The Wolf and the Crow #1
Written by Dan Gordon
Art and Lettering by Ismael Hernandez
Published by Action Lab Entertainment / Danger Zone
‘Rama Rating: 8 out of 10
There’s a lot going on in The Wolf and the Crow #1, all of it interesting. The tale of a prehistoric tribe led by an aging chief and plagued by dissension among its once tight-knit ranks, The Wolf and the Crow #1 explores the shifting dynamic of a family anxious for change and layers on an unsettling supernatural mystery. Chief Brod struggles to lead his rambunctious hunters, and struggles to hunt, further sowing seeds of dissent and dissatisfaction every time they return with too little food to go around.
Writer Dan Gordon manages to keep a thematically heavy script extremely readable. There’s a tendency with historical works to lean extremely heavy on what’s perceived to be era-appropriate language (and lettering) which can bog down a story very quickly, but Gordon keeps his language and writing straightforward and “modern” without getting anachronistic. His writing makes the Lotari tribe relatable and the story easy to follow, spotlighting the family dynamics and the lurking dangers in the woods surrounding their home rather than getting hung up on driving the home the setting at the expense of developing other aspects of the plot.
Artist and letterer Ismael Hernandez’s work really shines here – there’s something ethereal and timeless about his art, which leans into earthy colors without ever getting too murky, for the most part. Close-up shots are impeccable, and Hernandez does a stellar job of imbuing the wide range of character designs here with their own distinct body language and expressive quirks. This doesn’t shine through quite as well in the wide shots or shots with multiple figures in frame. We’re still learning who’s who in this issue, and at times faces become too indistinct to be able to confidently pick out who’s talking or featured in the frame. There are a couple of moments where the lettering gets similarly indistinct, in more crowded panels, with speech bubbles laid out in a way that makes it tricky to match it to the speaker.
Thematically, The Wolf and the Crow #1 is a long way off from a “cozy mystery,” yet somehow manages to have a similar energy – it’s a straightforward and engaging read, with a cast of characters Gordon throws you in the middle of and manages to make you care about in very short order, and just enough “hey, what?” plot elements to keep you hooked. Hernandez delivers beautiful sweeping shots of flora and fauna long forgotten, and at least in the debut issue the two manage to emphasize the harrowing aspects of living in close quarters hunt-to-hunt without lingering too long on the more gruesome moments. If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path to explore during isolation, The Wolf and the Crow #1 is a compelling new series that’s definitely worth your time.