The idea of pulp fiction comes with a certain expectation. It evokes memories of crime and horror comics of old, where sensationalism and violence pushed the envelope and captured the darkness within the human psyche. Therefore, ethics almost always come first. Men and women who have the means and will to take another life for personal reasons or what they think is better for society are a dime a dozen. It’s a storytelling method that lends itself to mashups and combinations of genres. The combination of horror and crime thrives here, like a handshake agreement between a Satanist and a bank robber in a dark alley.
writers and artists Murakami Kiba Saw it all and decided more could be done with it. her book Recent is the result of this thought process, a pulp horror comic told from a black woman’s perspective that reads like a hard-boiled revenge story, fast and loose in the tradition. The book, while influenced by it, then subverts everything necessary for the story to move forward.
Recent It begins with the murder of our protagonist, Jackie Moreaux, a black woman. It’s a dark and cold affair that quickly takes us to a place called the Death Zone, a transitional space where she meets a Ripper named Rhea. This being is a sort of avenging angel (although not an actual angel) who offers those murdered humans a chance for revenge, hunting down the killers on their behalf. But that’s not the only option Ripper offers to potential customers, and one option is particularly convincing.
Murakami’s mix of comic pulp puts this story into a unique category, thanks to how well she makes the two styles communicate with each other in tone and pacing. Recent There is a lot of dialogue and it takes time to establish the world and its rules. In the first few pages alone, you get a healthy dose of plot, world-building, and characterization. Readers can quickly enter Jackie’s inner world and understand what her decision means for the future.
However, panels and character interactions vary with the speed and power of comic sequencing. The dialogue flows elegantly as a result, giving the reading experience a very strong feel, making every detail carry a lot of meaning. Nothing is taken for granted and everything is imbued with a strong sense of purpose.
The book is presented in black and white with generous use of ink to great effect. It allows Murakami to bring her influence in a different way. This is perhaps the clearest expression of the pulp comic combination. Jackie and Rhea are dressed in black trench coats and hats, which is a great excuse to really indulge in this ink to capture the look of classic gumshoe detectives and Pulp’s iconic noir characters. However, due to the supernatural elements established earlier by Murakami, they turned into something completely different. The Death Zone gives the impression of a place of shady dealings, with grimaces of pain hidden behind thick fog. it will remind you of This is Junji comics, all of which add depth and mystery to the horror aspect. Here, ink is used to create an ambiguous atmosphere regarding the Ripper’s presence. It builds on the characters by fleshing out the environments, which are then shaded to match the proverbial gray behind the dialogue that takes place there.
This is all to support the Ripper’s moral system. Murakami puts the moral dilemmas of revenge and justice front and center in this story so that readers can question these dilemmas through Jackie and her new connection to the Ripper’s services. It is further complicated by its focus on violence against women, which makes any issues that arise in the story require more nuanced consideration. Jackie, a black woman who must immediately decide what her afterlife will look like after being murdered, creates a powerful discussion of the urgency behind these topics. It also lends itself to some great and truly inventive horror sequences.
Recent Issue 1 is currently being published, so now is the perfect time to add it to your reading list so you can follow Issue 2 as soon as it’s released. Murakami reminds us what makes the mashup of genres and styles so interesting and unique in this story. It’s important, necessary, challenging, and scary. In short, it deserves reading and discussion.
