Written by: Frank Tieri
Art by: Felix Ruiz
Publisher: Dark Circle
I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot with first issues, but I’m going to say it again here: this series has a lot of potential to be great, but this issue sees the creative team still finding their footing. The Hangman #1 gets a lot right, that much is certain, and the expectation that a first issue should (or could) do everything right is unreasonable. Regardless, the lack of character work here really bothers me. It makes sense, considering that it takes a little while for the main character to be introduced, but the result is that there’s no tether for the reader going into the next issue, and that’s problematic.
Writer Frank Tieri does take the first couple pages to establish characters, but by the end of the issue, it’s pretty clear that these aren’t characters that will be sticking around. This is kind of a bummer, since he does a pretty great job of making the reader care about this particular group of people. The dialogue isn’t exceptional, but for the most part it suffices. While there is potential for them to play a role in future issues, it seems unlikely, especially given the (granted, very limited) information we have about the plot. The story of this issue feels very much like a one-shot – and that’s a pretty cool vibe. The thing is, ongoing series tend to benefit from having established plots pretty early on, and the lack of that in the first issue is not necessarily doing it any favors.
The big selling point of this issue is Tieri’s world building. He does a great job not only establishing the world that this takes place in, but also does a bit of work to flesh it out. There are references to other elements that don’t feel forced, and give the world a lived-in feel, which really serves to add to the grit of the series. Not to say that grit is inherently good, however, it suits this particular story, which is why I bring it up. Considering that this is ostensibly a crime series, the at times overwhelmingly dark world only makes the book better, even if some of the story mechanisms used to establish it are somewhat gratuitous.
Ruiz’ art is among this issue’s best elements. While the dialogue goes a long why in terms of world building, the art is really what makes it so effective. The characters are designed in such a way that they constantly look desperate, and, in many cases, guilty. This aesthetic sets the mood of the issue, and what I imagine will be consistent throughout the series. Ruiz also uses his art to convey emotion, and there are two instances in which this manifests itself perfectly. The first is the issue’s introduction, and the second is an action scene that closes out the issue. The two scenes are very different, and the characters involved are in very different places emotionally, but the art is equally effective in both instances.
The first issue of The Hangman is perfectly fine, good even. It isn’t exceptional, and it may never be, but I’m definitely giving it the benefit of the doubt, and will be back for at least another issue or two. Had their been some more consistent character work (and a cliffhanger that didn’t feel kind of out of place), I would be completely on board with this book. Fortunately, there’s time for that character work to come in future issues. If this book sounds interesting to you, but you aren’t convinced, I would actually lean towards picking up the trade at some point down the line, but hey, that’s just me.
