Abbott: 1979

Abbott #3

by Saladin Ahmed, Sami Kivelä (Illustrator), Dan Jackson (Colorist)

The final chapter of the hard-boiled supernatural Hugo Award-nominated series!

On the eve of the 1980s and the Reagan Administration, Detroit is burdened with an oppressive darkness–both political and supernatural. Dejected and tough tabloid reporter Elena Abbott, who previously defeated the occult forces responsible for her husband’s death, must dig herself out from rock bottom if she’s going to save Detroit from the Umbra, one last time. Hugo Award-nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed (Miles Spider-Man, Black Bolt) and artist Sami Kivelä (Beautiful Canvas) bring Elena into her final chapter, who will have to contend with the dark cloud hanging over Detroit… and over her personally. Collects #1 -5.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Crime

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2024

About the author

Saladin Ahmed was born in Detroit and raised in a working-class, Arab American enclave in Dearborn, MI.

His short stories have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, and have appeared in Year's Best Fantasy and numerous other magazines, anthologies, and podcasts, as well as being translated into five foreign languages. He is represented by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency. THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON is his first novel.

Saladin lives near Detroit with his wife and twin children.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series went from being a cheeky homage to Kolchak: The Night Stalker to being a straight up Green Lantern comic book, and frankly that is a huge comedown.

The battle between light and dark ceases to be scary in the midst of a very tired and cliched superhero slugfest.

Why???!!!!?!?!?


FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Abbott: 1979 #1-5.

Contents: Chapters 1-5 / Saladin Ahmed, writer; Sami Kivelä, illustrator -- Covers and Variant Covers / Taj Francis, Justine Florentino, Suspiria Vilchez, Zu Orzu, Ejikure, Vincenzo Riccardi, and Nimit Malavia, illustrators -- Character Designs / Sami Kivelä, illustrator

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six years later, Detroit is struggling under darkness, and Elena is struggling too. Once a tough crime reporter, she’s now doing fluff pieces. But there are those who still believe in her and want to give her a chance to make her voice heard once again. She must fight to believe in herself again to be the Lightbringer to defeat the Umbra once last time.

An excellent ending to this supernatural graphic novel series. The world-building is still good, though it doesn’t delve into racism or sexism as much as previous volumes. This one was focused on character growth. Still a good, solid ending for the series.

[Matt Maielli · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a new Abbott story, it’s good. As an epic conclusion to the tale of Abbott, it falls a bit flat.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I think some people miss out when evaluating this series is the work Ahmed is trying to do with the setting and characters.

I do have some recollection of the turmoil in Detroit that Ahmed has tried to depict over the course of three mini series. I don't think he's done a poor job of that.

Another factor I appreciate is that Elena is a black woman in an urban fantasy series. I mean how many standard urban fantasty paperback cover feature either white women, or blonde white women? Thank you for some diversity.

Arguably this ends Elena's story about the fall rise both in her love life (btw she's a lesbian) and her professional life. The whole light versus dark conflict-to be honest feels neither overly original or urgent.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't pay enough attention to publications, so I have read the two previous releases as standalone. This third book impresses upon the reader that the story–and potentially the universe–has been building to something epic. Furthermore, the fact that the city of Detroit is and has been the other main character (and is at times somewhat reminiscent of The Crow), aside from Elena herself, has crystallized with this book. So I'm surprised by a rating of less than 4 stars, especially with the gorgeous art and great use of framing. However, it does feel a little.. light at time. If the story was a bit denser, this would easily be a near-perfect book. Perhaps there'll be a fourth series where we get that?!

[Nevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conclusion of the trilogy. Elena Abbott fights racism, sexism, and homophobia in 1970s Detroit as a reporter, but also as a magical warrior in a spiritual battle that mirrors our real-life evils. It's a mixed bag. The best part is the art, which occasionally portrays magical situations in stunning ways. (The page with the demon dog creature chomping down on a panel of the comic is one of my favorites of the past few years.) But the writing is just ok. The real-world tensions and the magical good/evil battle are both pretty standard, and there are no rules to the magic other than stuff happening because it feels right for the story.

