
Blair Shedd’s The Raptor is an interesting take on the superhero genre that is equal parts Law & Order and Batman at the same time.
The book begins with the Special Crimes Unit of the NYPD investigating a murder. Much to the dismay of Detective Willow Barnes, she knew one of the victims, and her personal feelings threaten to overwhelm her as she tries to find the killer. Meanwhile, a masked vigilante known as The Raptor is also investigating the crime by shaking down members of the criminal underground, and we learn that he has ties to Detective Barnes as well.
The two aspects of The Raptor that stood out to me were the depth of the story and the wonderful artwork. Shedd has taken time to flesh out the crime procedural aspects of the story so that they're not just filler between the scenes involving The Raptor. His visual storytelling has a nice pace to it, and the way Shedd conveys emotions with characters’ eyes and facial expressions reminded me of Jamal Igle’s style.
Overall, The Raptor #1 is a strong introduction to this new series, and offers a lot more story than you’ll find in most superhero books out there today.
4.5 out of 5 Unsolved Mysteries
You can find out more about The Raptor and get both print and digital copies of the book at www.theraptorcomic.com.