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Abbott
Abbott #1
Hugo Award-nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed (Black Bolt) and artist Sami Kivelä (Beautiful Canvas) present one woman’s search for the truth that destroyed her family. Hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter Elena Abbott investigates a series of grisly crimes that the police have ignored. Crimes she knows to be the work of dark occult forces. Forces that took her husband from her. Forces she has sworn to destroy.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2018
5 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Saladin Ahmed
468 books1,771 followersSaladin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 18, 2021
Whoo-hoo! I'm glad I found this series. A kick-ass heroine. Magic. Horror. History. All set in 1972's Detroit. I'm in.
January 22, 2018
Excellent start to a new series: black female journalist in '70s Detroit fighting racism and sexism to deliver the truth.
January 24, 2018
This was a wonderful introduction!
Abbott is already a solid character. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on her personality and way of thinking. She's tenacious and headstrong, even when faced with several white men telling her to stay quiet and keep her head down. Her past is still being fleshed out but we got enough to nibble on here and I want more!
I like her boss, Charlie, quite a bit. Can't wait to see more of them interacting in the future. The supernatural element took me by surprise a bit, even having read a little about this series online. Black women don't often get to see ourselves in supernatural stories and even then, we're usually not the main characters. I'm very interested to see where this series goes next! I love the setting, the tone and the art.
5 stars.
Definitely a recommend.
Abbott is already a solid character. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on her personality and way of thinking. She's tenacious and headstrong, even when faced with several white men telling her to stay quiet and keep her head down. Her past is still being fleshed out but we got enough to nibble on here and I want more!
I like her boss, Charlie, quite a bit. Can't wait to see more of them interacting in the future. The supernatural element took me by surprise a bit, even having read a little about this series online. Black women don't often get to see ourselves in supernatural stories and even then, we're usually not the main characters. I'm very interested to see where this series goes next! I love the setting, the tone and the art.
5 stars.
Definitely a recommend.
February 15, 2019
What a bomb start to the series. I love that there's so much mystery, Elena Abbott is a bad bitch! She's cool, she's got style, she's got a past and there's so much that's alluded to. She's doing good work in her community and she's great at her job. Like most hard working black women, she pulls no punches and you can't keep her down.
Excited to read the rest of the series and work my way through. The illustrations too though! Proper!!
Excited to read the rest of the series and work my way through. The illustrations too though! Proper!!
March 9, 2018
In a "making-of" style interview, writer Saladin Ahmed, was asked what he hoped readers would take away from this new series and he responded: "Kick*** heroine! Old-school late-night TV horror chills! Snappy dialogue! Crime and magic! Newspapers and monsters! If horror or crime or history or social drama is your thing, there will be something here for you to love."
After devouring this title in one night and rereading it just to oogle the artwork some more and giggle at all my new favorite lines again, I have to say that that's Ahmed's hopes for the series are exactly what readers should expect out of this! This is an amazing new series - sharp and witty, with the same tonality and goosebump thrill of an old late-night crime show (I've watched many in-rerun with my granddad) and all the natural and well-paced dialogue! My mom and grandpa don't necessarily share my love of comics or of reading, but this is a title I know I can get them into and we can read as a family!
This social politics of this comic while set solidly in the 1970s are also so unfortunately relevant today. And there are no punches pulled here and certainly no sugar coating, folks! This is hard-hitting, but not at all preachy. It feels very real, raw, and authentic.
And the magic! Some ancient magic is being introduced in this series, stuff I imagine is from African traditions (since it is first called by name by Abbott's first love who was African) but also has a scary voodoo vibe. I am interested to see how and what all this turns out to be, and excited to discover if it's a magic of many origins, manipulated and corrupted until it becomes the destructive force haunting and taunting Abbott in this series. So much to look forward to reading!
