Black Magick, Vol. 3: Ascension I

Black Magick #3

by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott (Illustrator)

New York Times bestselling creators GREG RUCKA and NICOLA SCOTT return with their chilling witchcraft cop saga, BLACK MAGICK!

The walls separating Detective Rowan Black's worlds of witchcraft and police work have begun to crumble, and the forces targeting her are now revealed. But what they want, why they want it, and what they’ll do to get it will impact more than Rowan alone. As the occult and infernal collide, those closest to Rowan may find themselves consumed as Rowan herself comes to embrace her power.

Collects BLACK MAGICK #12-16

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror, Witches, Magic, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2021

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so here's my biggest complaint:
The last volume was published in 2018 and this one came out in 2021. That's a looooong fucking time between reading these.
That's not to say it wasn't good, but I'm not quite as hungry for more as I once was. And to be completely honest, I only kinda -sorta of remembered what had happened previously in a general sense.



Side note: Rowan should seriously beat the shit out of whoever gave her that fucked-up haircut. What the hell is that? A reverse mullet?


Also, this one felt a lot more like a trashy romance novel than a book about witches. Now, who the hell doesn't like to see a little sex in their comics? I know I do! But there wasn't much in the way of actual story this time around and it felt like padding.
Hey, look! A dick and some tits!
Shhhh! Pay no attention to the fact that there's no real meat on the bones of this volume.



Ok, it's not like nothing happens. It does. Especially at the end when Rowan is forced into the 'choice' that you know she'll eventually be faced with. But I felt no surprise when she chose and I felt no real danger for her loved ones.
If you have eyes, you already knew what was going to happen. I like Rucka's writing and I've been a huge fan of Black Magick since it came out, and I also know that shit has been fucking crazy for that past year. That could very well be why this felt like a bunch of filler.



Still, the imagery in this is hauntingly beautiful. The flecks of color on a mostly black and white palate are almost perfection. I can't stop staring at the pages. So, I'm certainly not willing to give up on this title, and I hope that Rucka and the very talented Nicola Scott return soon with more of this story. <--soon being the operative word.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, first things first: what the bloody shrimping hell is wrong with Rowan's hair?!



I mean, what the actual fish?! 🤮🤮 Moving on and stuff.

So this volume was Super Extra Meh (SEM™). A lot things happen, but at the same time nothing really happens. Not in terms of story arc, anyway. We've got people getting it on. A lot. Damn, these people are hornier than a bunch of hyperactive crayfish in heat. And well, you know, good for them and stuff, but it's not really what I'm looking for when I pick up a volume in this series.

Then there's Rowan and her supposed depression/identity crisis/whatever.



Which is fine. I mean, I never wanted her to be a super strong badass witch/cop 24/7. But having a whole volume with her going all woe is me was a bit too much for me. Especially when her go-to technique to solve her problems is a healthy alcohol and sex regimen. Clichés, anyone? 🙄🙄 Oh well, I guess it could have been worse. I mean, she could have acted like a complete moron, on top of everything else. Um. Right. Forget I said anything, okay? Right. Moving on.

So Rowan isn't really at her best here and the story feels like a whole bunch of nothing, but at least the art and coloring are as scrumptious as ever.





And the work on transparency is pretty cool here, too.



Another great thing about this volume is that our Very Merry Band of Hellspawns (VMBoH™) is as gloriously delicious as ever. The Cutest Little Girl That Ever Was is at her creepiest loveliest.





And, most importantly, my boyfriend the Yummy Dude of the Appetizing Pustules (YDotAP™) is at his yuckiest sexiest:



(“At my pleasure,” you say? Oh well, in that case...)

Actually, now that I think about it, I wouldn't mind if the next volume focused on the Very Merry Band of Hellspawns instead of their puny human foes. Because let me tell you, the puny humans might be having sex 24/7 and stuff, but the Delightfully Evil Villains really know how to have FUN.



See what I mean?

