Things are getting dangerous in Joe Golem: Occult Detective – The Drowning City #4. What’s happened thus far is a pretty tangled web of intrigue and occult-style mystery. Over the last three story arcs, some pretty intricate layers have been built. The foundation is that of Joe and his boss/father figure Mr. Church. Mr. Church is a complex individual, alive well beyond his years, fighting against dark forces. He’s old enough now that he has to use Joe to do the foot work. Basically, Joe is the muscle. Mr. Church also helps Joe to forget. The fact is, Joe is older than Mr. Church, and as his name implies, he’s not necessarily human. Anytime Joe becomes confused with dreams of a distant past featuring a golem that killed witches, Mr. Church gives him tea that muddies his brain and causes him to forget.

In The Drowning City, a scientist of the occult has kidnapped a magician who has a powerful connection to another universe called the Outer Dark, where unseen horrors exist. Yes, this story and world are very much inspired by the mythos of H.P. Lovecraft.  Now, Joe has teamed up with the daughter of the magician to help find not only him but an artifact called the Pentajulum which our mad scientist is also looking for. This is the issue where things go bad.

Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden have perfected the serial. These stories are page-turning yarns, or something one might have sat and listened to on the radio before the invent of TV. They’re exciting and thrilling, taking us to worlds similar to, but very much unlike, our own while pushing the characters into near-inescapable corners in which we wonder how the hell they’re going to get out of this one.  At the same time, they start to question who they are and what they represent.

What this series represents is a creative collaboration hitting its stride.

Creative Team: Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden (writer, creator), Peter Bergting (artist), Michelle Madsen (colors), Dave Palumbo (cover art)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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