Outstanding pulp action story set in an alternative history of Prohibition era America. Speakeasies take to the skies over New York to avoid Prohibition restrictions. Airships congregate in Rum Row, customer come up to the clubs and bars. Just like the ground level Rum Row is organized into gangster-controlled territories, split along ethnic grounds. The New York Police Department has its own air space and is attempting to disrupt Rum Row. A raid on one of the airships goes wrong and opportunity this creates unleashes a ferocious struggle for the control of Rum Row. The story unfolds with tremendous momentum, the reveals are superbly staged, the action is fast and forceful and the conclusion is satisfying and inviting.
Andrew Maxwell has written a brilliant pulp story that captures the energy and force of the pulps and updated them with style and confidence. At the heart of the story is the desire to control Rum Row, a desire shared by a hugely diverse cast, all of who are willing to take whatever steps are needed to achieve their goal. None of them are stupid or reckless, all are willing to use deeply planned violence to achieve their aims. None are willing to back down. This means that the story contains multiple confrontations and the actions flows as the cast respond and react to the changes in their circumstances.
Andrew Maxwell has the talent to give the gangsters the vivid and outsize characters that they should have. They are not simply alternative business owners; they are driven people determined to carve an empire in the sky. They are loud, violent, forceful, and brilliantly individual. They slam into each other at full force and the story soars on the energy they unleash. This energy is straight from the pulp stories, the careful and subtle updating of the genre stereotypes and tropes emphasizes and utilises that energy.
The art is a pleasure to read, the transaction between #2 and #3 is clear and not disruptive, the tone and feel of the art is coherent across the whole story. Michelle Bandini creates the cast with expressive action and body language, they move through their context in a natural way. The action is full scale, and the ariel views are dramatic and very engaging. The clours by Don Dow (#1) and Barbara E. Barton (#2) are beautiful, they added depth to the art, bringing out the detail and creating an atmosphere for the reader to sink into. Gavin Mitchell makes the work look easy, he is successfully pursuing an artistic vision that fully captures the requirements and nuances of the story.
Adam Pruett’s lettering and sound effects are so natural that they are almost invisible except for the way that they enhance the action and guide the reader though the story. This is a big talent showing how it should be done.
I chose to get the slipcase and I have to say, I am delighted. It looks great on my shelf. Rum Row is a hugely enjoyable and engaging comic, a pleasure to read.
