On the Rack: The Last Broadcast
The Last Broadcast is the kind of indie comic that is a surprise; it has a great concept but you don’t anticipate how good it will be. Publisher BOOM! Studios describes the story as being about a group of urban explorers who stumble upon a mysterious abandoned bunker that may have belonged to Blackhall the Incredible, a magician from the 1930’s who suffered a suspicious death, while Ivan a struggling magician who idolizes Blackhall receives a package that may contain clues to the magician’s murder. While this description is accurate, it implies that the group of explorers are the backbone of the story; but in this first issue it is Ivan’s compelling story that drew me in.
Ivan is down on his luck, he needs to be able to make rent but he struggles to book shows and his attempts to return to Blackhall’s elegant style of magic is not resonating with his audience. His desperation and passion are all too familiar, and when his circumstances bring him clues to Blackhall’s death, events are set in place that will intersect with the team of intrepid urban explorers and change all of their lives.
Writer André Sirangelo has crafted a story from two separate narratives that tie together beautifully. While the two story lines may feel very separate, they weave together at key moments and build even more suspense into climactic moments. Along with Gabriel Iumazark’s art which is mostly monochromatic and has a unique and raw quality to it, the book has a strong atmosphere and really draws the reader into its world. By the end I found myself eager for answers and anxiously waiting on issue two.
