Blacksad: Amarillo

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JAN 5, 2015

The return of feline 1950's-era gumshoe John Blacksad is always worth looking forward to. In the wake of the tragic events of the previous story, A Silent Hell, Blacksad seeks short-term employment in any field other than private investigation and accepts a wealthy Texas's offer to drive his flashy Cadillac from New Orleans to Tulsa. That seemingly simple gig gets crazier when a pair of radical beatnik poets riding steal the car and take it to Amarillo, Texas, where a traveling circus, a mysterious woman with a secret, attempted rape, a vengeful former FBI agent, and a gang of bikers straight out of The Wild One swirl in a maelstrom of cold-blooded murder. Once again Canales and Guardino pull off a noir tour de force, skillfully crafting a riveting script bolstered by stunning watercolor illustrations, proving that their previous Eisner and Harvey awards and acclaim in Europe, where Blacksad is an icon were no hollow accolades. But while the script is a solid Chandler-esque thriller, it's Guarnido's animation-influenced artwork that's the true draw here, with each panel rife with detail, color, and unforgettable character designs.