When you are writing … it’s best to remain impartial.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Umberto Giampà
Colors: Fran Gamboa with J.C. Ruiz
Letters: Fabio Amelia
What They Say:
The Black Dahlia is one of the most famous unsolved crimes of the twentieth century. Some experts think she was murdered by a serial killer, others think it was a crime of passion. As a modern-day investigator digs deeper into the case, she uncovers the sinister truth behind this murder… and she comes to wish she had heeded the cryptic warnings to leave it alone.
Content: (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Jill has always been a tenacious writer and when she is caught up in a project she cannot avoid delving too deeply into the story and loosing track of everything else. This is what happens when she becomes obsessed with her current book concerning serial killers and one in particular, an especially violent murderer locals have dubbed the Detroit Slasher. It is with this perseverance whereby she injects herself into the present investigation by paying lead Detective Spencer a visit, one which she did not reserve or ask for permission before barging into his office. However as the investigator reiterates his stance on not having any information he can share with Ms. Casey, she still manages to push for new facts including confirmation of reports concerning four murders within the Gridaxle Farms neighborhood, all attributed to the Slasher. However as he once again denies any ties to those killings and turns to begin escorting the annoying woman to the door, as his back is turned the clever girl snaps a quick picture of the policeman’s breakdown of the latest crime, including the address of the homicide.
As Jill summoned her courage by going over the facts by dictating her notes into her cell, it did not take long before she carefully snuck into the abandoned house where the latest murder took place. The location looked as decrepit as the run down neighborhood so there was no surprise to the intrepid girl, however once she found the crime scene it was her moment to be shocked by details left absent from news reports. While the excessive amount of violence was not surprising for the ghastly murder, what did stun her was the grisly note the killer left in the victim’s blood taunting the police to catch him. But as she snapped photos of the evidence, there was one thing she spotted which the investigators left behind, a journal hidden underneath a dust cover which seemed out of place with everything else in disarray. However as Casey picked up her ill gotten prize, the sudden creak of squeaky floorboards alerted the writer she was not alone, prompting a quick exit from a broken window. Although Jill did successfully flee the scene with her stolen clue, the intruder in question watched in silence as she sped away wondering what they should do … and whether they follow or leave the writer alone for another time.
In Summary:
While the premise of the issue is familiar, that of a reporter/writer going to any lengths to chase down a story, it is the twist ending from Joe Brusha which makes this an interesting finale for the volume. It is intriguing to watch Jill become obsessed in her research, tracking down similarities from other serial killers all while concentrating on the current Detroit Slasher, but at the same time these hints also gave nod to a bigger conspiracy for the reader. Although we may have not known about the underlying premise which tied all of the murders together, Brusha does a great job in creating a narrative which makes the audience want to go back and see what they missed once the tale is over. Only after the reveal does the narrative take on greater meaning, meshing the clues which we saw before but now with greater insight, allowing for understanding of how and why he crafted the story in this manner. Although the typewriter narrative felt like I was reading to the opening monologue from Law & Order, it is this attitude which sets the mood for the development of the character and her overzealous manner of chasing down her story, but at the same time it is this personality which gets her into trouble. You knew once Jill started digging deeper the inevitable would happen, but that doesn’t mean the conclusion was any less enjoyable for the readers … and not for our heroine.
Given this type of narrative it is fitting the illustrations of Umberto Giampà wonderfully display a setting which feels gritty from the start, showing the reader from the opening splashes that we are in for a tale which will not hold back on gruesomeness in order to present a psychological horror, instead allowing us to get ready for the gore which this type tale deserves. But what grimly sets the mood are the somber colors of Fran Gamboa and J.C. Ruiz, casting a foreboding shadow upon the bleak artwork all while allowing us to become adjusted to crimson undertones so that the tension builds up over the breadth of the book, even during the lighthearted moments with Jill and her white panel framing. It is this coordination of artistic talents which creates the nostalgia of watching a great murder mystery, something akin to an old fashion private eye movie except it is in not black and white, but at the same time the fervor of our heroine’s tenacity concentrates every moment with marvelous results. This is how you build a horror story, not with overabundant scares but with small introductions of minute elements, allowing each component to compound the ones before until they manifest into a diorama which is more than the sum of their parts, making for an issue which is a masterpiece unto itself.
It is appropriate for this volume of Grimm Tales of Terror to conclude with a fascinating drama which allows for story and illustrations to coalesce into a story wonderfully fitting for the title. While the entirety of the run did have a few bumps in the road, a majority of the narratives did make for frightening tales which allow for a success in the overall scheme of the series. It is with these fond memories do we look forward to seeing how they will top this run and wonder with bated breath as to how this franchise can improve in the near future.
Grade: A-
Volume Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: March 13, 2019
MSRP: $3.99