Now let's talk about this artwork - simply beautiful, energetic, and very period appropriate. Artist Sami Kivelä and colorist Jason Wordie combine the artistic talents to create a style and feel that instantly transports you to the Detroit of the 1970s and very clearly translates all that goes bump in the night from the pages to your goosebumps. I'm also really in love with Kivelä's commitment to giving each character their own unique face and hair even if we won't ever see them again. That's the kind of work I live for! And to see so many Black faces with different noses and mouths and ner one is stripped of their afro-centric look/appeal just really makes my heart skip a beat.
And that last point is perhaps a bigger deal to me because from what I've gleamed of the creative team here not a single one of them is Black in any kind of way (except maybe the associate editor Chris Rosa?) - but you wouldn't know it if you weren't already familiar with them and I hadn't told you! And that is so significant because it proves that Black stories ARE universal - as much as any other story you've ever read - and that Black people ARE people just like anyone else and the work it takes to authentically portray Black people, our communities, and even regional and culturally specific dialogue is NOT any harder than portraying diverse White communities so there is absolutely no reason why any form of media and any creative team shouldn't be creating more characters of color who exist for more reason that to simply be of color. So obviously (at the risk of giving out cookies for things that should be normal by now) I would give an extra star just for that if I could, but since I can't I give Ahmed, Kivelä, and Wordie an extra bravo!
And also the writing and design in this issue is just so tight and on point! Every page is a page turner! There are no wasted words or images. I'm also really into "side narration" of Abbott's news articles, loving dispersed here and there.
There is really so much to praise in this first issue, and I am way behind in picking up the second, but I cannot wait to keep reading this. It's a series I highly recommend you putting in your box at your local comic shop. Don't have a subscription/pull box at your local comic shop? Get one, 'cause your gonna be real mad at yourself when you stroll in and the next issue is all sold out, especially if they can't order it for you. That's how good this is.
After devouring this title in one night and rereading it just to oogle the artwork some more and giggle at all my new favorite lines again, I have to say that that's Ahmed's hopes for the series are exactly what readers should expect out of this! This is an amazing new series - sharp and witty, with the same tonality and goosebump thrill of an old late-night crime show (I've watched many in-rerun with my granddad) and all the natural and well-paced dialogue! My mom and grandpa don't necessarily share my love of comics or of reading, but this is a title I know I can get them into and we can read as a family!
This social politics of this comic while set solidly in the 1970s are also so unfortunately relevant today. And there are no punches pulled here and certainly no sugar coating, folks! This is hard-hitting, but not at all preachy. It feels very real, raw, and authentic.
And the magic! Some ancient magic is being introduced in this series, stuff I imagine is from African traditions (since it is first called by name by Abbott's first love who was African) but also has a scary voodoo vibe. I am interested to see how and what all this turns out to be, and excited to discover if it's a magic of many origins, manipulated and corrupted until it becomes the destructive force haunting and taunting Abbott in this series. So much to look forward to reading!
Now let's talk about this artwork - simply beautiful, energetic, and very period appropriate. Artist Sami Kivelä and colorist Jason Wordie combine the artistic talents to create a style and feel that instantly transports you to the Detroit of the 1970s and very clearly translates all that goes bump in the night from the pages to your goosebumps. I'm also really in love with Kivelä's commitment to giving each character their own unique face and hair even if we won't ever see them again. That's the kind of work I live for! And to see so many Black faces with different noses and mouths and ner one is stripped of their afro-centric look/appeal just really makes my heart skip a beat.
And that last point is perhaps a bigger deal to me because from what I've gleamed of the creative team here not a single one of them is Black in any kind of way (except maybe the associate editor Chris Rosa?) - but you wouldn't know it if you weren't already familiar with them and I hadn't told you! And that is so significant because it proves that Black stories ARE universal - as much as any other story you've ever read - and that Black people ARE people just like anyone else and the work it takes to authentically portray Black people, our communities, and even regional and culturally specific dialogue is NOT any harder than portraying diverse White communities so there is absolutely no reason why any form of media and any creative team shouldn't be creating more characters of color who exist for more reason that to simply be of color. So obviously (at the risk of giving out cookies for things that should be normal by now) I would give an extra star just for that if I could, but since I can't I give Ahmed, Kivelä, and Wordie an extra bravo!