[James Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third volume in this series. It is a fitting ending to a reading journey that I enjoyed taking. I feel like the third volume didn't fully capture the tone of the first two volumes writing wise. The creators are probably (hopefully) enjoying many more creative opportunities since the success of the first two volumes. I am glad they returned to give the series and characters a satisfying ending. The art is really, really top notch in my opinion. If you like stories with mystery, supernatural elements, and exploration of culture in the 70's, this is for you. If you enjoy the works of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, and Brian Michael Bendis's early work, you will enjoy this.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so incredibly disappointing. Ahmed's supernatural, Detroit based thriller gets a last and completely necessary volume and the fall off is dramatic. This volume lacked the heart, intrigue, or even anything compelling. Here, The Umbra continues to be a problem, I guess after waiting 6 years for no reason. Elena is haggard but the story is so weak that it felt like Ahmed had run out of ideas but promised another entry. Her powers get more abstract and the late 70s barely made itself known. The art was not the issue here at all. Overall, very frustrated the very good series ends on such a pathetically bad note.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked a lot of this story. Abbott fights the darkness on several different fronts. Love that she joins public television.

The final fight was a little bit of a let down. I appreciated it for "we will make you fight those you love to do what's right." But I wanted the fight to be more than blasting light and darkness around.

Still, overall it was a lot of fun and had a powerful story to tell about not giving in to what's easy and wealth generating at the cost of your friends and your soul.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked the earlier books better, where Abbott was fighting smaller evils and the book reminded me of Kolchak. Here, she's in an epic final battle against the Umbra, the dark force that has been taking over the city of Detroit, and she's the Lightbringer, etc., etc. It's all a bit much after the street-level storytelling of previous arcs. Also, the story seems a bit stretched to fill 5 issues. There could have been more to this. The art's nice, but nothing too outstanding. Kind of a disappointment overall.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's now 1979. Elena Abbott has been through the ringer fighting the Umbra for 6 years, who has possessed her lover among others. Elena's at her rock bottom as she has to stiffen up and fight back. There could be more story here. It's a bit stretched out to go 5 issues and could have used some side plots. But Kivela's art has always been good and the trilogy of books have been really solid.

[Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume solved a lot of my issues with books 1-2. I liked that the combat was both scaled back (fewer fights) and each one given more screen time/development. It also shifted to a more internal conflict as Abbott was working through a lot of personal issues, which lent itself better to the writer and illustrator's style in my opinion.

I wish the whole series had been done at this level of quality, to be honest.

[Jaime Guzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down and out , Abbott, is now older and weary. In her final battle with the Umbra her power glitch and unexpected visitors show up to give her a hand.
I enjoyed the series but the ending was missing something that left me saying "Was that it?".
I picture this series being picked up as a TV show on Netflix.

[Dave Archer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed a lot cooler at the start than it turned out to be. Cool protagonist as a young Black journalist in turmoil Detroit, but the fantasy elements didn't seem to connect so well. I get that she's the light and can free the imprisoned, but I think the author could have done a little more to make stronger connections. Maybe if there was a second or third volume it could develop better.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abbott is bad ass. She’s bad ass but she is also so human. Satisfying conclusion to this series. I love the energy in this comic.

I know this collected edition isn’t out yet. I read the individual comics but thought it was easier to enter it in here as the upcoming collected edition.

[E.D.E. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely floored by how good these ending stories are. What a work of layered perfection, in every way. Grateful to this team for giving us this wonderful 15-episode story. It's a real treasure.

Strongly, strongly, recommended.

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying final chapter for Elena Abbott, a character I’ve come to love fiercely in her three trade paperbacks. Not a perfect book, but a story of hope and finding the light always. I loved it.

[Dimitri Nassar · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please. Great story and art work.

[Amy Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still love the art style, but the plot of this installment was just not that interesting to me, and I've lost my connection to the characters.

[Tiffany Lynn Kramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

After such a strong start it's a shame to see this story peter out like this. Things are tied up but it feels rushed and ultimately unsatisfying.

[Waffle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women kissing saves the world. We love to see it. A great series!

[Dan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind send-off to the characters of this dark fantasy Detroit. Abbott was a fun comic, even if it lost a little steam along the way. Glad it got to go out on its own terms.