Review – The Precinct #1 (Dynamite)

Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Frank J. Barbiere
Artist: Crizam Cristhian Zamora
Release Date: 9^th Dec 2015

The steampunk aesthetic makes for a fascinating backdrop to any tale, and The Precinct marks writer Frank Barbiere’s first venture into the retro-futuristic Victorian era.

The story opens with the murder of Grand Master Benedict, a key figure in the Alchemy Academy, a group whose mission is to move the city away from its reliance on steam and back to using elemental science. Narrating over those opening scenes is Mortimer Hill, a gruff, altruistic cop, whose psyche skirts around the edges of darkness. He is tasked with finding the culprit, before being saddled with his polar opposite in the shape of Acolyte Josephine Winters (also a member of the Alchemy Academy), and the pair reluctantly join forces, seeking clues to the Grand master’s demise.

Within the course of the issue, Barbiere efficiently fleshes out the likeable main character, saving him from becoming a cookie-cutter archetype, whilst advancing the plot and creating an intriguing, layered mystery in the process. The story follows a few oft-trodden paths; the reluctant partners thrown together, a powerful society pushing a hidden agenda, but Barbiere opens plenty of avenues for the story to explore, and provides enough depth to his characters and their world to keep it fresh and appealing.

With it’s steampunk setting, the story’s art was always going to be important, and Crizam Zamora captures all of the elements you’d expect to see. His bustling steam-powered metropolis is filled with gleaming towers, airships, and a Victorian era London vibe. There are a few curiously framed panels and some odd character poses dotted throughout the issue (to my eye at least), but it doesn’t detract from some fine character work overall, and nicely detailed backgrounds. A diverse layout structure keeps the momentum of the story flowing nicely, too, and Dinei Ribeiro’s Copper and blue-ish tones give the art a suitably metallic feel.

Equal parts murder mystery and police procedural with a liberal dash of action and horror, The Precinct is off to a strong start.

Rating: 3.5/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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