Friday, April 29, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: CABRA CINI: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman #1

CABRA CINI: VOODOO JUNKIE HITWOMAN #1

STORY: Sam Johnson
ART: Nathan Ramirez; Bruno Letizia with R.D. Ricci; Pablo Zambrano; Jorge Oliveira
COLORS: Mark Dodson; Harwan Stia Yoga; Jorge Oliveira
LETTERS: Nathan Ramirez; Bruno Letizia with Micah Myers; Jacob Bascle
COVER ARTIST: Carlos Villas

Suggest for mature readers

Cabra Cini created by Sam Johnson

“White Out”


Cabra Cini is a comics character created by writer Sam Johnson.  He is best known as the writer and creator of the sexy superhero, Geek-Girl, who has starred in a comedy-fantasy miniseries and ongoing series.  Cabra Cini is a former sex worker who used “voodoo magik” to free herself of her abusive pimp/boyfriend.  Now, she is a hit woman addicted to voodoo.

Cabra Cini is about to be the star of her own four-issue miniseries, Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman.  Johnson has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund series.  He passed me an advanced PDF review copy of the first issue.

Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman #1 opens with a “Prologue” written by Johnson and drawn by Bruno Letizia with R.D. Ricci.  “Prologue” asks the question, what would you do if the clumsy antics of a young werewolf interrupted your sex life.  If you're Cabra Cini, you fix him...

The main story, “White Out,” is set in Detroit and is written by Johnson and drawn by Nathan Ramirez.  There is a new killer in town.  He's dressed in white from head to toe and he likes to kill Black men; plus, he has plans for the neighborhood.  All Cabra wanted to do was prepare dinner for her man, but now she is forced to face a dangerous, enigmatic stranger.

Kiss That Grrrl” is written by Johnson and drawn by Pablo Zambrano and Jorge Oliveira.  The story finds Cabra in her “Mindscape.”  Her boyfriend, Geoff, wants to join with her … in more ways than one – if he survives the experience.

THE LOWDOWN:  I never really know what to expect when I get a cold call request for a comic book review.  I hope for the best, of course, but I have discovered a number of very interesting comic books either self-published by the creator or creators or published by a small press.  Readers can find excellent comic books in the wilds of independent publishing, as I have found Sam Johnson (although he may have found me).

I am familiar with writer Sam Johnson from his lovable superhero comic book series, Geek-Girl, in which Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman has appeared.  I have wondered if Cabra could carry her own comic book.  Of course, she could if the writer is good, and Johnson is.

What really surprised me is that the story chapters that comprise Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman #1 have a genuine sense of drama and also character depth.  There is a sense of the tragic without being overly melodramatic.  The feelings that the characters have for one another come across as authentic; I can believe that Geoff really cares from Cabra Cini.  There is also a strong sense of humor and light comedy that keeps the edgier aspects of this first issue from taking over the entire comic book.

Five artists: Nathan Ramirez, Bruno Letizia, R.D. Ricci, Pablo Zambrano, and Jorge Oliveira draw portions of Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman #1.  However, their diverse styles and approaches to graphical storytelling come together.  The change in artists isn't jarring because they seem to share a similar aesthetic.  In fact, having several artists helps to make Cabra Cini come across more like a multifaceted character than a mere clever name and idea.

My opinion is that Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman #1 is certainly good enough to make me recommend that readers consider contributing to the crowdfunding campaign for the series, which you can do here … if you so choose.  If Geek-Girl is any indication, Sam Johnson has a world of excellent comics in store for us via Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of writer Sam Johnson's comic books will want to fund Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman.

A
★★★★ out of 4 stars

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie #1 is available on Kickstarter now at www.cabracini.com.

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