The Night Owls is a Zuda instant winner and has published sixty two screens (pages) so far. As is normal, I sometimes had to stop and pick up reading the next day and I liked how the Zuda site automatically remembered where I left off in my reading. There is a concise comic summary on the site but since you have to take the time to find, open and read it, I’ll provide it here:

“‘The Night Owls‘ is a Detective Agency set in New York City in the 1920s and specializing in cases that involve the supernatural. Professor Ernest Baxter is the brains of the operation, utilizing his vast knowledge of all things weird to right the wrongs that leave ordinary police baffled! He’s a bit of a bookworm, and allergic to sunlight, but his inquisitive nature has led to the downfall of many of New York’s deadliest demons! Of course, he couldn’t have done it without Mindy Markus. She’s a feisty flapper that’s put the hurt on a lot of nocturnal nasties! Don’t try to tell her she can’t fight the forces of evil because she’s just a girl, unless you’re looking for a face full of feminine fist, that is! Then there’s Roscoe, the Gargoyle. He’s a tough little bruiser from the Bronx, more at home at the dinner table than on a church roof. Together, they solve the crimes that no one else can solve! When you suspect your wife is a werewolf, when you’re haunted by a petulant poltergeist, or caught in the trap of a vicious vampire, your best chance of survival is the Night Owls!”

This is a very good description of the Night Owls and I doubt I could do better. It even lets you in on the Professor’s allergic condition which helps you to make immediate sense of the comic’s name. And that line about “face full of feminine fist” always makes chuckle - it is absolutely true. Don’t mess with Mindy. Night Owls should probably come with a warning: Roscoe will eat any small or pet animal you might have, so don’t leave yours alone when he’s around.

Night Owls is made up of pulpish mini story arcs all woven into a larger, evolving story. While each comic stands on its own, earlier storyline details come back into the spotlight and it creates a “I know what’s going on with that” feeling as you read the comic. For example, when people start losing their faces, you know exactly who is involved and what needs to be done about it.

This mini arc blending accomplishes three things. The first is that it constantly rewards the fans of the comic with easter egg reminders of inside information. The second is that it builds an entire world a little bit at a time. In turn, that makes Night Owls a comic that’s easy to digest and catch up on. Thirdly, the smaller arcs contribute to a larger storyline and you begin to focus more on the three main characters rather than the monsters and set pieces; they become story color.

Speaking of color, there was an interview at Amalgamated Artists where [the artists were asked about color. There they stated that Night Owls is not a black and white comic. I had to go back and double check this for myself - it is colored in dark hued browns. Another bit of color they talk about is anachronisms. The artists try their hardest not to include anything that is not from the 1920’s time period. The example given is car keys, which didn’t exist at the time. That attention to detail always pays off.

Overall, The Night Owls is well done and a great example of a pulp comic. The concept is interesting, the dialog is handled well and the stories are satisfying. Rating:

(If you enjoy this comic, be sure to check out the animated version.)

The Night Owls
http://zudacomics.com/the_night_owls
by Peter and Robert Timony
Review by Delos
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

 Loading …