Abbott: 1973 (2021), Issue 2

Starred review from October 15, 2018
There's no one better than Elena Abbott to cover hard-hitting stories for the Detroit Daily in 1972, and, while her editor tries hard to protect her, the paper's board isn't too keen on a brilliant, tenacious, and commanding black journalist writing about police brutality and systemic racism. So when a tip about a deeply weird series of mutilated animals and inexplicably brutal murders, neither of which the police are investigating, leads her to a well-connected classics professor, the board uses her confrontation with the scholar (and their unmitigated prejudice, of course) as a justification for firing her. But there's something bigger, stranger, and more hellish going on in Detroit, and Abbott is unwittingly right in the middle. Kivel� beautifully renders the story in dynamic page layouts and compellingly fluid panel borders, filling the backgrounds with recognizable Detroit architecture, sharp and expressive characters, and grotesque body horror perfectly suited to the noir-tinged supernatural mystery. Jason Wordie's electric colors, particularly the garish purple and curly black shadows emanating from anything otherworldly, give stunning depth to the art. And amid Abbott's investigation into the paranormal occurrences, Ahmed weaves cutting commentary about racism, microaggressions, and gentrification, while snippets of Abbott's articles scattered throughout the pages provide evocative context for the political, cultural, and economic realities of Detroit in the '70s. Smart writing, gorgeous artwork, and a vibrant hero with captivating depth make this a series to watch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)