“A Voice in the Dark” returns this week with a brand new arc that begins to complicate Zoey’s life even further. Because being a murderer just isn’t complicated enough!
Be warned, there are some mild spoilers within this review.
Written by Larime Taylor
Illustrated Larime Taylor & Jay SavageNOW IN FULL COLOR!
A great jumping-on point for new readers. With Zoey and several of her roommates possible suspects in the murder of Mandy Jenkins, Uncle Zeke is taken off the case to avoid a conflict of interest. Meanwhile, Zoey meets her ‘fan’ for the first time without masks.
If you missed it, I have a special place in my heart for “A Voice in the Dark”, evidence right here. Waiting for this arc has been downright torture because of the huge cliffhanger at the end of the last arc. Thankfully the wait pays off as “A Voice in the Dark” makes a strong comeback with “Get Your Gun” #1.
Like the first arc, “A Voice in the Dark: Get Your Gun” #1 begins with a jump in time. Zoey and a mysterious man are tied up. They are being held by someone who wants to punish them for the death of Mandy and Brock. This scene is cut short and Larime Taylor takes us back to right after Zoey has murdered again. She feels better, relieved even. She’s focusing on school more and is far more social. Most of the focus however is on Zoey’s new friend Rio, who is revealed as her mystery caller and stalker.
Like every issue before, Taylor fits a ton into one issue. He really covers a lot of ground here. It’s part of what bugs me about this series not being more popular; you’re really getting a lot for your money. The first page opens with a very handy and concise checklist of everything that has happened so far to make this accessible for new reader, and while you’re better served by reading the first arc, you are in no way confused about the events in this issue. Many writers can do this a bit heavy handed but Taylor nails it.
The highlight, though, is the first meeting between Rio and Zoey. Their phone calls have been creepy and unsettling (in the best possible way) but there’s nothing better than watching two people like them talk about what they do. It’s not like watching Clarice talk to Hannibal Lecter in “Silence of the Lambs”; it’s much more sinister since they will both slice someone’s throat open and not bat an eye over it, but it’s also almost romantic — which brings in a brand new layer to this story that didn’t exist before.
There’s real tension in this issue as you begin to think about what may happen. Zoey and her roommates will no doubt be coming into contact with the police soon; they are of course some of the last people to see Mandy alive and there’s the Krista connection. This isn’t really touched upon here but it’s in the background. Taylor ensures that we get this small idea in our heads by spending some time on the police force in Cutter’s Circle. It’s these details in the script that help propel this issue from a decent beginning to something more special. I mentioned this is a great place for new readers to begin but for those who have been around since the beginning, there’s a ton of little things like this to get you amped for what’s next.
While the first arc spent a lot of time building up to Zoey’s next kill, “A Voice in the Dark: Get Your Gun” #1 really focuses on Zoey and the fallout of what she did. The only problem with this is that it’s still really personal. There’s a small bit of time spent on the investigation and almost no fallout publicly. It’s unclear as of now if the rest of the college knows about what happened to Mandy and Brock. It would have been a great and welcomed addition to the story if we got to see a little of that, especially since a few days have passed since the police found out.
Continued belowTaylor has improved very much as an artist. It never ceases to blow me away that this book is created by mouth. There are a multitude of facial expressions and the backgrounds at times are very detailed. I think the art is at its very best when Zoey is at the radio station; Taylor is able to get those little dials and screens down very well. Unlike most comics, these college girls are often in t-shirts and jeans, less because Taylor can’t seemingly draw different clothing but because this is more accurate to what college girls look like in real life. It’s something I’m always grateful to see. (For a comparison, look at “Rachel Rising”; Taylor does a similar thing to Terry Moore with his rendering of the female characters.)
The only time I think Taylor’s art is a bit off is in the eyes. For the most part they are perfectly fine, but here and there you’ll notice they’re a little off. It’s not a big deal as it doesn’t effect the enjoyment you get from the story, but it does become noticeable after a time.
Also, for the first time in series history the entire book is in color. Personally I dug the black and white pages; I thought it fit the tone of the book. The colorist on the book Jay Savage does a nice job, however. It’s not a color scheme I’m used to seeing but it works. It looks like watercolors, which adds this dark and cool atmosphere to the book as a whole. I’m glad that if the book is going to be colored, it’s at least going to be done well.
“A Voice in the Dark: Get Your Gun” is off to a smooth and solid start, and there’s really no reason to continue passing up on this series. It’s one of the darkest and most unique books being put out by any publisher. Zoey Aarons continues to be a compelling protagonist and Larime Taylor’s scripting is spot on.
Final Verdict: 8.2 – Buy. It’s a book that makes you LIKE a serial killer. No way you pass that up.