P.S. There is a case of Bad French in this volume. Sigh. Why do authors do this? Why? Want to use a foreign language in your story? Fine, go right ahead. But at least show some bloody respect for those who actually speak the language, and have your bloody text checked by a native speaker! Is that too much to ask?! Sure looks like it is 😤😤.

· Vol. 1: Awakening I ★★★★★
· Vol. 2: Awakening II ★★★★★

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what it means to read comics sometimes: I read the first volume in 2016 and loved it; two year later, in 2018 volume two and I liked it even better, but the third volume is even more delayed (okay, pandemic), out in 2021, and it is now hard to sustain enthusiasm.

Rowan Black is a cop for the Portsmouth PD and she's also a witch, part of an area coven. But she wants to keep these two aspects of her life separate, secret from each other. She basically has problems expressing her feelings, she's struggling, and she mainly copes by indulging in alcohol and sex.

So some bad witches in this one are trying to convince Rowan to come more to their evil-witch side vs. her more Wiccan nature. There’s a variety of interesting witches and demons, including a child-demon with a voo-doo doll. Suspense? Not really, as we pretty much know what choice she will ultimately make.

Rowan and her life (centuries!) long friend Alex are interesting, but honestly, there’s not much that moves things forward here--very plot-thin--so Rucka fills the volume with a lot of sex, which, okay, turns the pages, but hey, after 5 years of a series and a two year wait, c’mon, guys! But as everyone has noted, the very talented Nicola Scott is the centerpiece of this series, just gorgeous black and white drawings with flecks of color here and there. The art alone might have warranted four stars, but I'm disgruntled about how little story there is here. Still, I’ll see Ro in 2023 for volume four!

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing the first 11 issues in the initial tome, I couldn’t wait for the second volume to be released. Instead, I jumped right into the trade paperbacks to continue the story.

It’s just as captivating as the first tome. I absolutely love this series and the universe Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott have crafted.

The blend of paranormal elements, witchcraft, and crime is phenomenal, and Rowan Black stands out as one of the most badass female characters in comic history.

Though the series seems to be on hold right now, I’ve heard that the creators are returning to it, so I’m hopeful to eventually read the rest of this incredible title.

Can’t wait to keep going with it!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what to think of the story yet but by Hecate it’s got to be the most visually gorgeous book I’ve ever seen.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the last volume.

[Jamie Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all greg rucka books. Never anything mind-blowing but always fun to read. Though this story wasn't particularly involved it was still fun. 4 stars.

[The SciFi Book Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So yeah, is fuck fest one word or two? Maybe it’s hyphenated. I’m going to go with one word because I like it, fuckfest. It’s like a huge music festival up in the mountains where everyone takes a bunch of shrooms, dresses up like animals, and listens to EDM. But with fucking. I suppose there’s a lot of that at those music festivals too. I wouldn’t really now because the one time I went, I took something weird and ending up talking to a tree for the entire weekend. Is that what Wicca is like? Because sign me up, I had a blast!

Anyways, this volume takes place during Beltane which I assume is Wiccan for fuckfest. Witches banging witch hunters, witches banging witches, witch cops banging non-witch cops, demons wanting to bang witches, holy fucking hell… I love some ass and titties, with some big dong thrown in (for purely comparative reasons), but time and place bro. I already frequent several websites on a daily basis for that kind of content. While sex and nudity is always appreciated, this was a little overboard.

Maybe Rucka was on a huge dry spell due to Covid quarantines when he wrote this volume. Don’t worry bro, we’ve all been there. I myself have frequent dry spells and it creeps into my work too. That said, I am an accountant and a lot of questions get raised when all of my numbers contain 69. Casey, what’s our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization for the past quarter? “Umm yeah… it’s $69,069.” What’s wrong with you boy?

Yeah, I’m probably blowing this up a bit but that was my main takeaway from this volume. It’s not like it was an endless orgy, but not much else took place, so that was the part you remembered most. I guess what I mean is that the story had no meat on the bones, but there’s meat on that dude’s bone, if you know what I mean. Dong, I mean there’s dong.

