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Review: ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ #1

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With two charming and engaging protagonists, “Dead Boy Detectives” #1 is just as eerie as it is endearing. Making their way past the pages of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” the dead boys are back with a brand new mystery. Kicking off to a great start, readers will certainly join in the boys’ supernatural adventure as they wander between living and the dead.

WRITTEN BY: Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham
ART BY: Mark Buckingham
PUBLISHER: Vertigo Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: December 31st, 2013

Though Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland died under mysterious circumstances, they didn’t let death ruin their friendship. Rather than enter the afterlife, they decided to stick around as ghosts, solving mysteries in their spare time. Now they stumble upon their latest case, an art heist involving Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” What was supposed to be a robbery gone horribly wrong suddenly turns into an investigation to their troubled past. Edwin and Charles will have to face something horrible they have avoided for so very long. They will have to solve the mystery of their own deaths.

What I really enjoyed about the narrative is how writers Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham are able to balance the dark themes with a witty sense of humor. As ghosts, Edwin and Charles are hovering over a young girl as her dying life withers away. The boys listen patiently to the monitors as the young girl’s heartbeat begins to fade away. As the plot progresses, Edwin pokes fun at Charles because his crushes always seem to end in disaster. Edwin and Charles are so used to death, they accept the reality that people come and go in their lives.

What I find really surprising is how Litt and Buckingham are able to add a tinge of suspense to the story. Because Edwin and Charles are ghosts, as readers we expect nothing bad to happen to them. It’s the living part that frightens Charles and Edwin to the core. We see glimpses of their past lives and how it was really a horrible mess. The dead boys have lived a better life in death than when they were alive. Charles and Edwin have something to fear, which will affect their dynamic.

In the opening pages, Buckingham delivers an action-packed art heist that will definitely hook readers right in. During the quick-paced robbery, a helicopter swoops in as armed gunmen steal the famous painting. Not wanting the thieves to get away, Edwin and Charles dive in recklessly to get the painting back. It’s a lot of fun just to see Charles and Edwin, who are these punk kids, as action heroes.

My favorite of Buckingham’s illustrations is the splash page of the young girl’s surreal trip to the afterlife. As she lies on her hospital bed, the night sky opens up and starts snowing. With a bright color scheme, Lee Loughridge uses the white hues to make the rats pop out on the snowy floor. The black inks by Gary Erskine highlight the girl and her hospital bed as she is surrounded by darkness.

An enjoyable fun read, “Dead Boy Detectives” #1 is a great introduction for newcomers to the teen sleuths. With a new cast member to keep things interesting, I can’t wait to see what happens between Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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