, Rucka-imprint—presenting women as both strong and even vulnerable at the same time. Other supporting characters in this issue also deliver, particularly the introduction of the mysterious group who may or otherwise directly involve to the main character’s predicament in the succeeding issues to come. Furthermore, there are pages that are basically wordless or silent that basically showcases the faith of Greg to his partner, Nicola Scott, on how the latter freely interprets on his scripts, especially the ritual moments.

Though Greg is one of the most superb writers in the graphic illustration nowadays, his Wonder Woman counterpart Nicola Scott continues her excellent illustrations both the cover art and the interiors. Her drawings of the city of Portsmouth are both painstakingly detailed and even well-researched to make this series more grounded and realistic. Even the interiors of one of the watering holes are drawn exquisitely with deft and care of a true excellent graphic illustrator. Moreover, she has the time to draw a televised football match and other mundane things and vehicles in the corner streets outside the said establishment, showing her commitment to finer details while many artists around opt to omit or ignore. And do not forget how the artist draws intricately the Rowan’s motorcycle, so beautifully and meticulously detailed, front and the rear sides. Not resting her laurels there, she continues her brilliant pen in illustrating the interiors of the detective’s ancestral home which has this 19th century American upper class European-inspired ambiance—bookshelves and extensive library, fireplace, the furniture, and even the big kitchen. And, her artwork in the introductory scenes of the series’ potential antagonists are simply astounding to mesmerize, including the chilling illustrations of human skulls lined up on the walls.

Most significantly, Nicola draws both female and male characters to great degree. Even cats! Similar to her artistic execution to the architectural, mechanical and trivial stuffs, her character designs remain consistently high, never flattering nor sluggishly drawn, despite the fact that this series releases on a monthly basis. The facial projections are more intricate, synchronized with the dialogues and/or Greg’s scripts, especially in the wordless pages that convey the lady’s seriousness and anxieties in performing her supernatural abilities. The coloring scheme remains the same, penciled and garnish. That is one of the best things in this series to enhance the ambiance of the supernatural. Indeed, the only digitally colorization that takes place when the ritual is complete, and Chiara Arena is the perfect colorist in that regards, most notably in presenting the colors of the detective’s eyes.

The only nitpicking I can highlight is fourfold. This issue has no action scenes which may bore some readers around. The only bloody part here is the main character’s slight bloodletting of her left index finger, nothing more or less. Story takes center stage here. There are numerous mentions of the occult and the supernatural that may irritate some religious and/or close-minded readers, so please consider this as a warning. And, not everyone has the ability to comprehend either French or German languages in regards of introducing the new potential casts here.

Regardless, Black Magick #3 may be considered as less graphic as the past previous chapters, but the storytelling of Rucka and the excellent illustrations of Scott remain the high consistency of excellence. Moreover, a new set of characters is introduced here that definitely adds some tensions and/or excitement in the succeeding chapters.