The world of espionage has always had mystery and subterfuge at the core of its ethos. There’re games of cat and mouse being played just under the surface of civilized society, where entire countries and civilizations rise and fall thanks to agents working behind the scenes. So, it’s not remotely surprising that something like the occult or the supernatural would fit quite snugly into this kind of dark world, with consequences spanning both reality and beyond. That foundation of intrigue is what Ram V and company seem very keen to build upon with their latest outing in Black Tower – The Raven Conspiracy.
It's certainly not the first in its quaint little genre, and Ram V himself already had a brush with the concept during his tenure with The Vigil, but this time around we get to see something a bit grittier, darker and more intriguing at play here. You’re gonna hear that word a lot throughout this review, I reckon, but that’s honestly one of the most apt words I can think to cover just how much this first issue hooks you into the world that’s being built.
There’s Magic In Them Stones
Issue #1 sets up the central narrative with our POV character: Daniel Burroughs – named quite lovingly after the legendary writer Edgar Rice Burroughs (of Tarzan and John Carter fame). Originally from Plainsfield, PA, Daniel was always told by his cantankerous grandfather about the nature of magic in the world, while also being reminded that there was no magic in the world as well. It’s a contradiction that never sat right with him, especially when Daniel himself also harbours strange powers of his own – he’s an “esper”, a psychic of sorts who has limited visions of the future. This obviously also puts him in the sights of certain key players.
On one side, you have the Black Tower – the secret occult-focused division of MI6 who want him to be a part of their operations. On the other end, there’s a mysterious organisation also with their own more sinister goals who are keen to see if Daniel has anything to offer. What happens in between these covert entities is Daniel being thrown into a world where magic and spy-craft are married to each other, where new allies turn into werewolves, doppelgangers run amok, and strange businessmen with eyes in their hands can pull thoughts out of your head with just a word. And that’s all mundane compared to what’s potentially in store with a world-ending conspiracy on the horizon.
A World of Intrigue
Ram V is no stranger to crafting engaging supernatural fiction that works perfectly in line with the kind of occult fare that DC has been well known for nurturing throughout its long history. Whether it’s his groundbreaking debut with These Savage Shores or established paranormal work for DC with Aquaman: Andromeda or Swamp Thing, Ram V gets to play with world-building once more in his latest venture here. And the results are quite fun to see.
With Daniel Burroughs as the POV character for the reader, it’s nice watching how Ram unfolds Danny’s past in close context to what the story is moving towards in the present. Burroughs’ memories of his grandfather, of being chided about the very notion of magic not being something worth existing in man’s modern world, is compelling ground for Danny’s future decision to join the Black Tower. As Danny (and Ram V) puts it so beautifully in the book itself: “He told me once that there was no magic in America anymore. I guess I just wanted to be someplace where that wasn’t true.” That one strategic quote does so much to inform Danny’s character and, by extension, the very nature of magic in this world that’s being built. Especially when Danny’s own “gifts” fit into the picture, which, while not entirely bucking the whole “chosen one in a school of gifted teammates destined to save the world angle, still has enough of a “one cog in the machine” energy at this juncture to not feel like an outright power fantasy. On the contrary, Danny’s POV is certainly one where curiosity and yearning for something greater can lead you to unexpected places, but those places aren’t necessarily as glamorous as you’d hope they are. And I think Ram captures that feeling perfectly with this fresh new character.
Then we have the team itself of the titular Black Tower. It’s a very League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vibe with Danny filling out the Tom Sawyer role, but these are by no means re-treading the same ground quite as much. It’s an eclectic group of merry misfits for sure: Mak as the jovial muscle-man whose werewolf bite is way worse than his human bark, as well as the elusive Yvette and Romeo who’ve got more going on than meets the eye. While the lion’s share of the supporting cast face time is given to Mak, you still get a good early sense of the rest of this cast of operatives working within the confines of this organisation. There’s definitely a sense that Ram is keeping a lot of cards close to his chest, playing a few early to build anticipation, like Mak being revealed to be a werewolf (which reminds me of Ben Daimio from BPRD in particular as a good comparison), while holding others closer to his chest for later. It’s definitely a great strategy going forth because I don’t doubt for a second that Ram has a lot of fun stories to tell with this group in the issues to come (and maybe even beyond).