And also the writing and design in this issue is just so tight and on point! Every page is a page turner! There are no wasted words or images. I'm also really into "side narration" of Abbott's news articles, loving dispersed here and there.
There is really so much to praise in this first issue, and I am way behind in picking up the second, but I cannot wait to keep reading this. It's a series I highly recommend you putting in your box at your local comic shop. Don't have a subscription/pull box at your local comic shop? Get one, 'cause your gonna be real mad at yourself when you stroll in and the next issue is all sold out, especially if they can't order it for you. That's how good this is.
February 4, 2018
I like the character design and how each character has their own distinct personality. I'm not a huge fan of the color pallette. It's very muted in most panels, although that does work well for using bright colors to make something clearly important.
Overall, I'm into this comic and will likely pick up the next issue.
Overall, I'm into this comic and will likely pick up the next issue.
January 4, 2019
An excellent start to the comic and I can't wait to see how it progresses. I love Abbott's character, I love the art and the colors, and I love her role in this story. I hope though it doesn't get way too supernatural.
February 6, 2018
This series is off to a strong start! I look forward to reading the next issues.
May 25, 2018
What a fantastic introduction! Abbott is your hard boiled detective type - heavy smoker, drinker, raising hell among the racist, sexist police force of 1970s Detroit with her hard hitting journalism. However, what starts out as a weird case/story takes a dark turn for the supernatural. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes!
Ps. The artwork is to die for!
Ps. The artwork is to die for!
August 24, 2021
Promettente inizio, tinte scure e disegni favolosamente adatti alla narrazione che assecondano bene sia i dialoghi che i momenti maggiormente dinamici. Primo numero che fornisce tutto il necessario per spingere il lettore a proseguire nella lettura!
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December 23, 2025now THATS how you clear a book!
five stars five stars five stars five stars five st-
five stars five stars five stars five stars five st-
October 22, 2021
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review
Elena Abbott is one of the best and toughest reporters in Detroit. While trying to unmask gangs and their dirty affairs, she plays an important role as the Lightbringer to vanquish the evil threating the election campaign of the first black mayor.
When her firm gets a new books, he begins to question her role in the firm. Asking why she isn't lady like and offering unsolicited advice on how Elena Abbott should behave as a woman.
The comic style is not short of beautiful and clear you can read the dialogue boxes easily.
The main characters are all blacks and people of colour. The main lead character, Elena Abbott is a black queer woman. The representation of the challenges black queer women face was covered in this comic.
If you want to experience an urban fantasy and supernatural comic with magic and guns and detective work, Abbott us packed from the first page to the last page.
Elena Abbott is one of the best and toughest reporters in Detroit. While trying to unmask gangs and their dirty affairs, she plays an important role as the Lightbringer to vanquish the evil threating the election campaign of the first black mayor.
When her firm gets a new books, he begins to question her role in the firm. Asking why she isn't lady like and offering unsolicited advice on how Elena Abbott should behave as a woman.
The comic style is not short of beautiful and clear you can read the dialogue boxes easily.
The main characters are all blacks and people of colour. The main lead character, Elena Abbott is a black queer woman. The representation of the challenges black queer women face was covered in this comic.
If you want to experience an urban fantasy and supernatural comic with magic and guns and detective work, Abbott us packed from the first page to the last page.
May 20, 2023
This is a combination of form and genre that I don't think I've come across before - a historical urban fantasy comic, set in Detroit in the early 1970s, and it was super enjoyable. The protagonist, Elena, is a journalist known for her investigations into police brutality. Marginalised by both her race and sex, she's able to illuminate the social tensions of the time (before my time, and in another country at that) in a clear and vivid way. Honestly, I was so engrossed in the social commentary that I was actually a little disappointed when the urban fantasy bit came in - I had no idea going in that this was anything more than historical fiction, so the swirling monster that appeared in the alleyway was a surprise. It's not that I don't enjoy monsters and urban fantasy - I do - it's just that I find myself far less interested in it than I am in Elena and her community.
