Essex, Pax, and rookie Black Cloak Alden II Are continuing their investigation into a series of murders. Their investigation finds them in a rather dangerous underwater situation that’s only going to get worse when they get out in Black Cloak #9. Writer Kelly Thompson continues a fantasy action mystery with artist Meredith McClaren: there is a delicate balance between the different genres, which is Appleton elegantly brought to the page by the artist. The flow of action from one scene to the next seems to be rather definitely guiding the narrative into the next big revelation along the path to resolution.

There is a rather massive monster involved. And there’s a certain amount of concern. Essex and Pax have begun to uncover, which can prove to be a lot more devastating single monster, though. They have come at two and a couple of friends for help. But given the size of the problems involved, the thing is, could get really complicated for everyone. And really, it’s only a matter of time before the consequences of certain actions might begin to descend on, the investigation in a way that could jeopardize everything. And tensions grow as revelations are made.

Thompson’s dialogue goes a long way towards making this particular matchup work. If the police procedural investigation style fiction, it is meticulously placed in a very complicated and intricate fantasy world. There certainly is a lot going on with respect to it. And there certainly is a lot going on with respect to the characters. the reader is given just enough to be able to understand what’s going on on the surface level as the mystery continues. However, the world in question is just foreign enough to make it a bit of a challenge to completely connect up with. There’s an encrypted otherworldliness about the experience that can be a lot of fun.

And the script alone wouldn’t necessarily lend itself to the kind of appeal that this series has were at, not for the beauty of McLarens art. There is an earth bound reality about it that draws traditional sword and sorcery fantasy style imagery into a very real world. And this amplifies, the sense of very real drama that is occurring in and around the panels. And though there is definitely a certain amount of action being delivered to the page, Maclaren's strength lies in silent and still moments of dramatic tension. Those moments really resonate across the page.

It could be really difficult to take the rhythms of the story in episodic format. The world is so very rich and richly realize that brief little exposures to it, and that feeling more disorienting then they will win the series is collected into a trade paperback later on. certainly things are moving in a direction where it will likely be quite satisfying once everything is finally committed to the page. As for right now, it’s fascinating to get a little glimpse into this other world that seems so very well rendered.

Grade A