The story just plods along with pouty Rowan stalling over the big choice she needs to make. Does she accept who she truly is and unleash her full ultra badass bitch witch power? Maybe… Blonde Gozer the Gozerian and that creepy child demon with the sewed shut mouth are back. Dudes, I’m man enough to say this, she literally scares the shit out of me! I’m going to need to crush a two-sixer of whiskey so I don’t have nightmares about that little freak tonight. Gives me the god damn heebie jeebies.

All that said, the art is fucking top notch! The black and white illustrations with the magic aspects in colour just fucking pops! Haunting bros! Such a big fan over here.

Anyways, that’s about all I got. Adios amigos!

Oh wait, check out my rad site for more content like this: The SciFi Book Guy

[Benji Glaab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was excellent. The plot is evolving. The character relationships are really interesting, and to top it off Nichola Scott's art is on another level. I can see why the series is releasing at a snails pace since the art is at such a high standard it must be slowing down production. I'm all for it can't rush quality.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Black Magick and sex go together so we get a fair share of both here. Sadly, there's not much story progression (ok, not entirely fair, but compared to the first two vols. things did slow down).

But hey, it's still Rucka and the art is gorgeous. I'm here for the next part of the story!

[Vaikhari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot : 3/5
Art : 4.5/5
Humour : 3/5
Characters : 3/5
Overall rating : 3.5/5

This a compiled review of all 3 volumes.

How cruel do you have to be in order to leave us with such anxiety inducing cliffhanger!? (We're still unaware of when the next vol would drop.) 

What can I say, the art was stunning as usual, although not sure if i'm a big fan of how the story is proceeding (with relationship issues, miscommunications, etc) nor am i liking how characters seem to handle all these difficulties....yet i'm still eagerly awaiting the next issue. 

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot in v3 fast-forwards through some elements (Alex's unlikely affair with Laurent; Stepan's kidnapping of Alex, who is powerful and prepared to repel his attack). The illustration is as amazing as ever but the story quality suffers. I fear circulation is too low and Image is trying to wrap things up. Which is better than straight up cancelling it, I suppose, but is still a minor tragedy.


--Rowan begins using her power on cases, finding clues and compelling confessions, as the queen demon keeps prodding her.
--Rowan has an affair with her new partner Nichole.
--IA pushes Morgan on the murders in v1. They now suspect Rowan as the killer.
--Alex, kept in the dark by Rowan, is having an affair with Laurent, the head of AIRA.
--The child-demon with the voodoo doll tries to kill Alex in a car wreck (why?) but is destroyed. Its parent demon goes rogue when the queen demon refuses to punish Alex for the affront.
--AIRA thug Stepan steals a book which balefires witches and kidnaps Alex.
--The queen demon runs Rowan's motorcycle into a truck then shows her Alex and Nichole in mortal danger. Rowan uses her power to alter reality and save them.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me join the chorus on Rowan's hair...WTF? Anyway, it was nice to get back to this, even with the lengthy delay between volumes 2 and 3 (will there be a huge wait before volume 4? I guess only time will tell). Things are starting to happen and it looks like Rowan is a fairly major player in everything that's happened and will happen. I still like the art and the flashes of color. I also liked the fact that some things happened this time around and stuff is getting more serious. But let's get moving on that fourth volume...

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this series though the pace is pretty slow and the creators are taking breaks between arcs. Interested in where they are going but it’s taking too long. Had a hard time recalling where volume 2 left off

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a long time between volumes, so I do not remember everything that happened. It would have been nice for some kind of recap when you take a couple years between releases. That did not prevent me from enjoying the story and the gorgeous artwork. The concept and world within this story are intriguing. I just wish it came out more frequently.

[Trike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent building-the-backstory installment, setting things up for a big to-do when it all comes together.

These take so long to come out that I expect the next volume will be released sometime in late 2023. Seriously, that’s my bet on the publication pool.

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra serie de Image abandonada lpm. Que bronca. El volumen está ok, un poco más genérico y obvio, pero igual de entretenido. Creo que se la banca más leyendo los tres en continuado. Una pena que no haya seguido. Dale Rucka!

