Former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter is making his Image Comics debut with “Slow City Blues.” Shooter will serve as the series editor, working alongside writer Samuel Haine, artist Shawn Moll, inker John Livesay, colorist JD Smith, and letterer Thomas Mauer.
The ongoing series follows Detective John Loris in his mission to maintain the law in his own compartmentalized mind following the accidental murder of a young girl. After attempting suicide, John Loris discovers Slow City, a corner of his mindscape that’s sequestered from the depressive outside world. The series promises to bring “action, adventure, suspense, fantasy, tragedy, and plenty of humor.”
To the citizens of Slow City, John Loris is an imperfect god, and as he traverses his shifting mental state alongside his partner (an oversized smart-mouthed skunk), Loris tries to solve a double homicide that, if left unsolved, could spill over into a gang war between the Gorillas of the Devil’s Backbone and the Dragons of the Midnight Syndicate.
According to Shooter, “‘Slow City Blues’ is a phenomenon. I contributed not much, but yelled at Sam a lot, and he thanked me,” urging readers to “honor this work. It deserves your attention.” Michael Haine praised Shooter’s contribution, saying “He’s been instrumental in helping us realize a rich world full of kooky, complex characters and deep emotional resonance. Not to mention that he and Livesay were able to convince some of the greatest artists of all time to do covers for the book.”
“Slow City Blues” #1 hits shelves February 19th 2020 with cover art by one of those artists, Yasmine Putri (“The Hellblazer”).