As for the “villains” of this arc, there’s definitely a very strong play on titular aspect of the book. Obviously, the use of Nordic symbology and naming conventions also aligns with the goals of this group, with the named leader of sorts “Muninn” being a reference to Odin’s Raven whose name translates to “memory” which bears an interesting resonance considering the greater throughline about magic and the occult feeling like something of the past that is now tenuously being stripped away with the rise of modernity and technology. This opposing faction and its goals of using ancient knowledge – i.e. memory – to create a new paranormal event that Black Tower must stop is definitely thematic to the story, with enough crumbs given early on to build to juicier revelations going forward.
Ultimately, Ram V’s reliability for crafting worlds of intrigue and wonder where magic feels like something so totally obvious yet so fragile in the face of modernity is balanced perfectly in this debut issue of the Black Tower. There’s so much to sink your teeth into early here and more than enough of a taste to bring you back for second helpings as the series progresses further.
In the Eye of the Beholder
While Ram V’s prose does one half of the world-building, his previous partner in crime, Mike Perkins, comes in to provide the helping hand with the kind of artwork that truly does immerse you in this world. Having previously both collaborated on Swamp Thing to some truly breathtaking effect, it was always going to be a given that it would be a winning combination for this venture as well.
Perkins’ line work perfectly showcases a dark and frankly exhausted world where magic – in all its interpretations – grinds against the walls of modern human existence. It’s a very grim and gritty approach to a book that, while having a very Bond-esque influence on its art style, completely throws away any sense of glamor and glitz. The oppressive nature of the modern world and the darker shapes of the supernatural aspects clawing away at it are done beautifully. He also does a phenomenal job of highlighting expressions with strong facial features, and with panels set against larger action pieces in the background so that readers can have their attention drawn sharply to key set pieces or sequences without sacrificing the page. It’s also particularly great in the two major action sequences that happen in this issue, both feeling frantic and full of grim determination for entirely different reasons, though the latter sequence certainly has a more satisfyingly bloody conclusion, and Perkins graciously provides us with a front-row seat of the carnage to.
Backing up Perkins’ line work is Mike Spicer on colors, with some impeccable shades that perfectly complement this dark and dingy world. While Daniel’s memories of his grandfather are lit up with sunlight, Spicer’s color work makes that light feel harsh and stark, almost matching the fraught nature of that memory, while the mean streets of London are as dingy and shadowy whether it’s daylight or night. The Black Tower’s headquarters is also highlighted with that same oppressive coloring of shadows, almost as if symbolizing the whole “magic and espionage both work in the shadows” aspect while still capturing a colonial Victorian feel. Truly, the art genuinely elevates this book alongside Ram’s script, thus continuing a longstanding tradition of the writer’s uncanny gift of finding a supernaturally good artist to partner with for whatever the story demands.
A Promising Debut
Black Tower – The Raven Conspiracy #1 is a really good start to this new world order, with a whole bunch of loving references to greater works of sci-fi, supernatural, and spy thrillers placed liberally across its first issue. The central mystery only further enriches the mysticism and spy-craft that fits right at home within Vertigo’s usual collection of stories. There’s a tremendous amount of potential for this book, setting up the right blend of action and mystery to ensure that readers stay hooked.
Between V’s compelling narrative that peels away layers of mystery as readers dive deeper into the story he's telling, and Perkin’s incredibly mind-boggling and grim-dark visual aesthetic, I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing where this story goes and what greater worlds of magic and monstrosity await Daniel. It’s definitely something both he and the readers find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into together, and that’s always a great feeling to have when you pick up a book like this for the first time.
Final Verdict: Black Tower - The Raven Conspiracy #1 is a gripping debut of a paranormal-espionage adventure that holds some genuine promise from its interesting cast of characters and plot threads.