Redlands, Vol. 1

Eisner Award–winning colorist Bellaire’s debut writing effort is a stellar feminist occult horror comic. The first volume takes place in rural Florida, where a coven took over the town of Redlands in 1977 “to make new, through sacrifice.” In present day, the coven is Redlands’ police force, attempting to maintain control in the wake of a serial killer’s rampage. Laurent, a friend and ally of the coven since the ’70s, finds the killer, decapitates him, and feeds him to alligators. During this battle, a witch named Bridget almost drowns and becomes possessed by Nancy, a dead sex worker forced into servitude by the monstrous pimp Zuzu. Bridget grants Nancy permission to use her body and track down her former captor. The spine-tingling adventure is filled with examples of sexual harassment, such as a principal propositioning one of his female students for sex, adding emotional terror to the spooky mix. Monsters abound, but even the supernatural characters evoke humanity and empathy. Del Rey’s fine-lined watercolor-style art makes even gore look gorgeous and sets an ominous mood which elevates the suspense. This dark campfire tale is both politically relevant and terrifying. (Apr.)