Pine & Merrimac

Pine & Merrimac #1-5

by Kyle Starks, Fran Galán (Artist), Pat Brosseau (Letterer)

A dark and fresh detective story set in a small town with secrets just below the surface!

On the corner of Pine and Merrimac sits an unremarkable town… with one horrifying secret. After a lifetime of losing pieces of herself in every horrific case, former homicide detective Linnea Kent is starting fresh. Alongside her husband, Parker, a former MMA fighter and the brawn to her brains, she’s opened up a quiet little detective agency, far from the city noise. The simple cases this small town with seemingly humble people has to offer are exactly what she was looking for, but there’s more to the quaint place than Linnea could have possibly imagined, and something truly sinister pulling the strings… When they receive a promising lead for a case, they go on an ill-advised, undercover operation to a curious nearby island, and kickstart a mystery that will not only reveal spellbinding secrets… but put them both in deadly peril. Eisner-nominated scribe Kyle Starks (I Hate This Place) is joined by fan-favorite artist Fran Galán (The Amazing Spider-Man) for an unexpected detective tale perfect for readers of Reckless and The Department of Truth!

Collects Pine & Merrimac #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Crime

128 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pine & Merrimac " is a fast paced and engrossing book, in which a married pair of detectives takes on an evil occult cult while trying to solve a series of mysterious child abductions. Expect marital bliss to a nauseating level, witty dialogue, fun supporting characters, a few obvious twists and a few not so obvious ones and an overall plot that is not nearly as dark as the subject matter might suggest.


4.5 stars rounded to 4.

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Fran Galan's exquisite art on this and Starks's brand of humor still hits well but, yet again with one of these modern mini-series, you read 5 issues and it feels like they end at the midpoint, having spent too much time on characters that could be cut (Abigail) and generally taking their sweet time getting to obvious revelations. If this gets a second volume, yeah, sure, this can be a good first half of a story. But, otherwise, it's just a choppy story with the most obvious final stretch possible.

[Justin Decloux]

I loved this book until the ending, which felt like a rushed shrug straight out of Umberto Lenzi's NIGHTMARE CITY.

[Kanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pine & Merrimac is beautiful artwork.



The storyline was a bit disappointing.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one I ran across at the library and the blurb gave me Scully and Mulder vibes though it turned out to be way less supernatural than an X-Files. Linnea Kent was a homicide detective in some unnamed big city. Her sister had been kidnapped/raped/killed when they were kids (there's some of your content warning right there, I'll add in violence and human trafficking...sort of) So it was that childhood horror that made Linnea want to be a homicide detective but every murder freaked her out into vomit-inducing panic attacks.

She quit and moved to small town USA with her husband, Parker a former MMA fighter (the brawn to her brains) and they set up a detective agency at the corner of Pine and Merrimac (and titling it so). They mostly do cheating partner sort of things, nothing heavy until a set of parents come in looking for their daughter who looks so much like Linnea's sister that she says yes.

This sets them off on a dangerous path of human trafficking for demonic purposes and the high powered group running it. There are themes taken from real life (because I recognize the case because I used it in one of my own stories) with isolated islands, and the movers and shakers of the world using their power and influence and money to do whatever they damn well please.

I really liked Parker and Linnea. It isn't often we see a healthy relationship in a story. It's always enemies to lovers tropes or unresolved sexual tension etc. There's none of that. They're old marrieds and very sweet about it but it's also what gives the biggest gut punch to the story (all I'm saying so it's not spoiled)

The end is...odd but open to a sequel. I'd read that. I thought the story telling was well paced and engaging and I liked the art for the most part.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comic about husband and wife detectives. She was a homicide detective who couldn't abide murder. He is an ex MMA fighter. Now they run their own detective agency in a small town. These two are adorable. They're full of witty banter and love for one another. The mystery they get embroiled in could be stronger. It relies on a lot of tropes more than anything else. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit more like a cancellation than a to be continued.

Fran Galan is a terrific artist. Expect big things from him in the future. His art has this Don Bluth quality do it that I just fell in love with.

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the most grounded Kyle Starks book I've read, and it features a cult and some mystical bullshit, so that's really saying something about where his books tend to go and my undying affection for them.

Speaking of undying affection, if the dude in this called his wife "my love" in a tense situation one more time, I was fit to throw myself into a ravine. I get it, you're in love. I say this as someone who is in love: Inflicting being in love on other people is gross. Nobody wants to see you in a functional relationship, okay? You have to choose: be in a functional relationship or write stories about relationships, NEVER both.

[bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is quite possibly one of my favourite comics this year and there is strong competition. The preview catalogue description hooked me - Pine and Merrimac sounded so bonkers and I enjoyed Kyle Starks run on Peacemaker. But this blew expectations out of the water. I enjoy crime thrillers in comic form only and hey it might not be treading any new ground in the genre but i think that's okay. The ending of issue 4 and 5 were incredible and genuinely the ending of issue 4 had me near tears.