[Whitney (The Cover Collector) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. That haircut should be banned from society, and I don’t believe in censorship, so this is saying something.

[C.J. Edmunds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it's the too-long of a wait in between volumes but my excitement to get my hands on this volume was a real test on my patience. Over Halloween of last year, had to re-read Vol 1 and 2 just to keep the interest going and also expecting the same kind of flow for Volume 3.

Finally, I got it the other day, devoured it on the spot. And while it sort of continues on the flow of the first 2 volumes, the story doesn't give much of a reward for the arc that was supposed to involve a lot of Wicca and magick and murder.

Instead, we got horny witches, nudity, and "alliances" or perhaps even "dalliances" that we could have done away with as a trade-off for more urban fantasy goodness.

Sure a lot happens in this 3rd volume that collects issues 12 to 16 but I wish that the frenetic pace of the mystery involving Rowan and the target that she seems to be, with regards to the killings around and her relation to magick, be maintained. It was either the long wait in between volumes that have made me expect something along those lines with regards to how this 3rd volume was structured or the creators are slowly building up to something for the next volume, given that the title for this compilation is Ascencion 1.

By the end of the volume, we see that Rowan is indeed changing and "ascending" into who she truly is. I can only hope that by the 4th volume rolls out, all this waiting for her ascencsion would've been worth the wait and the build up.

Please more WICCA in the next volumes.

[Daniel Kovacs Rezsuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great setup for a second story arc, but that's just it: even though the volume consists of 5 issues, it still makes up only half of a story. The decompressed storytelling borders on such a level that's almost too slow for my taste. Otherwise, Black Magick is still the best occult detective comic book on the shelves right now.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

True names. Lost trust. Changing loyalties. Magic is taken to the next level.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like with the first two, the art is stunning. I feel like the plot has started moving in some interesting directions, so I'm sad there isn't more to continue with yet. The main criticism I'd have is that they do this time jump, so rather than seeing Rowan develop a relationship with her new partner naturally, it feels a little bit out of nowhere. Still, an interesting read with a gorgeous art style.

[The Lost Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't even expect to ever get any extra issues for this extraordinary comic book, so just getting to read a single new page of Black Magick felt delightful. Rowan's lack of ability to express her own feelings and needs felt to me like the main engine of this volume. This inability is frustrating, not only in the context of the storytelling but also for the reader themselves. She's as magnetic as she was when I started reading this comic some years ago. She drags you into her noir world but she refuses to let the reader get to really know her at any point. It's intriguing as it's catchy. It's a complicated game to be played by Greg Rucka, but he comes successfully out of it most of the time.
This third volume feels a little bit too slow for the first couple of issues, not because it lacks direction, but the opposite: because there are too many pieces to be set and characters to be followed. Not to mention that for some readers it had been like two years since we were in touch with the story. But once the plot is set on its track, it moves inexorably towards delightful entertainment.
Apart from that, there are no words to describe the excellent word of Nicola Scott. She's simply superb, like in every single page she had already drawn for Black Magick. One can spend an entire night only enjoying the artwork of any of these issues.
Now, one can only hope that Black Magick returns, as Rucka and Scott promise, next year. And that it does with a clear purpose to provide a conclusion worthy of such a memorable story.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Black Magic: Ascension" continues in the path of two previous volumes of this series by presenting an engaging urban fantasy tale with strong and striking black and white artwork. However, this volume leaves the reader wanting more due to a fairly predictable and cliched story arc that focuses on the dangers of absolute power. Additionally, the story seems truncated and incomplete. A redeeming factor is the creative and unexpected use of colour in a few key panels. This is definitely an enjoyable read that should be pursued by anyone who enjoyed the previous two volumes. Here's hoping that the fourth volume comes out soon and surpasses this one.

[Darth Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, the gap between when the first two volumes were published and this one was like three years. Not wanting to reread the first two, I almost had nearly no clue what was even going on (that's my bad). Second, I could not get over just how bad the relationship between Nicky and Ro was. Like wow. Nikky especially was written atrociously. I just don't understand what the thought process was behind making her so...dramatic. Ugh.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately, based on the time between reading the previous volume, I had little connection to the story to this point. While it could be said to be my issue, there wasn’t enough here to make me interested in going back and being reminded of what came before.

