Bylines in Blood #1

Bylines in Blood #1 introduces us to a hauntingly proximate future, immersing us in the atmospheric world of Satya, a hardened private investigator who takes on cases to make ends meet. However, her life takes a personal turn when she discovers that her former editor and mentor has been killed. In a world where independent newspapers have vanished and the pursuit of truth has lost its sanctity, Satya finds herself entangled in a case that hits close to home.

What makes Bylines in Blood so captivating is its masterful fusion of two of my all-time favorite comics. It seamlessly blends the unsettling concerns of Aftershock’s Moth & Whisper, which delves into a dystopian surveillance state, with the gritty and enthralling detective mysteries led by strong female characters, as seen in Abbott. Similar to these series, Bylines in Blood swiftly brings its characters and world to life, even within the confines of this inaugural issue, largely due to the gripping artwork by Aneke. Notably, there is a page featuring a time-lapse sequence showcasing Satya’s deceased mentor, which skillfully plays with time, space, and color, encapsulating the visual and narrative essence of this remarkable book.