PopCultHQ

PopCultHQ received a review copy of CANARY TPB from Dark Horse Comics. From Best Jackett Press & Dark Horse Books, this collected edition is available on July 9th (bookstores) & July 10th (comic book shops). The creative team for this trade paperback features writing by Scott Snyder, art and colors from Dan Panosian, and letters by Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith of Comicraft.

In 1884 a mine collapsed into itself. What was the dark substance found 666 feet underground? Blending modern horror, historical fact and Western lore, Scott Snyder and Dan Panosian have created a uniquely terrifying thriller with Canary.

During the final days of the Gold Rush, one mining company in Utah pulled up radioactive Uranium, and then the mine then collapsed in on itself. Legends sprung up about the mine being cursed or even haunted.

Now the Frontier is closed and the gold and silver mines have dried up. The country is becoming “civilized,” and yet, in one stretch of the Rocky Mountains, a terrifying, new kind of violence is suddenly emerging. Random killings. People going mad and murdering neighbors and classmates without real cause. When a schoolboy kills his teacher with a hatchet, a famous federal marshal named Azrael William Holt is called in to investigate the killings. What he and a brilliant young geologist uncover is stranger and more horrifying than anything they could have ever imagined.

---

In the modern age of comics, various genres have seen a new leash on life that is astounding. Two that have taken off in a big way again are Westerns and horror. And whether things bump in the night or heroic cowpokes conquer the West, fans have a smorgasbord of reading materials. This latest trade paperback from Dark Horse combines both in a way that utterly blew this reviewer’s mind. So saddle up, folks, and remember to lock your doors… it’s time to head out!

WRITING

Scott Snyder has always been one of my favorite writers. During his tenure on Batman at DC Comics, Snyder produced story arcs that I shall never forget. His skill for fleshing out characters, old and new, cemented a permanent place in comics history, so stumbling upon this TPB was a delightful surprise. Furthermore, Scott’s blending of classic tropes associated with the West with a genuinely frightening horror story made me put it down for a bit before finishing the TPB because it was that good and actually scared me as a reader. Everyone will get an absolute kick out of this script from one of the finest modern writers in the industry.

ART & COLORS

As much as it will surprise the faithful followers of my reviewers, I do not know about every creative active in the biz. So when I say that Dan Panosian’s work as both artist and colorist for this book caught me off-guard, it is meant in a good way. As an introduction to this fellow’s work, it was a real blow-the-doors-off situation. There is rich detail for everything: people, landscapes, action sequences, all of it. And that goes double for the coloring, too. The palette was gritty and shadow-like as if the hues conveyed a constant haze that hung over the Rockies and the mission Marshall Holt was on. A gosh darn fine job from Dan, that’s what this is.

LETTERING:

In the past, I have clarified my feelings about Richard Starkings and his work as a letterer. Sometimes, it is excellent, and other times, it falls flat. What’s more, it is as if the gentleman flip-flops on his duties and struggles with making good choices for fonts to convey emotion. However, in partnering with Tyler Smith, the lettering was excellent this time. Every character had a voice, and the monsters and spooky scenes gave me a genuine shiver. That is the kind of reaction readers want from letterers, and this was a welcome change of pace. My hat goes off to Richard and Tyler for a terrific collaboration.

Overall Assessment:

Dark Horse has a long reputation for putting out top-quality work that transcends the boundaries of imagination; superheroes, fantasy, sci-fi – the list of worlds and tales goes on and on. It is the first time I’ve encountered a Western horror adventure as a reader and, in my experience, it can either be a success or a dud. Thankfully, this is a check in the success column. Fans of both story types will enjoy this TPB and also want to read it with the lights on because, quite frankly, the monsters inside are a true terror indeed. So do not delay… round up a copy of Canary right away.

PopCultHQ Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

---