Red Before Black #1: Cocaine and Coffee
Creative Team
writers: STEPHANIE PHILLIPS
artist: GORAN SUDŽUKA
colorist: IVE SVORCINA
letterer: TOM NAPOLITANO
publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Red Before Black #1 is a strong series debut that introduces an electrifying crime world readers will want to sink their teeth into.
This issue follows Val, an ex-convict and disgraced Army veteran, who returns to Miami looking for work. Tasked with tracking down a drug stealing wildcard named Leo, it’s evident if Val wants to get back into the game, she’ll have to get her hands dirty.
If there is one word to sum up this issue, it would be “balanced.” From the character introductions to the worldbuilding, the amount of information given to the reader is just enough to build excitement for Val and Leo’s journey together without spoiling what’s in store for the duo. Additionally, readers who take their time to experience this issue will be rewarded with its clever elements and narrative design.
The story is well-paced and knows how to keep readers engaged as the narrative goes from seedy bars and night clubs filled with drug dealers, to an action sequence that hints at Val’s backstory. While Val may lead a larger portion of the story, Leo gets her moment to shine and certainly knows how to make an entrance.
Writer Stephanie Phillips has done a service to her characters Val and Leo. They are incredibly likable and their chemistry feels natural—especially by the last page. The story begins with a narration on the colors red and black in their relation to a snake being poisonous or not poisonous and this duality is a nice potential foreshadowing to the characters. Additionally, the linkage of poison between Val and Leo is repeated in the use of a cigarette in the story. Val declines a cigarette when meeting an old colleague whereas Leo lights up her own when talking to a new potential business partner. These are just a couple of examples of contrasts/similarities between Val and Leo that the script includes, and there are more details in the art as well.
Illustrated by Goran Sudžuka with colors by Ive Svorcina, the art and color palettes are all top notch. Val and Leo’s character designs are excellent and serve as another visual contrast to the two characters. (For example, Val’s shoes are tight laced combat boots compared to Leo’s untied sneakers.) It’s little details like this that add to the experience and it isn’t just in the character design, but in the background art as well. Fans of BOOM! Studios may notice a fun nod to the series Crocodile Black with the bar “Albino Alligator” that Val visits early in the story, and this type of intentional design enhances an already interesting read. The colors by Svorcina also elevate the atmosphere and the locations often have analogous color palettes that not only give each venue their own personality but also give a good visual kick. The lettering is also very cinematic in its use and letterer Tom Napolitano picks a perfect font and color that creates a very cinematic vibe to the overall narrative when the narrator notes a character and a brief statement about them.
While there is a lot to celebrate, there is one small note in the panel design. In film, there is a 180 degree range that the camera never passes when characters are talking, and this visual aid is crucial to keeping the viewer in the moment and providing visual consistency. In a few dialogue-heavy scenes the panel design swaps which side the characters are on, and for some it may throw off the flow of the story. It’s a minor point, but in the grand scheme certainly doesn’t negatively impact the thrilling experience.
Final Verdict
First issues don’t get much better than Red Before Black #1 as the story and stylish art make for an experience that immediately hooks readers. This may be a premiere issue, but Red Before Black is shaping up to be one of the slickest crime stories of the year. Val and Leo aren’t just fun to read about, but it’s clear they mean business and will take readers on an action-packed ride as they delve deeper into Miami’s criminal underbelly.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.75 |
| Story/Plot | 9.00 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.00 |
| Colors | 9.75 |
| Final Score | 9.4/10 |