Comic Review: Dayblack #5

Written and Illustrated: Keef Cross
Publisher: Rosarium
Release Date: RIGHT NOW

Look, I'll be honest. I love DayBlack. It's one of my favorites and I await every new issue eagerly ever since I saw Merce climb out of his coffin. Things keep getting better with hopes for a movie running at an all time high. Who wouldn't want to see a DayBlack movie? If you say no, leave a comment so we can have a civilized discussion about why you're wrong. If you haven't been following the story so far, for some crazy reason, Merce is a vampire and a former slave. He currently works as a tattoo artist but that's been jeopardy due to a crazy set of circumstances, including but not limited to: Adopted son who is a Vampire hunter, being a narcoleptic, vampire hunters who aren't related to him and so on.


Things don't actually get any better this issue either. In this issue Merce recounts the tale of almost losing his virginity to a woman named Nell, before his girlfriend was murdered, by his psychotic brother, in the middle of sex. To make things worse his brother Bryce has shown up at the shop in present day. Not only is he now stronger than Merce, he's brought Nell along with him and claims to have learned secrets from their deceased mother.

The big point of this issue is Bryce showing up. Bryce is really the opposite of Merce in every way. Merce prefers not to kill, instead stealing blood while doing tattoos. Meanwhile Bryce is basically the world's boldest serial killer. Merce has Mos Def stickers on his coffin, Bryce is an Odd Future fan. The contrast is not only interesting it can be somewhat jarring. Not in a way that makes you uncomfortable, just in a way that surprises you. Additionally Nell showing up after being split in two by Bryce also leaves you with questions.

That's one thing Keef Cross does really well, like better than most people. He leaves you with questions, and wondering what happens next. It draws you in and keeps your interest. But, at the same time he doesn't just force a cliff hanger in. You aren't left wondering if Character X is really dead and if Character Y is really a double agent. He's able to create a story that is straightforward with no unbelievable twists or turns that can sour people. It's a pleasing story to read, sure it's a cliff hanger like majority of comics, but it's not an artificial one and that's what makes it so great.

There's honestly no reason you shouldn't be reading DayBlack at this point. Do I think it's perfect? No, nothing is ever perfect. But, DayBlack is legitimately one of my favorite comics to read. Not just read either, to look at. Three colors has never looked so beautiful before. If you haven't checked it out yet you can pick up the graphic novel that collects issues 1-3 for as low as $4.99.

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
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