Black River: No Holds Barred Crime Drama

“Your blood will run in the streets as a warning to others.”- Vigilante from Black RiverBlack River finds Alex and Vincent, small time crooks with the shipment of a lifetime: a mysterious and valuable crate of AK-47s. What follows is a rain of bullets and blood, from which no character is spared. This is a no holds barred crime drama, written by Ed Brisson, illustrated Jhomar Soriano, and colored by Dean Trippe.

When it comes to combining crime and drama, Black River gets it right. Every page sees Alex and Vincent tread down dark corridors (metaphorical and otherwise), and I gladly followed them. Indeed, before long I felt as though I knew the twists and turns of their dark city just as well as they did. And yet, Black River will pleasantly surprise readers of crime comics, and by the end, you’re not sure who is going to come out alive. Will it be Alex and Vincent, the mafia, or the crazy right wing vigilante with blades and bulletproof body armor?

Black River is brilliantly illustrated by Soriano, especially the climactic action sequence. It’s gritty pulp illustration at its finest, and reminds me of 100 Bullets, which happens to be one of my favorite series. For fans of 100 Bullets, this one-shot from 215 Ink is a must have.

While there is plenty to keep action fans turning the page, the story crafted by Ed Brisson is every bit as wonderful. The dialogue is gritty, spoken like a real life noir film, and yet Brisson manages to resist the temptation to take it over the top. The characters are believable, yet deeply intriguing, though we only see some for mere panels. Then there’s the dark, resonating ending, which will only leave you wanting more.

I wanted to know more about the main characters, because they’re so interesting, but there’s simply not enough time as they race head first into gunfire. However, that’s what makes Black River great. There’s more to this city than what runs on the surface. Indeed, Black River creates a dangerous world filled with genuinely interesting characters that fight for their place on the panel. Fans of the crime genre, can rest assured that this comic is certain to please.

You can purchase Black River from your local comic shop by giving them the Diamond Order Code: JUL 111248 or you can order it from Graphic.ly here.