Bitter root Vol 1 by David F. Walker

Vol 1: Family Business, created by Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene 
​
The Sangeryes, as a family, have been fighting evil demon creatures from breaking into our realm for centuries. At present, their operations are set in 1920s Harlem, and slightly in Mississippi. These demons can creep into a man's soul when hatred or fear takes over, and it's The Sangeryes' job to administer a serum that cleanses the soul back to normal. But, there are even deeper forces of evil at work. There are gatekeepers - devils who take the form of humans and guard gateways for other demons to come to Earth.  There are also monsters who take over a soul when despair and pain set in, and the regular measures don't seem to work on them. And there's a whole world of evil just waiting to break into Earth. How will this family overcome their difficult past and protect reality?

---

This was a really enjoyable story with interesting characters, and one heck of a cliffhanger.  The family dynamic is slightly dysfunctional (what family isn't), but it's clear they all deeply care for each other and want to fight together.  Ma Etta is super feisty and powerful despite her small frame.  Blink is a champion for squashing gender roles, even though this is 1920s Harlem.  This story also incorporates racism as a main plot element, as many of the demons take over the hearts of racist individuals.

The coloring is wonderful - Harlem is full of purples, unless you're inside the Sangerye house, which is greenish-brown.  Then there's Mississippi that has its own color scheme as well, and at one point, three separate storylines were playing out on the page at the same time, distinguishable only by the color schemes. 

Image rates this as a mature title.  There is some language, and a good amount of gore. To get a peak at this title, read the first issue for free via Image's website.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 11-12

Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
ISBN: 9781534312128 (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Comicbooks, Action Adventure, Demons, Image Comics