Writer: Ales Kot
Artist: Matt Taylor
Colorist: Lee Loughridge

Wolf is the latest in a lineup of comics released by writer Ales Kot at Image Comics, following the recent releases of Material, The Surface, and the conclusion of Zero. Now a synopsis of Wolf requires a bit of a preface on my part: I have to say, I’m never quite a sucker for supernatural stories. In theory, they should be accessible, but they’re either too rooted on over-explaining the mechanics of magic, or simply get lost in a sea of incomprehensible jargon and hoodoo. Wolf manages to give a working idea on the existence of the supernatural in an ever-so-slightly grimmer version of L.A, and it does so without getting lost in those two aforementioned faults. The main character is Antoine Wolfe, a street magician who gets mixed up in events that lead him deeper and darker into a more noirish version of L.A.

The closest point of comparison for the series as presented in the first issue is more or less the classic Hellblazer.  While Wolfe is involved in street magic, he’s rough, but not toxic like John Constantine. The series does manage to evoke a similar tone as the early Hellblazer issues:  rooting deep into the underbelly of human nature; the demons (both metaphorical and figurative) that surround them; and that unique Ales Kot brand of decoding what makes humans tick via contact with the supernatural. Matt Taylor also does a great job of distinguishing Wolf from other comics on the market these days with a more minimal and far less lavish style reflecting the more subdued version of L.A.  It also helps in selling the more noir-ish setting that’s married with the supernatural events of the story. It bears mentioning that while John Constantine (again for the easy reference) is a white British man, Wolfe is a bi-racial ex-soldier. While it might be a small difference, it helps sell the many differences from Hellblazer.  While John may have been a relevant working class Brit in the 80’s, Wolfe is a more appropriate character for 2015 in the western United States.

I’d like to give props to Lee Loughridge, who’s work I first saw on the fellow Image book Deadly Class. While colorists are by far one of the most important pieces in the puzzle of comics production, more often than not they’re the unsung heroes. While I’m not saying anything new here, Loughridge’s work deserves more attention since his colors are a large part of what sells the issue. The colors and the art give definition to the book, from the attention grabbing man on fire and the oranges of the cover, to the constant shifts in tone.  You’re definitely getting a pro at work here.

That being said, the economics are certainly worthwhile as well.  While Wolf is $4.99, you’re not left wanting for content. While a lot of books are baselining at $3.99, more often than not, they’re heading towards a 20-22 page count. Wolf gives you around 3 times the page count, and you’re definitely not getting a rushed story in that regard. While comics have had plenty of furor recently over the economics of page count, the inclusion of more diverse characters, and the diversity of content, Wolf had an answer for all 3.  You’re getting a top tier team hitting the ground running, and you have a chance to pick up from the word go.

5 out of 5 Burning Men

Review by Slewo