Written by Dan Panosian
Art by Dalibor Talajic
Colors by Ive Svorcina
Letters by Steve Wands
Published by AWA

“Jack King was a rock’n’roll god who projected a stage persona on par with the devil. After Jack dies on stage, his widow, Cindy, grapples with grief and struggles to protect his legacy, unaware that she is being surrounded by dark forces that covet the master tapes to Jack’s final, unreleased album – a heavy metal masterpiece that just might open a doorway to hell.”

I don’t usually get into too much about the technical aspects of a comic in my reviews, but there’s something about this one that feels so technically proficient that makes me love it. Everything feels laid out to perfection with subtle hints and foreshadowing to the future of the story. Dan Panosian and Dalibor Talajic have created a brilliant story about death and tragedy…and heavy metal opening up the doors to hell.

Dablibor’s character designs are perfectly crafted for the 70s and transport you back to that era as you read through the comic. I am a big fan of not just Dalibor’s line work, but also the extra details that are strewn across the scenery that make the world feel more complete. Combine that with Ive Svorcina on the colors and we have a world that feels real down to the ashes in the fireplace and the skulls in the dungeon. Steve Wands nails the letters with some interesting cross-panel balloons and great use of sound effects.

The team has crafted a very suspenseful first issue as everything is building toward Cindy’s decision of what to do with Jack’s last album. The final pages of issue #1 take this book in a direction that will have you demanding to read issue #2 immediately. I could not stop turning the pages as Cindy was starting to learn whether she truly knew her husband and rock’n’roll god Jack King as she sat alone in their now empty home. The character development in just one issue has been phenomenal as Cindy has dealt with so much grief.

If you’re a fan of metal and hellacious myths about rock’n’roll legends, then you definitely want to check out Black Tape #1!

Rating 8.5/10

Black Tape #1 is out now!