Drums #1 Review

Title:	Drums
Contributors:	El Torres Abe Hernando Kwaichang Kraneo
Publisher:	Image Comics
Issue #:	1
Year:	2011
Pages:	32 Pages
Age Rating:	18 (Language, Violence, Gore, Nudity, Adult Themes)
Story Grade:	A
Art Grade:	B

Drums is a story about an FBI agent who gets pulled into a investigate a case of a warehouse full of dead bodies that looks like a religious mass suicide, but this is only the surface of something much deeper. The story brings a Cop Horror Drama to the comic pages mixing voodoo-esque religions and mysticism in a tale that has real moments of true horror.

The writing by Torres uses cleaver word choices to disguise some of the clues littered through the pages and engaging dialog to keep the reader connected throughout the story.

This book was an absolute pleasure to read, but the art had some unsatisfying moments.

Hernando and Kraneo use color very well in this book. The use of earth-tones as the primary pallet allow for the cultures (Latin America and the Caribbean) being revealed to shine. Their pallet of choice kind of reminds me of a Hellboy color pallet, mostly warm tones. They then make these tones darker, more sinister when evil or mystical things are present and lighter when not. It is a nice use of color to alter the mood of the pages.

But in several instances, the faces of some of the characters are awkwardly drawn showing some lack of discipline in expressions and facial feature. This is my personal opinion of course, but in those cases, that isn't art I would hang on my wall.

All in all I would grade this book a B+. The art is not the meat and bones of this book, as it is definitely the story.

Until next time... Please consult your personal Witch Doctor before reading this book...