Excited to see what this team do next.

Read in single issues.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What sold me on this series was the relationship between the two main characters. She's a former big city police detective and he's a former MMA fighter. Starks writes them as a couple deeply in love with each other, to the point that they might outdo a Hallmark Channel movie.

Yeah, its a bit cheesy but I dug it (blame it on my being newly married).

They get called in to handle a missing persons case that grows into a large conspiracy. I'm not certain that I'm sold on the twist ending, but I'd read more of their story.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel was recommended to me and, happily, it is in the collection at Linebaugh (also available via Hoopla). Where to start? The recommendation was spot on, right up my street: great characters, beautiful art, compelling tale. A twist - there's always a twist but still, I must point it out. I've already passed this suggestion to others and may purchase it, if a local store has it on shelf. Definitely one I'll reread, I'm sure I'll pick up nuances that I missed, blasting through this first go 'round. Will look for more from this author & illustrator.

[Steven desJardins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. I found the dialogue over-explanatory, too obviously dropping in the background the author wants the reader to have, too obviously trying to establish that characters are charming or repulsive or in love or whatever, sounding not at all like what people would say if their words were directed only at the people in front of them. It felt like I was slogging through meh, with the drifts rising somewhere above my ankles and below my knees. If instead of reading it in book form, I had been handed the first issue, I would not have gone on to the second.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing combination of domestic (romantic) drama, P.I. story in the sticks and conspiracy thriller with supernatural trappings.
First off, I love Fran Galán's artwork, which flicks back and forth in time effortlessly. Secondly, Kyle Starks throws in so many disparate elements to the story that it shouldn't work, but he weaves together Linnea and Parker's relationship endearingly and let's the elements mesh well, until *that* twist, near the end. Oh yes, it's funny as well, but not at the cost of the story.
An enjoyable romp, with some darkness at its heart.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag, this one. Fran Galán’s work is gorgeous, and the colors bring the pages to life. There are some strong moments too, especially the humor and the opening of the story. I liked the main couple and their dynamic. It felt warm and genuine.

But the story didn’t fully work for me. It felt kind of chopped up, like scenes were missing or rushed. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward, and the ending just didn’t land - not bad, exactly, just kind of meh.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two are the sweetest couple I’ve ever read.

After a lifetime of losing pieces of herself in every horrific case, former homicide detective Linnea Kent is starting fresh. Alongside her husband, Parker, a former MMA fighter and the brawn to her brains, she’s opened up a quiet little detective agency, far from the city noise.

A simple case turns into so much more. Kidnapping, cult, horror, death, and of course, politicians. My heart broke at the ending…but what happened?!

[Mee Too · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hands down the least interesting thing I’ve ever read from this writer. The writer should have just toned down the sex and violence and made it a children’s book.

It was just so so corny.

Maybe not as low as 2 stars, maybe a really dissatisfying 3.

Let’s say 2.6⭐️ because I know this writer can do better than this.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issues 1-5 feature instantly captivating characters strengthened by an illustration style that exudes personality. Our detectives' mystery is fairly familiar but has some unique elements. The ending works well as a conclusion to a first arc or the miniseries altogether. But, I hope there are more...

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely liked it a lot. The art and colouring isn't for me but it had good storytelling.

Not the sharpest wit of Starks, but it had fun and funny moments in it. The tone shifts felt natural and true to life.

[Greg Trosclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great art and great story. Pine and Merrimac are a fun Supernatural Mystery. The story features a couple one a former police officer and the other a former MMA fighter. They investigate a missing person case which spins into tracking a cult. Fun and exciting and well worth the read.

[Anna Siewicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

a husband that loves his wife & violence. & a wife that fights for her husband and for what's right.

the art was absolutely gorgeous and im obsessed with their love.

but that's it???!!! there better be more story to follow because I have questions !!

[Nikolaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man this would’ve been a 5 star read if not for the last 10 or so pages. I love how cute Linnea and Parker are and the idea of the plot was cool, but I cringed so hard at the ending - and not for good reasons. 3 stars for the plot and 5 stars for the art evens out to 4 stars.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable characters and enjoyable enough but felt a bit underdeveloped and lacked the wit and sharp dialogue of Peacemaker and Where Monsters Lie.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A reasonable detective tale is derailed by poor writing and a telegraphed ending right out of Wishmaster and a dozen other similar tales.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong dramatic work from Starks, great art from Galán, but it has an ending and a cliffhanger which feels rushed and a bit confused as far as the pacing of events.

[picasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

serious husband material up in this joint

[Yara Rubi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to be brutally honest, this story was very meh and kinda boring. I liked the little twist when Parker died but other than that it was mid.

[Christian Winegeart · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved this literally until the last two pages.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Admittedly, the established couple is stellar. The mystery is brutal awful. The art is stark and eye-catching.

However, proceed with caution as this ends devastatingly and then, nebulously. I choose to believe the outcome never happened and will gladly live in denial…