08/01/2016
Gr 5–8—Craig McGowan, a runaway looking for sanctuary in 1930s Edinburgh, is recruited to be part of an investigative network by Silex, a massive, semianimate gargoyle rooted to the roof of the cathedral. Silex needs helpers on the ground to solve a string of murders that may be connected to his own hidden past and larger infernal machinations. The characters are, except for Silex, almost universally dark-haired and round-faced, with their eyes downcast from the omnipresent rainfall. We are hurriedly introduced to a bevy of players, and their lack of distinct characteristics makes it difficult to distinguish among them, as do overhead sequences that are drawn to remind readers of Silex's elevated surveillance but foreshorten participants into dark blobs. Faces are frequently crammed into frames alongside dark shadows and overlapping expository dialogue balloons. And while the city is regularly given scope to emphasize the setting and to remind us of the latticed stonework that echoes the masonic central figure, even those scenes feel overstuffed with busy detail. The visuals establish atmosphere with aplomb but also make for a claustrophobic reading experience, to the detriment of the narrative. The reveal of what will inevitably be the larger ongoing mystery of the series is compelling but perhaps an insufficient counter to the haphazard action on display here and the jumbled assemblage of ciphers. VERDICT Readers drawn to the gothic art and atmosphere may enjoy the seeds of larger story line, but most will be confounded by clunky storytelling that undercuts the series's larger aspirations.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
2016-08-02
Craig McGowan, a young, white Scot, is recruited by Silex, a gargoyle, to join his detective agency and solve crimes in a mystery graphic novel. In 1930s Edinburgh, Scotland, Craig contemplates ending his life from the top of a cathedral on which Silex, an ill-natured gargoyle, is perched. Thanks to Silex, Craig doesn't go through with the jump. Together with Father Harris, an aging priest (also and unsurprisingly white), Silex runs an investigative service. To help solve a recent series of mysterious deaths, Silex invites Craig to join the agency, and as the teen begins his apprenticeship, Father Harris begins training Craig to gather information from locals. Throughout the mystery, Scottish colloquialisms are generously dispensed: “lads,” “lass,” “wee bairns,” “toffs,” “dodgy,” “git,” and more. Yolen and Stemple’s writing style draws heavily from detective and crime novels, adding to the pulpy feel of the text, mostly made up of dialogue augmented by Silex’s inner thoughts and selective snatches of third-person narration. Zangara mirrors the text with fittingly moody black-and-white panels that depict dark and intricate city skylines, expressive character close-ups, shadowy spreads, and slanted, rain-filled backgrounds. Political, theological, and socio-economic undertones reverberate, underscored by the occasional death scene. A visually engrossing noir debut in the vein of Sin City, this setup promises a number of sequels. (Graphic mystery. 12 & up)
