By James Robinson & Paul Johnson (Escape/Titan Books)
ISBN: 978-1-85286-157-5
When this was released in 1989 many people remarked that it was great to see a graphic narrative that didn’t easily fall into a well-worn industry pigeon-hole. Many more hoped that the blend of the traditional and the innovative would lead to a grand new age of great graphic novels. Whilst we still aren’t at that point yet, this slim volume nonetheless still stands out as a superb piece of story-telling well worth your attention.
It is the height of the Blitz and the Capital of the British Empire is being pounded and burned by the Luftwaffe. But even incendiary hell cannot deter criminals with a quick profit in mind. When a Black Marketeer has second thoughts and is murdered for them, it results in an unlikely romance between Air Raid Warden Jack Brookes and professional Medium Sophie Heath.
Good natured Jack thinks he’s stopping a swindler but soon falls head over heels with the exotic and fearfully convincing spiritualist, who is in contact with the unquiet ghost of the dead man. But Jack’s inept investigation has turned over a few rocks and the murderers are still out there…
Atmospheric black and white art and a light touch with period dialogue make this a surprisingly enjoyable read (despite the admitted fact that the creators were learning their craft on the job) and the blend of war-story, murder-mystery and true romance – albeit with supernatural overtones – is one that has even greater resonance today. This is a book in dire need of re-release.
© 1989 James Robinson and Paul Johnson. All Rights Reserved.