Bluesman

Written by Rob Vollmar
Art by Pablo G. Callejo

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this project. I enjoyed Vollmar's writing on 'Inanna's Tears' (at least, as much as was ever published), and so I figured I'd give this a try.

This is a very gothic graphic novel, telling the story of Lem Taylor, a traveling bluesman of the American south. Taylor and his partner get hired on at a juke, but his partner is led astray by a woman, resulting in the murder of a prominent white man in the community. Taylor is dumped into a whirlwind of events, as he flees the area, and hooks up with a small band of wanted Natives.

Vollmar's script depicts the people of this time in a number of different lights. He doesn't fall back on complete stereotype or cariacture, instead creating well-developed individuals.

The art, by Pablo Callejo, looks like a series of woodcuts. His thick lines and liberal use of black ink add a certain gravity to the proceedings, and help make this a story for the ages. It's definitely a good comic.