[Imogene · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not as coherent a story arc as the previous two TBP, it was still creepy, clever, and definitely intriguing

[Paulo Vinicius Figueiredo dos Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essa é uma daquelas edições que são reveladoras. Muitas coisas acontecendo ao mesmo tempo e Greg Rucka foi habilidoso ao equilibrar vários pratos sem perder a fluidez da narrativa. Achei tudo bem encaixado e vários momentos de tensão se espalham pelas edições que compõem esse volume. Sério, você não consegue parar de ler. E é uma pena que Black Magick esteja sofrendo com tantos hiatos. Se fosse uma HQ contínua talvez mais pessoas estivessem comentando sobre ela. Não costumo curtir muito os enredos do Rucka, mas aqui ele entrega algo redondinho para o leitor, com direito a exploração de toda uma mitologia que ele criou para o mundo. Os personagens secundários são poucos, mas bem explorados e ele deixa subplots para cada um deles. Então nada é jogado por acaso. Rowan serve como uma agregadora de todos os plots, seja de forma direta ou indireta. E aquele gancho no final...

Se o volume anterior foi repleto de explosões, magias e insanidade, esse é um volume mais denso no que diz respeito aos personagens. Rowan está confusa. A separação dela e do detetive Schaffer afetou-a mais do que ela imaginava. Logo nas duas primeiras páginas começamos com uma comemoração da festa de Beltane proporcionada pelo seu coven. Enquanto todos estão se divertindo, Rowan está sentada abaixo de uma árvore tomando um porre para esquecer os seus problemas. Desde a edição passada que Alexandra percebeu que Rowan está entrando em um caminho de autodestruição. Algo muito dolorido para alguém que acompanha a personagem há várias gerações. E a protagonista não deseja compartilhar seus problemas com a bruxa cinzenta, algo que a deixa preocupada e magoada. Logo na mesma edição Rowan acaba se envolvendo com outra pessoa, o que deixa a gente confuso. A questão é: ela está se envolvendo com essa pessoa para esquecer Schaffer ou realmente se apaixonou por ela?

Ao redor de Rowan temos uma forte presença demoníaca. Ele se aproxima de forma tentadora para cima da bruxa negra, fazendo ofertas tentadoras. Olha aí as sombras de um pacto fáustico se aproximando. Mas, Rowan sabe do poder e da influência dEle e procura afastá-lo da melhor maneira possível. Infelizmente para ela, sabemos que Ele é uma presença inefável e incontornável. Ela terá que lidar com sua presença infernal e todo o legado da família Black. As negativas de Rowan tem deixado-O impaciente o que faz com que Ele comece a afetar a vida daquelas pessoas que cercam sua presa. Porém, temos outras presenças infernais desejando destruir Rowan como aquela a quem a personagem deteve na última edição. Seu espírito de vingança contra a protagonista é tão grande que Ele sente que ela se tornou um empecilho, podendo atrapalhar seus planos. Mas, sabemos que um demônio tem maneiras de contornar todo e qualquer obstáculo.

Do outro lado do mundo, temos Stepan, o caçador de bruxas, retornando à base da ordem para obter conhecimentos da biblioteca. Anne-Marie, a anciã, percebe as intenções dele e tenta impedi-lo, mas ela não está preparada para o quanto o caçador mudou. Stepan sai de lá com um livro contendo um ritual capaz de extinguir para sempre a existência de uma bruxa, tornando-a incapaz até de reencarnar em outro corpo. É a morte absoluta. A partir daí perdemos o paradeiro do personagem e sabemos que ele se aproxima perigosamente. Seus métodos de caça às bruxas atingiram níveis inimagináveis. E sua violência não tem fim, mesmo que precise envolver inocentes.

