Writer: Doug Tennapel
Artist: Doug Tennapel
Publisher: Image Comics
Black Cherry is, ultimately, a story about faith. How sometimes we ignore it, how sometimes it strengthens us, and how it can redeem. However, it’s also a story about mobsters, junkies, prostitutes, demons and aliens. So, yeah, you’ve got a mixed bag here. To the stories credit, though, it is unapologetic in its depiction of all of these things.
The story begins with the criminal element and it doesn’t mess around. These guys lie, cuss, fight, throw around racial slurs and generally come across as a mean bunch. Anyone who buys Black Cherry based off reading the first few pages has a good chance of being disappointed by the development of the plot as the book moves on. However, it says right on the cover, ‘Sex, violence and the supernatural’. Since divine intervention is technically the super-natural, you can’t say you weren’t warned.
The protagonist of this story is Eddie Paretti, an unlucky mobster. Eddie isn’t evil, he’s just bad; lazy and self-centered, he’d rather figure out a quick grift than actually work. Which lands him in a bunch of trouble since stealing from your boss is always a bad idea, no matter what line of work you’re in. Desperate for cash, he agrees to steal something else from said same boss; a body, locked in a freezer deep within the Mafioso compound. Things only get trickier when Eddie finds out the body isn’t human. Or dead.
The tone of Black Cherry changes as often as its subject matter. It is alternatively exciting, fun and horrifying. However, there are two things that stay constant during story regardless of whether it is dealing with gangsters, God or aliens; its humor and its humanity. The dialogue, in particular, is alternatively hilarious and touching, sometimes both at the same time. The book left me laughing with nearly every page with jokes that range from simple word play, to dark humor, to decidedly non-PC racy jokes. The characters are distinctly imperfect in their humanity, which only makes the touching scenes more believable. This isn’t Disney and works precisely because of this.
Much to his credit, Doug Tennapel also does the art. The story, which is scattered and erratic at times, just wouldn’t work without the art to bring it all together. Somewhere between Dick Tracy and Sin City, the art is as unique and uncompromising as the writing.
Black Cherry isn’t going to be for everyone. However, you will be missing out if you don’t take the time to find out about the book for yourself.
If you liked this review, be sure to check out more of the author’s work at http://madbastard.hypersites.com
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