Blackbird Volume 1

by Sam Humphries

Jen Bartel (Artist)

Included in Tor.com's Best Comics of
2018
Included in Book Riot's Best
Comics of 2018

"Much like BARTEL's
art, the world of BLACKBIRD thrums with a fantastical undercurrent, and the
moments when it spills through to the surface are supremely satisfying." -KELLY
SUE DeCONNICK (BITCH PLANET)

Nina
Rodriguez knows there's a hidden magical world run by ruthless cabals hiding in
Los Angeles. And when a giant magic beast kidnaps her sister, Nina must confront
her past (and her demons) to get her sister back and reclaim her life. Perfect
for fans of SYFY's The Magicians, CW's Riverdale, and THE
WICKED + THE DIVINE, don't miss the first collection of the smash-hit
neo-noir fantasy series from fan-favorite writer SAM HUMPHRIES (Harley
Quinn, Nightwing) and red-hot artist JEN BARTEL (Black Panther, Mighty
Thor)!

Collects BLACKBIRD
#1-6.

• ISBN10: 1534312595
• ISBN13: 9781534312593
• Publish Date: 14 May 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 12 February 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Image Comics
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 168
• Language: English

Reviews

[layawaydragon]

Interesting. I really love the art and coloring. The plot isn't spelled out as much as picking up context clues. Though it does suck things would be wildly different if only they would just fucking talk to each other honestly.

I'm always a sucker for angsty gothy alternative girls. I'm curious to find out more about how this magic works and the playboy with a heart of gold to make a difference.

[leahrosereads]

The art is out of this world! It's breathtaking and truly enhances everything about this story (which itself was a bit disjointed and lackluster). The romance in the first volume felt a bit forced, and I wish it didn't exist, but I'm not quite ready to write-off this story entirely. There's definitely some intrigue here, especially around the magic structure and organizations, and I'm interested to see where this goes.

[Quirky Cat]

I read Blackbird Vol. 1 as single issues as they released. I also read it as a volume when it became available, because I love this series.

Blackbird follows Nina Rodriguez on her quest for truth and magic. But those words don’t really do the series justice. Nina is a stubborn woman who’s struggled a lot, and despite all of that she’s held on to what she believes in. Even when everybody else thinks she’s insane for it.
Blackbird has rapidly become one of my favorite series, and there are a lot of reasons to love it. Nina is an amazing character – she’s driven, she’s tortured, she’s on a mission for truth. The plot is fascinating, and the artwork is absolutely striking.
If I’m being honest, I originally picked up this series because the artwork on the cover caught my eye. From there I just became obsessed with this series. I read each issue as it came out. And then I bought and reread the series again when it came out on volume. I don’t typically do that, so I hope my statement carries the weight it deserves.


Blackbird is such an amazing an enchanting series, and the first volume really doesn’t hesitate to dive right into the thick of the plot itself. It makes for a fast-paced first six issues, but it’s so worth it. I enjoyed every minute of this series, and honestly hope it goes on for quite some time (though I’d also be okay with a well planned ending of course).
I’m actually a bit torn about where to start. So I guess I’ll start with the artwork. The artwork is striking. It’s the one of the best I’ve seen in a series, and certainly the brightest out of my favorites. Jen Bartel is the lead artist, and she does an amazing job. The series has tasked her with a lot of unique images, and so far she hasn’t seemed to falter once. My favorite scenes tend to include the larger magical manifestations, but that’s probably no surprise.
As for the plot, I enjoyed it immensely. It’s hard not to feel sympathetic for Nina, as the series starts out with us seeing her at one of the worst moments in her life. From there we’re given more and more reasons to invest in her emotionally.
I love how driven she is – even when she’s told she’s insane for what she believes in (magic), she never stops. She just keeps seeking out the answers that she knows are there. More than that though, I love Nina because her reactions are so human. She’s angry and hurt and lost, and she’s not afraid to show those emotions.
I loved the twists and revelations in this series, so far at least. They were dramatic and cleverly done. And let’s not forget about the emotional impact of what was revealed – because there absolutely was one.
Also, side note (and spoiler): There’s a cat in the opening scene of the series. Said cat disappears after, but I promise you the cat is fine. I know my heart broke at that moment, and hopefully this will help save one animal lover’s heart.
Now I just have to wait for the next issue to release, because there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to keep reading this series by the issue. I’m too impatient to read this one volume by volume!