3 out of 5

In Joseph Schmalke’s Black Caravan imprint, and within his genre writing in particular, I do appreciate how many books will take a framework that’s not unfamiliar and… nudge it. Electric Black is perhaps the best example of this principle, starting with a Tales From the Black Museum-esque anthology setup (co-writer / co-artist / co-Black Caravan publisher Rich Woodall trading off on creative duties with Schmalke), before diverting to an ongoing story regarding an attempted takeover of the titular artifact emporium by some outsiders, which then further diverts into the lore behind the Electric Black itself, and its proprietor, Julius Black. 

The EB hosts a collection of curios; strangers wander in – the Black being one of those mystical types of shops that only appears to those who “need” it – and find themselves drawn to a particular item, hear the horrorful story about it told to them by Julius, then cue a “you’re trapped here forever” Tales From the Crypt ending. This format lasts for about an issue, before Schmalke and Woodall get distracted by the EB’s other residents, jumping around in time and place while vaguely setting up some kind of anti-EB order, and their power-hungry invaders. Maybe there’s an apocalypse happening? …But then it’s time for some more lore, via a full half-issue exposition dump… 

It’s a mess, partially confusing except for its abuse of several tropes mixed together, so you can still follow along, and Schmalke – moreso than Woodall – has a natural flow to his dialogue (even if the letterer misleads some exchanges) such that things bounce along in a rather entertainingly hectic cloud. The very sketchy, heavily-lined art of the two isn’t great for definition, which has pluses and minuses: the hatching gives things a very rough and raw feel, which is appropriate, but the overly digital production rubs against that, and the anthology concept and lore definitely would have benefitted from artists capable of more atmosphere. 

It’s an ambitious book, the grasp of which definitely exceeds its reach. Kind of a Black Caravan m.o., from my sampling, but that’s surely not the worst trait to be known for, and makes picking up their books a valid investment in promising ideas.