In THE ELECTRIC BLACK: THE DARK CARAVAN #1, available from Scout Comics on October 13th, 2021, the latest denizens of the Black Caravan receive a history lesson on the appearance of an ancient artifact and the deadly worshipers of Kahli.
The Details
- Written By: Joseph Schmalke, Rich Woodall
- Art By: Joseph Schmalke, Rich Woodall
- Colors By: Joseph Schmalke, Rich Woodall
- Letters By: Joseph Schmalke, Rich Woodall
- Cover Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: October 13, 2021
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Was It Good?
It’s interesting in a Todd Browning’s Freaks (1932) plus Clive Barker’s Nightbreed (1990) sort of way.
We’re new to The Electric Black series, so everything in this issue is critiqued with completely fresh eyes on the material. It’s a fun little read with a few imperfections here and there.
The Black Caravan is just that — a collection of otherworldly individuals named the Children of the Moon who travel together as outcasts with a mutual interest in protection. I like the idea of misfits and killers banding together to live in peace, even if some of them aren’t very nice e.g. Jack the Ripper. These characters might be traditionally seen as evil or monsters, but their personal kinship can tip into the “misunderstood” category, and there’s a family spirit about their interactions that hold a certain charm.
During a nightly cleanup, the masked advisor gives the latest residents a history lesson via visions about the origins of a recently acquired necklace and a woman with the gift of vision. The story is interesting and is filled with disastrous consequences for a greedy sultan that gives off a Lovecraftian sense of karma to the stone’s origins. That said, the vision within a vision within a vision didn’t transition cleanly, and it was a little confusing trying to get a handle on what was going on. As the story progressed, the narrative straightened out, but it was a bumpy start.
The art could be considered good or bad, depending on your point of view. There are two artists in this book, and it definitely shows. There’s a jarring transition between the story of the mad sultan and the flashback to the Black Caravan’s encounter with the worshipers of Kahli. The necklace binds it all together, but at points, it felt like two distinct comics were spliced together. It generally works because the different art styles complement the different timeframes, but it takes some getting used to.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
A cleanup crew is lamenting they don’t have enough staff to handle chores. The masked advisor enters to explain they had much greater numbers in prior years. The explanation prompts further questions about prior residents and the group’s focus on a recently reacquired necklace. The masked advisor casts a vapory vision to weave a tale about how the Black Caravan first acquired the necklace and its malignant origins.
Centuries ago, a prideful sultan sent his guards out into the nearby desert to retrieve a meteor that recently crashed to Earth. The meteor was first seen as a gift from heaven, but the meteor whispered into the minds of the people, soon driving them mad. The sultan ordered the meteor be carried away and sealed in a cavern, but a small piece was kept and turned into a necklace that whispers in the mind of its wearer.
Later the Black Caravan traveled through a remote town and an old mind offered to sell the necklace to Erebus. The masked advisor confirmed the story of its origin as true, and Erebus agree to the purchase. Before the Black Caravan left, the advisor advised Erebus to purchase one of the old man’s slave girls because she had the gift of sight. The old man agreed only after receiving a high offer, but he secretly planned to steal the slave girl back later that night.
We conclude the issue with the old man and his soldiers visiting the Black Caravan unannounced, the unwelcome visitors finding much more than they bargained for, and the slave girl’s visions put to the test.
Final Thoughts
THE ELECTRIC BLACK: THE DARK CARAVAN #1 is a macabre, surreal foray into the travels of misfits and outcasts encountering evil men and meting out dark justice. The story within a story within a story concept is novel albeit a little confusing to grasp in the transitions. The art works well for the material, although the multiple artists make the transitions between story threads more jarring than they already are. It’s an interesting story and concept that’s worth picking up.
Score: 8/10
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