Review: Detective 1945 #1
Take a war-addled lead character, put them in the firing range of post-World War II New York and have them investigate some of the most vulgar murders of the city. This is the simple outline of Detective 1945, a home-grown ongoing jaunt written by Lucy Shaw with art by Daryl _S_ and colours by Tommie Kelly. In the opening scenes of the investigation, involving a psychotic killer who has a penchant fortheir victim’s faces and a pair of detectives who are on opposing sides of the ‘seen it all’ fence, one thing becomes very clear – this is not going to be a pleasant read. Showing us directly the victim’s injuries as well as using a dual narrative, there’s an obvious and keen sense of suspense that both the characters and the audience 
are to be a part of. While we see the killer post-murder, what we don’t see is who they are, and once the detectives start finding and acting on leads, its almost a race to see if we can’t put it together before they can.
I mentioned the lead character is war-addled, and I meant it. Moving away from the noir setting of the comic, there’s a second plotline following the lead Detective’s life as a soldier during one of the most horrifying wars in history. He is not a man who sleeps easy at night, and nor should he be, given what we’re shown in altogether graphic detail. The theme of the trauma of war remains strong through-out the book, with the subtext being used perhaps a touch too strongly in the second half, leaving little wriggle room for interpretation. But this doesn’t lessen the horror of some of the finer details and overall it does meld very well with the pacing and actual plot of this first issue for a dark mood and a satisfactory feeling of suspense when the ending finally hits.
Which brings me to Daryl and Tommie’s art, and my only really niggle with the issue. While it does the job, it lacks the bite and grit that the writing offers. Bold colors and well-drawn characters are present, but the overall tone is too light, and grinds with the darker mood of the surrounding storyline.
The flash-backs have a huge brightness to them that doesn’t serve the punch they are trying to provide, and the scenes involving the killer could do with a bit more horrid scenery to really grab the reader’s attention and show that they aren’t in the safety of a police department, or the living room, but in the presence of an active cold-blooded killer. Not issue ruining by any stretch, but perhaps something to be looked at and improved for later issues.
Overall, I quite enjoyed Detective 1945. A touch average, maybe. A little bit light on the horror its themes would want you to believe, perhaps but a very solid premise and a promising starting point with a bunch of Irish talent, absolutely.
If you’re on the lookout for something a little less superhero and a little more human, this is worth the price of admission. 7/10
