Blackwood: The Mourning After #1: The Rice Krispie Debate

Blackwood: The Mourning After #1 throws the reader right into the story. Those who followed the first chapter will not be lost at all. Those who are new will be able to pick it right up. To start, the writing is very inviting. There are a lot of characters but it never feels overwhelming. Evan Dorkin makes the supernatural feel natural. Something I really admire about Dorkin’s writing is his dialogue between the younger characters. There are a couple instances that feel so natural I wouldn’t be surprised if Dorkin used actual conversations between people.

I loved the coloring of this issue. There is a lot of color for such a dark book, so hats off to Veronica and Andy Smith. Going back through the issue, I can’t find a misplaced color. There are neon and pastel colors all soaked in black shadows. You don’t expect these types of colors in a book about a supernatural college but now I can’t imagine one without.

The absolute highlight of Blackwood: The Mourning After #1 was the discussion around rice krispie treats. The debate over homemade or store bought rice krispies is never ending and extremely relatable. Everyone knows homemade rice krispie treats are better. Everyone except for Stephen, who prefers the premade ones. I adore moments like these in comics. I think every group of friends has one friend who prefers the store bought ones. Yes, they are convenient, but they are so easy to make at home! What I loved about these panels is that readers can immediately connect with the characters. I already feel like I’m part of the gang.