reflection

A thriller filled with violence and swearing, Lad: The Homecoming #1 is a solid crime noir with an added layer of dark magic and mystery that will hopefully become more and more prominent as the story unfolds.
Writing/Story
Pencils/Ink
Lettering

Review: LAD: THE HOMECOMING #1 Mixes Gritty Noir With Urban Fantasy

Lad: The Homecoming #1 is a new fantasy/crime thriller by writer Umar Ditta and artist Carlos Pedro, with letters by Kerrie Smith. The first issue of the comic miniseries recently finished a successful Kickstarter campaign, and will soon be available for all to consume.

Lad The Homecoming Cover

Story

Taking inspiration from neo-noir films and comics, Lad: The Homecoming is set in a world that is similar to ours, yet hauntingly different. The Family is a criminal organization that controls a small town in England. However, there is one place where no member of The Family will set foot – The Forest. Engulfing most of the town’s perimeter, The Forest is home to the feared entity, The Hermit. But when Dad, the patriarchal leader of The Family, is found savagely beaten just outside The Forest, The Family believes it to be an act of war. One which sets in motion a series of events that will change everything for The Family forever.

Much like The Forest that is frequently discussed in Lad: The Homecoming, there is an air of magic and mystery about the book, which makes it all the more appealing. Umar Ditta makes it very clear that there is a bigger world at play, with dark secrets to be revealed as the story progresses. 

And in the middle of this intriguing mystery is The Family, a ruthless criminal organization of tough guys. And they are ruthless. The notion that these gangsters take on familial titles, as opposed to their proper names, adds to the secrecy of Lad: The Homecoming. It also doesn’t hurt that this book is chock full of violence and offensive language, which makes it all the more entertaining. But what’s truly gripping about the book is not knowing what is waiting for Lad and The Family on the other side of The Forest. 

Lad The Homecoming Page 1

Art

The artwork in Lad: The Homecoming creates this gritty, noir aesthetic, which is fitting for a number of reasons. Characters are obscured by shadow in every panel they appear, adding to the air of darkness and secrecy of the story. Carlos Pedro’s use of heavy contrast makes the book that much more creepy and somewhat otherworldly. Backgrounds are usually solid white or shadowy black, except for when the night sky or Forest is illustrated, which shows off the artist’s command of lighting a panel.

Conclusion

A thriller filled with violence and swearing, Lad: The Homecoming #1 is a solid crime noir comic with an added layer of dark magic and mystery that will hopefully become more and more prominent as the story unfolds.


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Michael Fromm
Michael Frommhttps://www.michaelefromm.com/
Michael E. Fromm is an all-around scrivener, writing screenplays (short and feature), short stories, novels, poetry, blogs, articles, and press releases. Since first learning to hold a pen, he has done little but read, watch, and write about characters and worlds of fantasy. It would be very difficult to find him without a pen in hand and an idea in mind, which is problematic for anyone wanting to have a conversation with him. Michael graduated from Rowan University, primarily focusing on improving his skills as a filmmaker and screenwriter. After said schooling, he joined an elite force of Rowan grads who also had the notion of becoming filmmakers. This group, known as Justice Productions, call on him every so often to write short films. And, until this whole writing thing pays off, Michael currently does development & marketing communication (writing, graphic & publication design, social media and website upkeep, etc.) for a web development company in Central New Jersey, where he currently resides.

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Review: LAD: THE HOMECOMING #1 Mixes Gritty Noir With Urban FantasyA thriller filled with violence and swearing, Lad: The Homecoming #1 is a solid crime noir with an added layer of dark magic and mystery that will hopefully become more and more prominent as the story unfolds.