Bottom image by Jun Tsuboike/NPR

For the pious Puritans of early America, witchcraft was a crime of the highest order.

Back then, the term “witch hunt” was not just an expression: In 1692, 19 women and men were hanged and one pressed to death with stones after being found guilty of witchcraft.

In her book The Witches, author Stacy Schiff follows the buildup of fear and outrageous tales of consorting with the devil. The witch trials were set in motion by two young Salem girls in the grip of strange and disturbing symptoms.

“Their limbs are paralyzed, they contort, they’re going into trances, and they’re screaming — night and day, screeches,” Schiff tells NPR’s Renee Montagne. “And one of their first acts after the witchcraft has been diagnosed is to interrupt a minister in meeting. And you can imagine how that went over in a place where women were meant to be submissive and meek and silent.”

Check out the interview here.

Black Magick #1 was released on October 28, 2015. It is drawn by Nicola Scott with color assists by Chiara Arena. The story is written by Greg Rucka, lettered by Jodi Wynne and is edited by Jeanine Schaefer.

A leading woman by Greg Rucka that you have no fear of holding up as an example of what women in comics should be is a no brainer. There are whole lists dedicated to the writer who takes the time to make sure he gets things right, and then still wrings his hands with worry wanting to be sure he his being fair, honest and sincere in his portrayals. If you doubt this at all go find any podcast he has been on, or walk up an ask him at a convention yourself. Being a white male who writes mostly women leads is something he knows can be easily screwed up and does not take for granted. It’s this diligence that has helped him create an undeniable stronghold of characters that can be shining examples of complex women in comics.

Now, have a writer like that collaborate with some of the most talented women in comics. There were plenty of assumptions about the quality of Black Magick before it ever hit the stands. The final result does not disappoint.

While easy to pass over on a glancing read through, Scott does not shy away from nudity of men or women during a coven’s circle at the beginning of the story. While plenty of reviews will gush about the lush landscapes, the dark and foreboding nature of ink wash style coloring, and vivid detailed expressions, I’m just sitting back thinking, “It’s nice Scott was honest and showed everybody’s stuff, and is not just selling the boobs.” 

As the story progresses you see touches of pinks and reds, used to highlight the dramatic, intense and important. It’s a calling card used in many great books. One of the most popular books that uses color selectively and well is Fatale. Rucka has spoken about his love for these books. However, it is a style that has been used by many creative teams (If you need another great example see Bedlam, and I love it and wish it was used more often. Scott and Arena’s use here helps readers identify magic and magic users throughout the story.

See the blushing cheeks of Rowan Black, above? Black is trying to balance her personal and professional life. It just so happens that her professional life is as a police detective while her personally life and beliefs are part of this group of witches shown in the opening pages. A single panel of dialogue between her and a partner on the force show that her coworkers are unaware of her religion or personal past times.

The transition between the pages featuring the circle and noir aesthetic of Black on the job at work are buffered by a few clever transitions. The circle is presented as feeling ancient and sacred. However, modern day interruptions create a light-hearted, almost sardonic moment. It feels as if this is could very easily be a problem in modern circle meetings. I, personally, attribute this feeling or contribution to editor Jeanine Schaefer. As she reveals in a background essay at the end of the first issue, the editor has had experience with the religious practice. I like to believe that her involvement is providing the contributions to real life moments and the believable reactions of those involved.

The other transition comes from Scott’s amazing two page layout sequence of Black’s arrival to a hostage situation. The image of Black on a motorcycle is charged and powerful. The no-nonsense dialogue makes you instantly slip into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deadly situation.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the total creep-factor of what is happening over these next few pages. I feel like the weight of the situation could be lost on some people.

What unfolds is something beyond unnerving. You have a man who has decided to commit a violent act, all to gain Black’s attention. However, nobody can understand why. She’s not a politician, newscaster or even the chief of her precinct. Yet, she has been targeted. You cannot just write this off as some plot point. This is a terrifying situation, even if you’re a badass cop.

What I cannot believe is what I missed the first time I read this story. It wasn’t until after the partial reveal of who this character is and what was driving him to his crime that I went backed and noticed clues and hints that were provided in the art. It’s a subtle form of storytelling that helps you instantly put the pieces together just when the time is right. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy this form of color work on comics so much. It draws you eye in to just the right places at key moments. 

It’s important to note that while Rowan is placed in vulnerable situations and given expressions of fear, she’s never reduced to a stereotype. She’s not an overly confident or arrogant detective who knows she will be okay no matter what happens. She’s not simpering or cowering in fear. She’s a balanced representation of a human who has walked into dangerous circumstances,  while slowly revealing that perhaps she is the person to be feared, not the aggressor. In this manner it has a familiar vibe to Rucka’s other works such as Lazarus or Veil. Here Scott’s dynamic and detailed art really drive home the classic noir feeling of the story that has crossed the boundaries of the genre. 

Once the issue is over, you’re left to question just what is about to unfold in future issues. Plenty of mysteries have been set-up. With any good crime book, you cannot reveal those in issue one, even when magic is involved.

The elements after the story are just as intriguing. There is a spell from the family’s grimoire, a family tree, an essay describing a witch burning, Schaefer’s essay about how she got involved in the project as well as her own history with attending Circle, plus lots of letters from Valkyries who got a sneak peek at the book before it was published. It feels like there is a whole second book at the end of story! Plus the irreverence of the creative teams biographies lets you know just how much they’re going to put up or care about anything from anyone. It’s refreshing.

October has been giving us some spooky new comics and we have some more today. So let’s go to this weeks Treats.

I have been so excited for this book since it was announced last year. First its Rucka who is one of my favorite comic writers. And now add Nicola Scott one of my favorite artists. Add in female protagonist and short clear pitch “She’s a witch! She’s a cop! The future is in her hands (along with that badge)” and a creepy and funny opening moving into a tense showdown and you have a strong first issue. Rucka is known for his commitment to building his worlds (see Lazarus) and multfaceted female characters (see his Question,Batwoman, Dex Parios, Wonder Woman etc.) and his provides both here. Scott is known for being able to balance both action and character work and here she mixes things up by using watercolors. If I have nits with this first issue is that it was too short. 

I caught up with the original first run of this recently and it was, despite my fervent desire to not read it, very good. Marvel is slapping #1 on their post “WTF was that Secret Wars thingy” so you may want to pick this up. I’ve been impressed with just about everything Bennett has written and it also Stephanie Hans on art. The first run was very LGBT friendly, I assume this is too.

The best all ages comic with a female lead is back. 

It’s wedding day for Jo and Alysia and Babs has LOTS of things she has to do. a very fun issue. Batgirl disappointed some LGBT readers last year. This issue may be one to pick up if it did and you haven’t been reading. 

I love Dick Grayson and I love this book. 

Nicola is doing a week-long countdown running up to the release of BLACK MAGICK #1, ON SALE NEXT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, showing off some sneak-peeks.

Ten points to Gryffindor for help with witchy puns she can use to label them.

Obtain wax cubes and a warmer (available where candles are sold). Warm the wax and melt it so it’s a pool, then let it cool into a flat surface. Carve your sigils into the wax, set your intentions, charge sigil, and then turn on the warmer/burn a tea light in the warmer. Sigil is activated as it is destroyed by melting.

Bonus: wax cools to a flat surface, making it reusable so you don’t waste materials!