Most supernatural debuts try way too hard to explain why their monsters exist. MORT #1 doesn’t care about any of that. Released by Jet Setter Comics, this series hits the ground running in a version of Chicago that feels like it’s been raining for three decades straight. Writer Travis Brown, artist Nate Walkington, and letterer Marina Leon introduce us to Samuel Barber, a guy the locals call “Mort.” He runs Pleasant Passings Funeral Home, and while he looks like a tired civil servant, it’s pretty obvious his resume includes way more than just picking out caskets. Mort’s the guy the underworld calls when things get messy… and looking at the horizon, it’s about to get absolutely filthy.
Title: MORT #1
Creatives: Travis Brown (Writer), Nate Walkington (Artist & Colorist), Marina Leon (Letterer)
Characters: Samuel Barber (Mort), Vera, Isaac, Zack
Villain: Quentin Versailles, Pyotr Komarov, Hanzo Takeshi
Format: Ongoing Series
Our Rating: 9/10 Stars
The Politics of a Sun-Baptized Exit
The story kicks off when Vera, who’s been three hundred years old for a while now, walks into Mort’s office with a problem. She’s the daughter of Quentin Versailles, basically the king of the vampires who finally got the Eternals, the Blood Knights, and the Shadow Fang Clan to stop killing each other. You’d think she’s there to hire him, but nope. She wants Mort to turn down her father’s business. Quentin wants to go out with a bang: a literal sun baptism with plenty of pageantry. It’s a classic noir setup in which the professional gets caught between a powerful client and a dangerous family feud.
You can tell Mort’s been dealing with these guys for years. The way Brown writes the dialogue between Mort and guys like Pyotr Komarov or Hanzo Takeshi is sharp and cynical. It’s bursty. It’s tense. Mort’s such a pro that if you told me he secretly hated their guts, I’d be shocked. He’s just that good at keeping it professional. There’s a mention of his late wife that suggests his tolerance for the undead comes from a place of deep, personal resentment rather than any kind of friendship, but that’s a story thread for another issue.
Horse Tranquilizers and the Visual of MORT
What really sold me on this book wasn’t the vampire politics, though. It was the procedural stuff. There’s a scene where Mort visits a medical examiner to examine a newly fanged girl. Most writers would make this some ethereal, gothic moment. Not here. Instead, we learn that recruiter vamps use horse tranquilizers to keep the newbies from eating all the neighbors. It’s raw, it’s grounded, and it makes the horror feel real. When the drugs don’t work, you get “Exhibit A,” a dead civilian in an alley. It’s nasty business, but it fits the tone perfectly.
Nate Walkington’s art is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. The pages are soaked in heavy blacks and muted colors, making the whole city feel like it’s rotting from the inside out. When Mort goes into the tunnels to visit his ghoul buddies, Isaac and Zack, you can practically smell the damp concrete. Marina Leon handles the lettering, and her use of integrated sound effects during the violence keeps the flow moving without breaking the grit. It’s a cohesive look that reminds me why indie books are coming for the Big Two’s lunch right now.
Verdict: Should you buy MORT #1?
Ultimately, if you’re into urban fantasy, you’ve got to check out MORT #1 from Jet Setter Comics. Travis Brown and Nate Walkington absolutely nailed the pacing on this one. It’s got everything: vampires, a gritty Chicago backdrop, and a peek into the messy politics between the creatures that roam the night. Seriously, if you like your vampires with a side of noir, grab this one.
Support MORT at www.jetsettercomics.com
‘MORT’ #1 Review: Jet Setter Comics’ New Gritty Supernatural Noir
If you’re into urban fantasy, you’ve got to check out MORT #1 from Jet Setter Comics. Travis Brown and Nate Walkington absolutely nailed the pacing on this one. It’s got everything: vampires, a gritty Chicago backdrop, and a peek into the messy politics between the creatures that roam the night. Seriously, if you like your vampires with a side of noir, grab this one.