June 22, 2018
First pick from the Michigan Notable Books consideration list, and a great way to kick off both the MNB reading season and this mini-series. Investigative reporter Elena Abbott debuts fully formed in this mystery/horror story set in a retro-styled rendering of Detroit 1972. The narrative has the look and voice of a classic blaxploitation urban horror, with a strong social conscience and without a whiff of camp. This write-up covers the full five issue run, and I can't wait to read more installments in Abbott's saga. Please let there be more!
June 13, 2018
I’m not usually a comic person because I find the plot/character development is thinner than a novel, but here the story had the nuance that a longer work explores. I love Elena already and the people she works with... it all feels so real. It takes place in Detroit in the 1970s, and I found the gender/race subtext to ring true. Beautiful art. Excited for the series.
(Be aware of gore: two panels with mutilated body and horse head).
(Be aware of gore: two panels with mutilated body and horse head).
February 15, 2022
Nice and really cool with a strong black Lois Lane kind of a MC in the 70's Detroit fighting against all the issues that an independent black woman could face at that time. She wants to find the truth about her husband's murder which is still haunting her and some other new murders that could be related, it is not easy to do your job of finding the truth when you're surrounded by people who want to hide it.
Amazing adventure and female MC that I'm happy to have discovered.
Amazing adventure and female MC that I'm happy to have discovered.
February 21, 2018
Some awkward lines, especially regarding Abbott's routine-oriented behavior (I think they state that she drinks two brandys a night two or three times in as many pages), but an interesting start for sure. Beautiful artwork, and historical urban fantasy/weird fiction with the backdrop of race and civil rights is definitely something I can get into.
May 18, 2019
The start to a great story. 70's Detroit, racial and gender tensions, and lovecraftian horror. Think a retro update of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. A great reporter uncovering that which we weren't meant to know, in all the ways that means. Accompanied by great art to being the story and horror to life.
January 25, 2018
Black women reporter embroiled in demons and crime in ‘70s Detroit? Hell yeah! Saladin’s a super solid writer, and in some ways, this is more his thing than the Black Bolt stuff. He’s been nailing that, but this is the one I’m excited about.
January 25, 2018
If you love The X-Files, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, or Hellblazer but with a black chain-smoking heroine who has a tragic past that is hauting the streets Detroit in the 70's, this the series for you!
February 3, 2018
This first issue is incredibly well done. I’d describe it as 50% Fatale (supernatural crime) and 50% Black Magick (possible occult, police, female lead). And in reading that summary, I’ve added the 5 issue arc to my subscriptions. Great start for a series.
January 27, 2018
the artwork is gorgeous
the story is intriguing
looking forward to seeing how it unfolds
the story is intriguing
looking forward to seeing how it unfolds
January 27, 2018
New original comic series by Saladin Ahmed? SHUT THE EFF UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
January 29, 2018
A fascinating new series. Really like how raw, and gritty the storyline and the characters are in the issue. Can’t wait to see how the series unfolds.
February 10, 2018
Excellent
This book is everything I hoped. Hard boiled period piece with an inspiring hero and a touch of the occult.
This book is everything I hoped. Hard boiled period piece with an inspiring hero and a touch of the occult.
March 4, 2018
This is good for what it is, but what it is is not for me. Would have just liked a pure, hard boiled detective comic.
March 11, 2018
ممتاز. رسم ممتاز. شخصيات ممتازة.
وصف ممتع لحقبة سوداء عن صعوبات مرأة في عمل مليان رجال
وصف ممتع لحقبة سوداء عن صعوبات مرأة في عمل مليان رجال
April 24, 2018
Strong, female lead with intriguing cultic mystery. -
September 15, 2018
Una periodista negra en el Detroit de los 70. Irresistible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews