On every cover of this indie comic company there is always something that draws your eye. In an issue of “Geek Girl”, there’s a character with half the face of a pig. We find out while reading the comic that it’s not a mask, but his actual face. Here, on the cover of Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman four characters are standing as if their auras have reverberated and suddenly appear onscreen. Behind each there is a reflection. While two characters are seemingly average blondes, the long-haired brunette is clearly the protagonist, but it’s the character on the extreme right with porcupine-rock like facial features and bare feet that makes you wonder just what is happening in this comic-book.
Created and written by Sam Johnson, Cabra Cini, a former prostitute after ridding herself of her former pimp further ventured into voodoo-magic. Now a hitwoman who exchanged the vice of drugs to voodoo takes on cases that are violent and strange in nature. The conduit Cabra Cini uses to move between worlds could take pieces of her soul. In this type of void, a doorway of transition, she travels through with a cavalier attitude. It’s as if she’s been through the worst in her life where now nothing can phase her. But this trip is different. Someone she never expects to see comes forward to stop using this limbo like a subway station.
There’s more to this comic as we leave Cabra and meet another who’s on the cover. It’s the young blonde man who seems repentant and is also dabbling in magic. One thing about doing a ritual is that once it starts you need to follow through. Don’t stop to take a phone call. What makes this part of the narrative compelling are the panels. Each is framed as if the blonde guy is going from different rooms. You see and feel the movement. Equally compelling, we hope he makes it up to whoever he’s attempting to contact. However, rocking that RUN-DMC shirt, no one should count him out.
In an interlude of the action we meet Ruby Kaye, the superhero Geek Girl. As she embarrassingly listens to her accomplishments, we get a glimpse of the interwoven worldbuilding where Ruby is a financially sponsored superhero juxtaposed with Cabra, a more street-level detective who has to deal with everyday life. On taking another case means having to go through what she calls the Infinite again. That void really doesn’t like being treated like transport. It’s constantly putting more danger into Cabra’s path. The tension increases and you want her to take what’s happening with a little more care. As a reader you will be fully invested in this cliffhanger ending.
Caba Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman is dangerously fun. The artwork from Bruno Letiza and colorist Chunlin Zhao and letterer Paul McLean in the “Into the Infinite” section are crisp with smooth lines. Characters look like real people. You’re going to want Cabra Cini’s jacket and that RUN-DMC shirt. It’s also not easy to use the language of magic but Sam Johnson works seamlessly through spellcasting, everyday conversation and confronting inner demons. You don’t need to be well versed in the world of “Geek Girl” where these characters stem from to enjoy what’s going on. Indie comics such as Cabra Cini have good storytelling with characters you want to know.
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