REVIEW: Dark Blood #1 is an Intriguing and Solid Start to a New Series

Dark Blood #1 – Review

In this fast past first issue to a new six-issue series, Dark Blood #1 sees an ordinary young Black man discover extraordinary abilities under trying circumstances. The series is written by LaToya Morgan, illustrated by Walt Barna, coloured by A.H.G. and lettered by Andworld Design.

Alabama, 1955. Avery Aldridge is an ordinary young Black man and a decorated World War II veteran who provides for his wife and daughter. But wounds of the past have a way of coming back, and Avery Aldridge will soon discover he is anything but ordinary… After a run-in awakens strange new abilities, Avery’s about to become more powerful than he could have ever dared to dream… in a country and society that never wanted him to have any power.

Dark Blood #1 is published by Boom! Studios and is available from July 21st 2021.

*REVIEW: Dark Blood #1 is an Intriguing and Solid Start to a New Series*

Dark Blood #1 – Story

Dark Blood #1 shifts between two primary timelines, Alabama 1955, Night of the Variance, and 1945, Ten Years Before the Variance, each highlighting their part to Avery’s story. In 1955, at the height of the Jim Crow Era, Avery, after leaving a diner, is confronted by Mr Case, who racially abuses him while holding a gun in his face. While in 1945, set during Avery’s service in World War II, Avery finds himself in dire circumstances after losing control of his plane.

Dark Blood throws us straight into its hook rather than giving the reader a dense backstory. Avery is a man with superpowers, but whether these powers are a result of the variance mentioned in the captions or not it is unclear. My thoughts lead to the latter because Avery is aware of his powers in his confrontation with Mr Case and can utilise them to his advantage. So, it is my feeling that the point of variance has yet to unfold. Instead, the writer leaves room for further issues to explore how he got his power, how he will use it, and the meaning of the variance.

In 1945, we see Avery during his service as a fighter pilot in World War II, where he is forced to eject from his plane after it is shot at, and he loses control. Because the story switches between these two timelines at the height of tension in each scene, it hooks the reader into the conflict.

This first issue gives us a solid premise and hook but doesn’t yet have enough content to dive deep into its story. Nevertheless, it’s a great start to a new series with many avenues of intrigue presented to us, and only time will tell if it all successfully lands.

REVIEW: Dark Blood #1 is an Intriguing and Solid Start to a New Series 1

REVIEW: Dark Blood #1 is an Intriguing and Solid Start to a New Series 2

Dark Blood #1 – Art

Dark Blood has a mostly two-tone colour pallet; warm blues, oranges, and browns in striking contrast to each other. And while there is nothing particularly remarkable about the panelling, it flows together well, with timeline shifts often happening on the page turn to make the transition seamless for the reader and action flowing from panel to panel in a winding up of tension. Walt Barna’s art is clean, saturated, and flows throughout the issue delivering a pleasant reading experience, with texture and styling choices that invoke the 50s and 60s era comics.

Of the variant covers available, Juni Ba’s is the most striking, invoking 50s cartoons while delivering a commentary of the lives of middle-class white Americans compared to Black Americans at the time. Striking directly at the themes of this series.

Dark Blood #1 – Conclusion

While Dark Blood #1 only scratches the surface of the series potential, it sets up an intriguing plot that has a noticeable social commentary angle. Only further issues will tell if it can exceed the solid start it has given us. However, with beautiful art and a solid hook Dark Blood is a series to watch out for.