The existence of magic is a point of contention, but one thing everyone will agree upon, is how dangerous it can be in the wrong hands. Only bad things can happen, especially during botched summonings of hellish demons. Ellie Hawthorne’s uncle Alfie taught her to be a sorcerer. However, a paradigm shift is about to take place, spelling grave danger for humans and demons alike. Damn Them All #1 from Boom! Studios, written by Simon Spurrier with artwork from Charlie Adlard, colors by Sofie Dodgson, and letters from Jim Campbell, is full of magic and adventure.
A seventeen-year-old Ellie nags her uncle to show her magic for eight months straight until the old man finally caves in. They prepare for the summoning for a month, collecting the essential tools of the trade and the necessary sacrifices. This is where Damn Them All #1 begins, as Ellie’s whole world is turned upside by one simple peek into the horrors beyond the known world. Now she works for gangsters who appreciate her unique skillset.
First-person accounts only work when the storyteller has something personal to narrate to the audience. Luckily, Simon Spurrier has a way with words potent enough to carry Damn Them All #1. The strength of the narrative lies in the tight, relentless script. It moves slowly, letting the reader savor all the flavors before throwing them for a loop. Spurrier catches every small detail in Ellie’s life through the narration, from her transformative experience discovering the truth behind the magic to her reluctance to collaborate with demons and gangsters. The magic element weaves naturally into the story, but this first issue is definitely dense with exposition.
Adlard masterfully captures the gloomy British climate. His style is the perfect foil for the noir ambiance that lets the suspense simmer in the shadows. The characters stand out in each scene, thanks to his close attention to background details. Colorist Sofie Dodgson summons the otherworldly monsters into this plane. Mixing chromatic aberration with motion smearing, she builds an anxious atmosphere when Andromalius steps into the pub, adding to the scary nature of this first issue.
Damn Them All #1 has gangsters, demons, and magic all rolled together, reminding readers of another British occult hero, Constantine. But the similarities end with the smug personality and dapper overcoat. Ellie Hawthorne seems to be in control of her life until the universe starts playing its own game. This debut issue careens down uncertain avenues, revealing a key element of the plot that instantly changes things for the protagonist and for the casual comic book reader. Damn Them All #1 ends on a shocking cliffhanger as the vengeful demon reveals a different side of its personality.
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