Josh Howard's timing couldn't be better. Black Harvest, his new comic title, has the same sort of conspiracy-tinged atmosphere, eerie energy and mystery as Invasion, a new ABC show that I'm told is a big hit. Howard starts things off much more calmly and simply, though, and it eases the reader into what will no doubt be a story that grows in complexity with each passing issue. This is a sexy but quiet adventure into darkness, and it's quite entertaining. Howard's style is in keeping with those of such artists as Bruce Timm, Darwyn Cooke and Mike Avon Oeming, all of which are popular in comics these days, so I have no doubt readers will be reception to his approach to visual storytelling.
The small town of Jericho, Texas, is reknowned for the Jericho Lights, an annual phenomenom that brings tourist and UFOlogists to the area in droves. Daniel Webster, the editor of an online UFO blog, travels to the area to write a story, but what he discovers instead is much stranger. He happens upon a naked 19-year-old girl, Zaya Vahn, who's been missing for three years. Webster ends up getting grilled by local law-enforcement, while hospital officials tending to Zaya quietly initiate an agenda to keep her isolated. Zaya is more than just a traumatized teen, and the first person to discover just how special she is pays the ultimate price.
Howard's Bruce Timm-inspired art tells the dark and edgy tale quite well despite the lighter, cartoony qualities of his style. That's because the Timm-esque approach lends itself well to more noir leanings as well. The tattooed and scarred vision of the Zaya character is both shockiing and sensual all at once, but the art doesn't dwell on her sexuality too much either. This isn't a cheesecake book; Howard is careful to avoid that trap. I hope he continues to do so; the industry doesn't need another Lady Death or Purgatori.
The emphasis isn't on characterization in this issue, but it's easy for the reader to relate to Daniel Webster. His passion for his work is enviable, his concern for another human being is touching and his outrage at being detained is something with which the reader can empathize. The banter between Daniel and the roadhouse bartender works quite well too. The only corny moment comes when the sheriffs play bad cop with Daniel; it was a cliched idea that didn't add much to the story. Furthermore, barking orders at a reporter when one is trying to keep things under wraps hardly makes much sense.
The real star of the issue is the sense of intrigue and mystery in which the plot is steeped. Howard succeeds in hooking the audience, fostering an insatiable curiosity to discover what has happened to Zaya and why, and what connection it might have to the Jericho Lights. I just hope the creator doesn't tip his hand too early on, and that he doesn't draw things out too long either for that matter. 8/10
