A Review: REDLANDS #1

The Fellowship was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of REDLANDS #1 from Image Comics. Jordie Bellaire writes and colors, Vanesa R. Del Rey draws, and Clayton Cowles letters.

It’s 1977, and the town of Redlands, FL is under siege. The sheriff and his cronies tried hanging the three witches, but it didn’t take. Now all is chaos and the cops have barricaded themselves in the town jail. They’re the type of cops that aren’t nice people, but they usually keep the order. But they have never faced anything like these women.

This is a really dark story, one where it’s really hard to tell which side is the “good guys.” The cops are painted as brutal rednecks, and the witches as vindictive and conniving. At this point it’s hard to guess where it will end (which is fun in its own way), and the art is simply fantastic (which is not surprising given the people working on it).

Rural Florida is a great place to set a dark crime story (supernatural leanings or no); hot and steamy weather, swamps everywhere for hiding evidence, and a statewide reputation for weirdness. And this book is poised to take full advantage of all of it. Get on board quickly.

REDLANDS #1 is available now from your local comic shop, or online at imagecomics.com.

~Mike ( @MikeyGeek )