Enquanto isso, Alexandre e Laurent se envolvem profundamente. Algo que nasceu do encontro entre duas pessoas que buscavam carinho e afeto de outras pessoas, se tornou uma forte chama que a tudo consome. Um caçador e sua caça. Laurent encontrou em uma bruxa o amor de sua vida. Agora cabe a ele se pergunta quais serão seus próximos passos. Porque ele vai precisar encontrar em seu interior a resposta para uma dúvida cruel: pode um caçador de bruxas encontrar a felicidade nos braços de uma bruxa? E estará Alexandra realmente apaixonada por ele, ou se trata de apenas um esquema para fugir de sua perseguição? Além desse problema mais íntimo, Laurent percebe que Anne-Marie não está dando sinais de vida. Os caçadores tem um esquema de entrar em contato uns com os outros com frequência para manter a ordem segura. Alexandra persegue uma presença obscura cercando-a por todos os lados, além de sua preocupação com Rowan. O casal recém-formado possui objetivos distintos que entraram em colisão e agora precisam decidir o que fazer a seguir. Para ambos, o caminho pode ser repleto de espinhos. E trazer inimigos poderosos em seu encalço.

[Tomás Sendarrubias García · Rating 4 out of 5]

En los tomos dos y tres de Black Magick continúa la historia de Rowan Black, la policía de la población de Portsmouth que forma parte de un culto de brujería y que se encontró en el primer número con que había algo que parecía tenerla como objetivo, y que aunque podrían haber sido los miembros de una sociedad de cazadores de brujas, según veíamos al final del primer tomo se trataba más de una cuestión exactamente del otro lado, es decir, más bien eran los demonios los que tenían interés en Rowan.

Y en estos tomos, vamos a profundizar en el pasado de Rowan y Alexandra, y vamos a conocer el concepto de memoria hereditaria que tienen las brujas, en el que se van reencarnando continuamente dentro de una misma familia y mantienen todas sus memorias, siéndoles reveladas cuando cumplen los trece años, así como que las Black son una de las familias más importantes dentro del culto, y que los demonios han interferido anteriormente en su vida. Del mismo modo, vamos a asistir a la relación entre Alexandra y Laurent, uno de los cazadores de brujas... y a como los demonios amenazan a los allegados de Rowan, incluyendo a su compañero, Morgan.

Y en el tercer tomo, que ocurre seis meses después, vamos a continuar con estas líneas maestras, con Rowan haciéndose a una nueva compañera de trabajo después de ciertos problemas con Morgan, y a los demonios tratando de acercarse más a Rowan mientras Stepan, uno de los cazadores de brujas, parece estar dispuesto a volverse contra los suyos... algo que también empiezan a sopesar en el departamento de policía, donde empiezan a creer que quizá Rowan esté detrás de varios crímenes ocurridos en la población...

Greg Rucka y Nicola Scott siguen haciendo un muy buen trabajo en esta colección, y cabe destacar el dibujo de Nicola, que es realmente impresionante, y que tiene viñetas absolutamente fantásticas. Con muchas ganas de que en algún momento la colección continúe.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set six months after the end of Volume 2, Black Magic Volume 3: Ascension I finds Detective Rowan Black beset on all fronts.

Her detective partnership has broken up and the distance and coldness between the former partners is palpable. The rest of the squad can't help but notice the ice between the two cops. Worse yet, she's being investigated by Internal Affairs.

But as a witch, Rowan isn't enjoying life there either. Her magical friends are worried about her and Rowan's lack of caring is opening her up for attacks from those witchhunters out to destroy Rowan and her kind. But she's also got to contend with the demons who are out to destroy her and her friends as well.

Along the way, we see revealed relationships, new relationships start and betrayals set in motion on a number of levels. The question is will Rowan pull out of her tailspin to deal with all of these issues or will she let those set against her take her out because she doesn't care?

Writer Greg Rucka and artist Nicola Scott have an always interesting tale on their hands. Gorgeous art and a compelling storyline will do that for you. Between the real world and the realm of the supernatural, there's a lot to digest in this collection and readers will find that they will be simultaneously defending and being royally upset at Rowan leaving herself open to all those out to do her harm.