Skinwalker

(Oni, 2002-2003)

Oni Press has been putting crime back into comics, and that doesn’t mean encouraging fans to rob retailers. Starting with Whiteout a few years ago and following with Queen & Country and Shot Callerz, Oni has been one of the few publishers to revisit this long-dormant genre.

The latest effort, Skinwalker, is a story about a fast-track FBI agent investigating the disappearance of his former partner. During the course of his investigation, he crosses paths with a suspicious and almost paranoid Navajo police officer who’s wary of any federal intervention on her lands. Of all the above-mentioned books, this one is most faithful to the tried-and-true crime genre. There are no international or wildly exotic settings, just down-to-earth detective work on a dusty Indian reservation.

The dual points of view from Agent Greg Haworth and Officer Ann Adakai are what make this story stand out. Each of their stories start off independently, narrated in first person, and, as they come together, the reader sees how each reacts differently to the same situation as well as to each other. Writers Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir brilliantly flesh out each character via their narrations, and everything flawlessly comes together on the final page.

Brian Hurtt’s pencils are beautifully detailed, and Arthur Dela Cruz finishes bring forth a vibrant look despite the lack of color. This mini-series sets a new standard for crime comics.

— Jim Johnson

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