Black Magic

After their stellar run on Wonder Woman, writer Greg Rucka and artist Nicola Scott return to the world of Detective Rowan Black with a revealing coming-of-age story. Some family legacies are easier to bear than others, and in issue #6, Rowan’s 13th birthday party is capped off by the day’s actual main event — her awakening ceremony. It’s been more than a year since issue #5, and it was a good decision to use this flashback issue to reacquaint readers with the characters by exploring a critical period in Rowan’s history. The happy-go-lucky preteen we meet at the start of the issue is a “typical” kid enjoying her life. This naive young Rowan is quite the contrasting figure to the 33-year-old with the prevailing sense of melancholy we’ve known so far. Although her mother and grandmother adore her and have raised her in the traditions of their religion, Rowan cannot fathom the impact of the line she will cross at her awakening ceremony. Rucka deftly structured the issue as a “before and

Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott’s “Black Magick” #4 opens with a standard police procedural scene: the autopsy. Rucka’s salty dialogue draws the reader in, and Scott pulls off a tricky overhead shot with deft use of perspective and shading. Her background details also make the scene even more three-dimensional, especially the pattern on the floor and the draping of clothing. Scott and Arena’s unusual, sparing use of color is still a success in directing the reader’s attention to objects touched by magick, but — even without the color cue — Rowan’s reaction to the discovery of three stones inside Bruce Dunridge’s stomach is reason enough to take notice. Rowan’s partner on the force, Detective Morgan Chaffey, is still a flat character. He seems like a good man and a good officer, but there’s not much else to him besides his folksy manner and periodic “Are you sure you’re okay?” cluck-clucking over Rowan’s mental wellbeing. Rowan doesn’t seem to have family members nearby, and so Morgan pr

Three issues in, and Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott are taking their time with “Black Magick.” But before you think that’s a bad thing, it’s really not. What we’re getting here is a gradual entry into a world that mixes police investigations with secret magick, and a slow build that fleshes out the characters’ relationships with one another. The end result is a pleasant, inviting comic that will make readers want to see more without resorting to huge explosive moments. “Black Magick” #3 gives us a glimpse into Rowan Black’s life as she juggles her two lives: dealing with the investigation of Rowan White’s death as well as her concerned partner, while simultaneously preparing to fend off the magickal assault that is surely on its way. It’s nice to see Rowan is by no means at the top of her game in either arena, even though she’s certainly more than competent. There’s an undercurrent of tension between Rowan and her partner Morgan, one that makes it feel much more realistic than making it

Compared to the debut issue, “Black Magick” #2 by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott is much sleepier. There are no coven meetings in the woods, no hostage situation, no attempted murders, no fire, no displays of magick. The first issue focused on making a first impression with lots of dramatic action, but the second concentrates more on characterization and suspense. The lead-in is almost boring as Rowan’s boss gives the department’s morning briefing, but then Rucka smoothly segues into the first of three related subplots. There’s situational irony in how Rowan has to face a good cop, bad cop routine when she has to visit Inspectors Prestes and Bellowes in the Internal Affairs Bureau. Bellowes’ questions indicate suspicion and hostility, and Scott’s body language and facial expressions for him amplify the tension in the air. Unbeknownst to the I.A.B. or any other police, Rowan had to kill a man in self-defense, and Scott’s facial expressions also telegraph Rowan’s feelings of fear, anger,

Labeled “Occult/Suspense/Crime” on its back cover, “Black Magick” #1 delivers on all three counts. This debut issue from Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott is another solid hit for Image. Scott opens with a woodland Wiccan gathering under a pale moon as the robed figures in attendance seek balance with the world. The pale moonlight in the forest lends itself to the scene’s faded colors, which emanate luscious graytones and washes that evoke mystery and intrigue. As Chiara Arena is credited with “color assists,” it’s likely she polished Scott’s work or the two of them tag teamed. It sure seems like a collaborative effort, with no distinguishable line to say, “Scott’s work stops here and Arena’s starts there.” Visually, the collaboration between line and color doesn’t get much tighter in comics, at least not with two people working on it. Rucka gives Scott the chance to define both of Rowan Black’s worlds by starting at the Circle and interrupting religion with work. Scott is as adept draw