Written by J.G. Jones and Mark Waid
Drawn by J.G. Jones
Published by Boom! Studios

Just like with Mark Millar’s HUCK, this is a book that I initially considered avoiding, because of a similar concept that I have had in mind. I discussed this on the old Bleeding Cool forum back in February, when it was first announced by Michael Davis, who has had a similar idea. But I have recently got the two issues that have been published, so far.

The story opens in April 1927, in the rural town of Chatterlee, Mississippi. It’s a racially segregated town, with Blacks being kept in poverty, used as a cheap labor force. This story is set against the backdrop of an oncoming storm, which threatens to launch a flood that, according to a special engineer sent from Washington, could wipe out the entire town. One poor Black man is being accused of theft, and when a posse of the Ku Klux Klan attempt to hunt him down on night, a spaceship crashes in the swamp, out comes a tall, naked, and extremely strong Black man. And that’s then things get weird…

There’s not much more I can say about this first issue. It’s an interesting premise yet this first issue is rather light on the details. Several characters are introduced, including the aforementioned engineer, who aren’t even named. I have no complaints about J.G. Jones’ art though, he perfectly captures the mood of the time period. That’s what really saves this comic, and makes me want to come back for at least one more issue.

Strange Fruit #1