Thomas Alsop: Vol. 1

Boozy Thomas Alsop is the supernatural protector of the island of Manhattan%C2%AD%E2%80%94and a man more ill-suited to the task could hardly be found. Promoting his role for the sake of a reality TV show, Alsop spends his time drinking and closing easy cold cases left over from his father's tenure, unseemly behavior that appears to be weakening his powers. Unfortunately, a black magic%E2%80%93riddled relic from the days of chattel slavery and a forgotten spell affecting the site of the new World Trade Center are both unearthed, leaving Alsop in need of answers and mystical backup. With a tone that initially suggests a hipster answer to Hellblazer , this series hooks readers with an interesting take on a warlock who'd rather be getting wasted and cranking out punk rock anthems with his band than shouldering a sorcerous burden foisted upon him via familial succession. Miskiewicz's script is a skillfully-crafted slow build, rich with characterization, and is evocatively boosted by Schmidt's watercolor art, which manages to wring a lurid beauty out of the narrative's seedy aspects. (May)