Rockstars #1 Review

Rockstars #1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Joe Harris
Artist: Megan Hutchison
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letterer: Michael David Thomas

Review by Anelise Farris

What do we love even more than rock stars themselves and the music they produce? The conspiracies and secrets that surround them, of course. Rockstars #1 is a brand new series from writer Joe Harris and artist Megan Hutchison that is about so much more than rock n’ roll; this is a comic about fandom, urban legends, and the religious devotion we have to rock gods.

In 1974, two girls attend a rock concert, followed by an after-party at the Riot House, and they are never seen alive again. While one girl’s body was never recovered, the other was found with a mysterious symbol on it, and the body itself in a strange position. Jackie Mayer (along with his cat Skydog) is determined to figure out what happened to these girls—as more bodies are being found with the symbol and in the same position. At a crime scene, Jackie meets Dorothy Buell, an investigative reporter, and they decide to partner together to discover truths that the police might be unwilling to see.

Rockstars #1 is a compelling read—written in the tone of a police crime drama, and paired with Hutchison’s nostalgic and dreamy art—that brings together fantasy, horror, music, and mystery. And it raises just enough questions to make you invested, without feeling overwhelmed. Why is Jackie so interested in this case? What is his special affinity with music? Why do we keep seeing flashbacks of his dad? What kind of relationship will develop between Jackie and Dorothy? Without a doubt there is something sinister going on, as the story hints at black magic, ritual sacrifice, and demonic worship, but only time will tell what Jackie and Dorothy might discover.

Verdict: Buy it! From the first few pages, Rockstars #1 had me hooked. This is one of those rare comics that successfully transcends genre classification—blending police procedural with dark fantasy and 1970s rock music in a way that will attract a variety of readers.