In WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #1, available from Scout Comics on August 4th, 2021, the leader of a Norse village calls on an investigator to solve a series of murders he believes were committed by a witch with a grudge.
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
The Details
- Written By: Joseph Schmalke
- Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Colors By: Joseph Schmalke
- Letters By: D.C. Hopkins
- Cover Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: August 4, 2021
Was It Good?
It was good and creepy. I’m always intrigued by stories where the characters put stock in the supernatural and the lead detective is a staunch skeptic. The clash between faith and facts can play out in so many directions, and it’s excellent fodder for conflict.
Here, the writer wastes no time confirming the supernatural exists in this world, and the conflict shifts from faith-vs-facts to the detective struggling to realign his worldview in service to finding the true murderer. It’s refreshing to see that conflict shift rather than playing on the trope as a point of dramatic tension throughout the entire story.
Magic exists. Witches (and other supernatural creatures) exist. Now, the skeptic/atheist has to wrestle with finding the killer and accepting something he’s always believed never existed. That’s a great setup.
If you hadn’t picked up on it yet, this story is set in Norse Viking times, but in truth, it’s a detective story, complete with shady clients, conflicting interests among the different characters, and (possibly) a femme fatale. The only thing missing is the money shot of the hero looking down on a damp street below as the streetlamps cast long shadows from window blinds across his face. It’s not quite full-on noir, but it gets pretty darn close.
As for the art, I like the use of rough, sketchy lines to accentuate this world’s rough, violent nature. The other high point is the use of nearly monochromatic color tones in each of the major scenes to accentuate the use of magic. It’s almost as if the comic was originally drawn in Black & White, then saturated with different color tones to highlight a different mood in each scene. Since this is a noir-ish detective story, suggesting a Black & White style suits the material well, and it’s an excellent creative choice.
There’s a lot to like in this comic, certainly enough to recommend picking it up and sticking around for issue #2.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Bjorn, a skeptic, detective, and atheist is summoned to a village by its leader, Jarl Ulf, to solve a series of murders. Five families have been slaughtered, their bodies decapitated and ritual runes placed all around the house as if a part of some ritual.
Jarl Ulf believes the murders were committed by a witch whose family he executed several years ago. He believes the witch has returned to seek revenge. Bjorn is uninterested in supernatural explanations but he agrees to solve the murders.
After examining the crime scenes, Bjorn pays the witch a visit for questioning. During the visit, the witch, Revna, shows Bjorn her powers but proclaims she had nothing to do with the murders. She offers to help Bjorn with the investigation as her spells may reveal what the runes left at the murder scenes mean.
Jarl Ulf is furious over Bjorn bringing Revna into the village but Bjorn insists he will use whatever resources he can to find the true killer. We conclude the issue with Revna casting a spell over one of the crime scenes to reveal she’s not the only magic wielder in the area, and the rituals are designed to summon something horrific.
Final Thoughts
WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #1 is an excellent blend of detective noir with a Viking twist. The story avoids common tropes to address a skeptic’s disbelief in magic, and the art is a masterclass on mood through coloring.
Score: 9/10
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com