Bitter Root, Volume 1: Family Business

by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene (Artist)

Overview

2019 Will Eisner Award Nominee for Best New Series

Once known as the greatest monster hunters of all time, the Sangerye family specialized in curing the souls of those infected by hate, but those days are fading. A terrible tragedy has claimed most of the family, leaving the surviving cousins split between curing monsters and killing them. Now, with a new breed of monster loose on the streets of Harlem, the Sangerye family must come together, or watch the human race fall to untold evil.

Collects BITTER ROOT #1-5

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534312128
Publisher:	Image Comics
Publication date:	05/14/2019
Series:	Bitter Root Series , #1
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	99,031
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

Editorial Reviews

05/13/2019

“Since the dawn of civilization, a Great Evil has plagued humanity” begins the not particularly original opening to this fast-paced horror series. Fortunately, Walker (The Life of Frederick Douglass) and Brown pump life into a familiar good vs. evil formula with a well-crafted, vividly illustrated setting. In 1920s Harlem, the Sangerye family carries on its generations-old work of fighting jinoo, evil spirits that periodically erupt into the mortal world. When humans start turning into jinoo, the Sangeryes’ mission becomes more complicated, as rival demonologists and possessed humans present new obstacles. Historical fiction mixes with supernatural horror, producing a hybrid fantasy world of voodoo spells, mad science, monster Klansmen, and Jazz Age demon hunters wielding steampunk versions of Ghostbusters proton packs. The dynamic, richly colored art, with its expressive characters and imaginative monster designs, elevates the predictable plot. Above all, it’s the background details that sing, from meticulously drawn Harlem streets to cluttered rooms filled with period detail. Comics fans will look forward to future volumes of this energetic dark fantasy that effectively mixes thrills and scares. (May)

Publishers Weekly

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY — Since the dawn of civilization, a Great Evil has plagued humanity" begins the not particularly original opening to this fast-paced horror series. Fortunately, Walker (The Life of Frederick Douglass) and Brown pump life into a familiar good vs. evil formula with a well-crafted, vividly illustrated setting. In 1920s Harlem, the Sangerye family carries on its generations-old work of fighting jinoo, evil spirits that periodically erupt into the mortal world. When humans start turning into jinoo, the Sangeryes' mission becomes more complicated, as rival demonologists and possessed humans present new obstacles. Historical fiction mixes with supernatural horror, producing a hybrid fantasy world of voodoo spells, mad science, monster Klansmen, and Jazz Age demon hunters wielding steampunk versions of Ghostbusters proton packs. The dynamic, richly colored art, with its expressive characters and imaginative monster designs, elevates the predictable plot. Above all, it's the background details that sing, from meticulously drawn Harlem streets to cluttered rooms filled with period detail. Comics fans will look forward to future volumes of this energetic dark fantasy that effectively mixes thrills and scares.





“Puts a monstrous face on bigotry and a beautiful new spin on the Harlem Renaissance.” -The Onion's AV Club



“Has become a conversation starter in the comic book industry, which continues to awaken to more diverse ways of creating characters both on the page and behind the scenes. The comic is by an all-black creative team and features a predominantly black cast of characters in the 1920s-embracing the black artistic creativity of the Harlem Renaissance but also recognizing the racism of the time.” -The Washington Post



"Relentless action...a kinetic style that makes good use of 1920s period details to anchor the story, which develops slowly before kicking into high gear halfway through and concluding on a legitimately exciting cliff-hanger." —Library Journal




"A comic that's confident in itself and doesn't need to rely on overwrought high-concept themes. Bitter Root isn't afraid to tackle weighty issues while still having some fun, giving us some new heroes that are much needed in today's world." -ComicBook.com



“The tragedy and family drama at the heart of IMAGE COMICS' new series BITTER ROOT may be the most traditional thing about a comic that is, at heart, anything but traditional.” -The Hollywood Reporter

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2019

The Sangereye family—Ma Etta, Blink, Cullen, Berg, Ford, and Uncle Enoch—blends potions of roots and other conjurings to rid souls of hate and racism. But new monsters materialize in this Harlem Renaissance New York, and a family split on how to deal with them threatens everybody. Superbly designed characters as well as vivid, kinetic panels with period detail keep the story moving and the twists surprising. An energetic blend of historical fiction, supernatural horror, and steampunk. (LJ 8/19)

Library Journal