Mama Came Callin’

Dwayne McDuffie award winner Daniels (Upgrade Soul) and debut artist Sucre delve into the hidden history of Florida bayou country in this satisfying brew of slasher and Southern gothic. Kirah, a young Black woman, works at the youth home where she grew up after surviving an attack by the Gator Man, a serial killer who has since passed into local legend. When the Gator Man resurfaces, Kirah’s old wounds are reopened, not least because she’s always believed the man behind the alligator mask was her estranged father. With the help of her colleague and friend Sedale and a Greek chorus of foster kids, Kirah sets out to solve the mystery once and for all. The mission takes the crew through swamps, to the bottom of a lake, and into the twisted history behind a local candy company. Along the way, they stir up old racial tensions and unresolved family traumas. Sucre’s funky character designs and simple but atmospheric settings, with bursts of yellow cutting through eerie gray ink wash, set an appropriately off-kilter vibe. Fans of elevated horror will enjoy wading into this unpredictable swampland noir. Agent: Chad Luibl, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Feb.)