Anghus Houvouras reviews Moonshine #1…
Set during Prohibition, and deep in the backwoods of Appalachia, MOONSHINE #1 tells the story of Lou Pirlo, a city-slick “torpedo” sent from New York City to negotiate a deal with the best moonshiner in West Virginia, one Hiram Holt. What Lou doesn’t figure on is that Holt is just as cunning and ruthless as any NYC crime boss. Because not only will Holt do anything to protect his illicit booze operation, he’ll stop at nothing to protect a much darker family secret…a bloody, supernatural secret that must never see the light of day… or better still, the light of the full moon.
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Moonshine #1 here
I think I’ve found my favorite comic of 2016.
There’s been a lot of good reading to be found in my local comic book shop this year. Marvel’s had a rough year burdened with inconsistency while DC’s Rebirth has been a shot of pure meth laced adrenaline for mainstream comic fans. However, most years I find my favorite title among the independent publishers like Dark Horse, Boom, 2000 AD, and more often than not Image Comics.
Image Comics has gone from the world’s worst publisher of gold foil, lenticular, certifiable garbage (Youngblood, Brigade, or anything else Rob Liefield created) to a factory of the fantastic. They’ve become the most creative comic imprint on the planet. A home for the most innovative creators to put out challenging stories that continue to push the envelope. This perfectly describes Brian Azzarello’s and Eduardo Risso’s exceptional Moonshine #1.
Prohibition. The mountains of West Virginia are crawling with bootleggers, mobsters, and something despicably evil. The world of Moonshine feels like something conceived through combining the best gangland pulp with old school horror films. The world is immediately accessible and beautifully conceived. Eduardo Risso’s art is pitch perfect: moody, atmospheric, and has such a great use of light and shadows.
Mob lackey Lou Pirlo heads into the creepiest corners of Appalachia to try and make a deal on behalf of his boss to import some damn fine liquor into New York City. His mission puts him into a fish out of water scenario as the surly, cynical city slicker has to deal with a group of back country good ‘ol boys who aren’t exactly pushovers.
Azzarello’s script gives us a nice cross-section of interesting characters. None of them are as dynamic as the presumed villain of the piece, Hiram Holt. Holt is a fearless, lawless presence unfazed by violence and understands the brutal nature of his business. While Pirlo is a likable rogue, Holt is the one who holds all the power in their negotiations.
Moonshine has the kind of rhythm and chemistry that seems fitting since Azzarello and Risso have done this dance before. The team that created the mesmerizing, always interesting 100 Bullets have come back with a vengeance. Moonshine #1 is easily the best debut of 2016 and already has me howling at the moon in anticipation for the next issue.
Rating: 9/10
Anghus Houvouras
Originally published October 5, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
