Comic Review: Joe Golem Occult Detective #1

I have to say, the story has a good hook to it. Before I knew it I was totally caught up in the world that Mike MIgnola and Christopher Golden had created. What was even a bigger surprise to me was how the look of the comic was almost perfect. When you put these two together you have a very well done comic.

The setting is what you might call an alternate universe/history of the year 1965. We find part of Manhattan flooded and under water, kind of an American version of a Venice style of city, complete with canals. It is in this bleak looking setting we meet occult detective Joe Golem, who has a strange, dream filled relationship with a man named Mr. Church, who has lived a long life by combining magic and mechanisms from the world of steampunk.

Of course, when any crime being investigated as the word ‘occult’ attached to it, you know things are going to go sideways quickly. Writers Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden have set up this series perfectly with this wonderful story that is part occult, part horror and a whole lot of weird. The dialogue is sharp and smart and the reader becomes interested quickly in the characters and what’s going on around them.

The artwork by Patric Reynolds is even more impressive due to what he has to create. This dull and gloomy world has to be part fantasy, part reality and he does this to perfection, capturing the eerie and foreboding atmosphere that is hanging over this water filled city. The grainy look and feel to each panel is wonderfully done and reels the reader right in to the mood coming of these pages.

A problem I see quite often with these mini-series is a lack of clear direction but this comic seems to have a purpose from start to end which bodes well for the issues to follow in this five part series. There is a great feeling of tension that builds continuously from page to page, making the reader really wonder what’s going to happen next.

Without a doubt, this was a great beginning and really has me guessing what’s coming up in the next few issues. The talent behind this series is at its best and I highly recommend you pick it up on your next trip to the comic store.

Four and a half stars out of five