February 6, 2023
In his first solo graphic novel series, Crook (the Tales from Harrow County series) launches a warped supernatural fantasy featuring a grumpy old man who possesses a stolen sword. Howard Abraham was a young boy when his church granted him an “ancient sword... stolen from the god” prophesied to “strike the blow that ends heresy” as they attack a local cult. Howard proves ill-equipped, however, leaving him the lone survivor of the battle. He pretends to lose the sword and spends the next hundred years in hiding, until his young neighbor, the orphaned Guadalupe, starts raving about a magpie. When the bird appears to possess Guadalupe’s uncle, Howard attempts to gather the courage he couldn’t as a child to help her destroy the creature, but revealing the sword’s existence proves catastrophic and the duo are forced go on the run. There’s sparky chemistry between the characters, and Crook puts a nifty supernatural twist on the old meets young friendship tale while mixing mediums including vibrant watercolors, gauche, and inks for a unique, textural feel. Readers will be eager for the next installment.