Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Abbott 1973 #1 Review
    Review

    Abbott 1973 #1 Review

    Robert MammoneBy Robert MammoneJanuary 21, 2021Updated:January 21, 20211 Comment4 Mins Read

    In Abbott 1973 #1,  hard hitting reporter Elena Abbott has to navigate her role as the Lightbringer, while coming to terms with a new boss.  On the fringes of Detroit, old, malign powers begin to gather in their renewed efforts to plunge the crumbling city into darkness.  Can Elena Abbott uncover this new evil?  Find out  in your next mighty Major Spoilers reviews!

    Abbott 1973 #1 Review
    You can purchase this issue via the comiXology affiliate link

    ABBOTT 1973 #1

    Writer: Saladin Ahmed
    Artist: Sammy Kivela
    Colorist: Mattia Iacono
    Letterer: Jim Campbell
    Editor: Jonathan Manning
    Publisher: BOOM! Studios
    Price: $3.99
    Release Date: January 20th, 2021

    Previously in Abbott 1973:  When hard hitting journalist Elena Abbott discovered the Umbra, a powerful occult force terrorizing Detroit in the early 1970s, she came face to face with powerful occult forces determined to overthrow the city, using the transformed bodies of its minority peoples.  Only when she is gifted the powers of the Lightbringer, is Abbott able to default the forces of darkness.  And now, her work really begins…

    SETTING THE TABLE

    Detroit in the early 1970s is fertile ground for writer Saladin Ahmed to till in this opening isse of a new series featuring ace reporter Ellen Abbott.  He takes the simmering racial politics of the era, the burgeoning feminist movement and adds a dash of occult forces threatening to sweep everything away.  As an opening issue, it sets the table for all that is to come.  As a story, it is a strong entry in what looks to be an entertaining series.

    While the Shaft movies of this era are something of a template for Abbott 1973 #1, Ahmed has put a definite modern spin on it, by creating a strong female character in the form of Elena Abbott.  Abbott is an interesting character – hard hitting and ground breaking in a profession dominated by men, her private life is somewhat more complicated.  Abbott is in a relationship with low level crime figure Amelia – while same sex relationships aren’t exactly new in this time period, Abbott is still somewhat discomfited about displaying it in public.

    Abbott 1973 #1 is a solidly written opener.  Ahmed introduces the elements we will see in the series in a deft manner.  While the forces of darkness regroup and plot their next move, we’re reintroduced to the main character by way of her personal life, before moving to a changed newsroom with the advent of a new owner.  While he definitely makes his old school attitudes known to Abbott, she begins to pursue racist campaigning in the lead up to the city’s mayoral elections.  There’s a confidence in Ahmed’s plotting that suggests he is a strong story teller – no surprise as he’s been a published novelist earlier in the previous decade, before moving into comics.  His Throne of the Crescent Moon fantasy novel is a solid effort, and you can see how he’s improved in the years since its publication.

    THE POWERS OF EVIL

    Illustrator Sami Kivela is tasked with two things in Abbott 1973 #1 – convincingly portray the fashions, architecture and general look of the 1970s, and ensure that the occult forces swirling in the background are sufficiently strange and menacing to convince the audience of their power.  Kivela succeeds in both instances with solid (though not spectacular – perhaps that will be later when the magic starts to fly) artwork.  This opening issue definitely evokes that bygone era of plaids and big collars and even bigger hairs, set against a backdrop of a crumbling city beginning its slide into economic collapse and decay.  Colorist Mattia Iacono does sterling work here, with a color palette that is deliberately dominated by browns and grays, helping cement the feeling of urban decay.

    BOTTOM LINE: SETTING THE TABLE FOR ADVENTURES TO COME.

    Abbott 1973 #1 is a solid opening issue that handles all its elements in a confident manner, readying itself to tell a new tale of the threat (both racial and occult) against Detroit, with only the uncertain abilities of the Lightbringer standing between it and utter chaos.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

     

    Abbott 1973 #1

    70%
    70%
    Solid opening issue

    Abbott 1973 #1 deftly recapitulates the earlier series while setting the table for the adventures to come.  Elena Abbott is an interesting character - confident in her job, less so in her relationship, but committed to the truth to enable Detroit to flourish in this new decade.  While her domestic and professional life are foregrounded in this issue, her role as the Lightbringer against the occult forces of darkness hovers in the background, ready to be unleashed.

    • Writing
      7
    • Art
      7
    • Coloring
      7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
      0
    Abbott Abbott 1973 Boom Studios Jim Campbell Jonathan Manning Mattia Iancono Review Saladin Ahmed Sammy Kivela
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleIron Fist: Heart of the Dragon #1 Review
    Next Article Destiny, NY gets ongoing series at Black Mask Studios
    Robert Mammone

    Romantic. Raconteur. Kangaroo rustler. Sadly, Rob is none of these. Rob has been a follower of genre since at least the mid-1970s. Book collector, Doctor Who fan, semi-retired podcaster, comic book shop counter jockey, writer (once!) in Doctor Who Magazine and with pretensions to writing fantasy and horror, Rob is the sort of fellow you can happily embrace while wondering why you're doing it. More of his maudlin thoughts can be found at his ill-tended blog https://robertmammone.wordpress.com/

    Related Posts

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1020: Fruit, Part 3

    Read More

    Who is Isildur’s sister Eärien? – Let’s Get Nerdy!

    Read More

    Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 Review

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    7.0
    March 29, 2023

    Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 Review

    6.0
    March 29, 2023

    Rocketman and Rocketgirl #1 Review

    6.7
    March 27, 2023

    Milestone 30th Anniversary Special #1 Review

    8.0
    March 26, 2023

    Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants #2 Review

    7.0
    March 26, 2023

    Retro Review: The Black Rider #8 (March 1950)

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • J Michael T on Ten Abandoned Aliases
    • Doni on Titan Comics announces Gun Honey spin-off series
    • Karl G Siewert on Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU #1 Review
    • R. Eric Smith on Retro Review: So Beautiful And So Dangerous #1 (1979)
    • Daniel Langsdale on The X-Cellent #1 Review
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    ComiXology Home Page">
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2022 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.