REVIEW: ‘Canary,’ Issue #1

Canary #1 is written by Scott Snyder, illustrated & colored by Dan Panosian, and lettered by Richard Starkings. It’s published by Comixology under Snyder’s  Best Jackett Press imprint. In the waning days of the Gold Rush, Marshal William Holt is called to a sleepy town in the Utah Territory to investigate a grisly murder. However, he’s faced with a conundrum: the murderer is a young boy who previously showed no signs of malevolence. The search for answers leads Holt to the site of an abandoned mine, where he faces an inhuman enemy. But how does that past showdown connect to his latest case?

Anyone who’s followed Snyder’s work knows that he excels in horror. The critically acclaimed “Court of Owls” storyline in his Batman run pitted the Dark Knight against a secret society of virtually immortal beings. Nocterra features a world shrouded in eternal darkness and creators that draw their power from that same darkness. And Snyder’s initial Comixology debut, We Have Demons, which reunited him with his Batman collaborator Greg Capullo, should be self-explanatory.

Canary continues this trend, placing its story squarely in the Wild West. And I feel like it’s a perfect fit, as the Westerns often find new life whenever it’s mixed with other genres. In fact, Canary feels like it’s in conversation with Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Pulp, which also deals with the Old West and a protagonist who meditates on their sins. And while Canary is more horror based, it’s clear that some things are weighing on Holt – and a lot of them are tied to the Canary mine. No doubt that future issues will delve deeper into Holt’s past and up the horror quotient.

Once again, Snyder is joined by a top-tier artist for Canary, with Panosian delivering the right amount of grit and darkness. Holt isn’t drawn like your usual cowboy; he has a taller, almost pointed hat and movie-star good looks and often covers up his face with a black and white bandana that replicates the heroic persona in the dime novels that depict his exploits. And when the shooting starts, Panosian fills panels with splatters of blood as bodies hit the dust. He also serves as the series’ colorist, shifting colors as the scenery changes. From the blood red of a setting sun to the cool blue of a hidden lake, this is one of the most visually pleasing comics I’ve read this year.

And of course, there’s Starkings, a legendary letterer in his own right. His dialogue balloons are filled with scratchy lettering, which, combined with Panosian’s light yellow color schemes, will make readers feel like they’re reading an old pulp novel. The sound effects are large and in your face. When bullets hit bodies, there’s a large red BLAM! sound, and when guns are shot out of hands, there’s a CLAKK! sound, representing metal hitting metal. Very few lettering jobs in comics have this much force to them, but for a story like this, force is not only welcome – it’s necessary.

Canary #1 brings Scott Snyder’s penchant for horror and Dan Panosian’s gritty art to the Western genre, resulting in a unique tale. If you’re a fan of horror films or Westerns – or both – this comic is for you. And I definitely recommend checking out Snyder’s other work, as he’s been excelling when it comes to creator-owned work.

Canary #1 will be available to read via Comixology on July 19, 2022.