Bitter Root #8
Image Comics
Writers: David F. Walker & Chuck Brown
Artist: Sanford Greene
At long last one of my favorite comics returns to the shelves, and it couldn’t be at a more relevant time. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd (and Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis, Tony McDade, and sadly the list continues) by the hands of white police officers, Bitter Root, while fantastical, reminds us how we, as a country and society, have come to this moment. A moment in which it is staggeringly clear Black Lives Matter.
Harlem, 1924. A portal to the abyss, to hell, whatever you want to call it, has been opened and a horrible, mystical creature that feeds on pain, hatred, and despair has entered the human world. This entity promises comfort to those who have suffered at the hands of the atrocities of systemic racism. But it is at a high price. Hatred breeds hatred, and the Sangerye family searches for a way to slow the spread of this Monster’s Influence before it’s too late.
The vast number of characters in Bitter Root doesn’t set this comic apart from the crowd. However, the way in which readers connect with the characters’ individual voices sure does. Writers, David F. Walker and Chuck Brown provide unique and interesting voices to each character connected intrinsically with their personal struggles. While the plot of the comic feels larger than any one character, each person depicted in this comic feels as though they have an underlying sub-plot, both emotional and physical. With so many characters involved, this is difficult but skillfully done.
Just as Walker and Brown give voice to each character, Sanford Greene does the same with the art direction. The world, monsters, and characters have unique feels, while all maintain continuity for an immersive experience. At no point will readers feel like a character or setting is out of place. Also, the backdrops Greene uses for some of the more emotional scenes. The musical notes as background in a Harlem club and the ink spatter that bleed in and out of panels, all give the piece a raw feel, just as the era and events dictate.
One of the best parts of Bitter Root is the essays and Q&As they include at the back of the book. These pieces center on black history, systematic and institutional racism in the United States and abroad. The essay in this issue by Michael Norton Dondo, and explores the role of the griots in much of West Africa. Griots are historians or record keepers, typically of a family or community, and preserve stories and histories through poetry, music, and other means. The Q&A is with Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, whose newest book, The Dark Fantastic, explores race and the imagination in popular fantastical works such as Harry Potter to The Hunger Games.
When you read Bitter Root, come for the comic, but stay for an education.
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Bitter Root #8
A timely and thought-provoking issue that deals with race, violence, and grief.
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