Written by: Chris Condon
Art by: Jacob Phillips
Colors by: Jacob Phillips
Letters by: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover art by: Jacob Phillips
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 25, 2026
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 (DC Comics, 2/25/26): Writer Chris Condon and artist Jacob Phillips deliver a pulp-fueled mystery where hardboiled PI Ezra Cain tackles a museum heist sparked by the theft of the ancient Hephaestus Anvil. Kinetic noir execution blends Spillane grit with Indy adventure flair; Verdict: A must-read for fans.
First Impressions
Ezra Cain hits the ground running with that classic gumshoe swagger, pulling you into 1941 New York streets alive with tension and fedora shadows. The opening chase explodes off the page, gritty inks capturing every bullet whizz and laundry tumble in sharply kinetic panels that demand your attention right away. You feel the pulse of a world on the brink, where every knock could be trouble; it's that rare debut issue that grabs hold and doesn't let go, blending myth-steeped mystery with street-level brawls in a way that sparks instant intrigue.
Recap
This noir-tinged opener thrusts Ezra Cain, a former cop turned PI with anthropology roots, into a web of artifact theft and shadowy whispers amid WWII-era tensions. Flashbacks reveal the 1913 discovery of the mythical Hephaestus Anvil on Lemnos, now vanished from a New York museum alongside nightwatchman Karl Meyer. As thugs hunt a mysterious case and desperate clients plead for help, Cain navigates prejudice-laced streets, piecing together clues that hint at ancient perils lurking in modern shadows.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS)
In 1913 Greece, Professor John Morris uncovers the Anvil of Hephaestus in a hidden Lemnos temple chamber, battling flame traps and automatons before Greek workers crate the glowing artifact for transport. Its heat pulses ominously as orders ring out to avoid touch, setting a tone of forbidden power unearthed after centuries. The scene pulses with discovery's thrill and lurking danger, bridging myth to reality.
New York, November 1941: Thugs Scavuzzo and a client ambush deliveryman Ramsay over a case, sparking a shootout that spills into the streets with crashing laundry and screeching tires. Ezra Cain intervenes decisively, killing one gunman and securing the prize for client Trask, who gripes over invoices amid threats of return visits. Cain's world-weary efficiency shines as he bills for protection, underscoring his street-smart survival code.
Back home, phone rings pull Cain into museum man James Sweet's orbit, who reveals the Anvil's clandestine transfer from war-torn Greece, coveted by Axis leaders. Old pal Mack pitches a favor: probe missing neighbor Karl Meyer, a poor immigrant shunned by cops due to his German ties. Sweet hires Cain discreetly after showing the raided "Gold Mine" storage, where only the Anvil vanished with the watchman.
Cain returns to find Rachel Meyer waiting, gun drawn at first, desperate over Karl's disappearance from museum work; she whispers "the Brutal Dark" took him. Clippings recap Cain's past glories like stopping the Harlem Terror, framing him as the go-to fixer for overlooked cases. The issue closes on that haunting phrase, teasing mythic horrors ahead in Ezra's path.
Writing
Chris Condon crafts pacing that crackles like a Tommy gun burst, layering quick-hit action with deliberate exposition drops that never stall momentum. Dialogue snaps authentically in era-perfect slang, from Scavuzzo's broken English threats to Cain's laconic barbs, building character through clipped exchanges rather than monologue dumps. Thematic depth emerges subtly in prejudice motifs and artifact curses, weaving pulp tropes into a cohesive structure that hooks without overwhelming.
The narrative structure alternates timelines masterfully, using 1913 prologue to ground the myth then slamming into 1941 chaos for immediate stakes. Exposition on Greek history flows organically via Sweet's briefing, avoiding info overload by tying it to Cain's backstory. Overall, Condon balances high-octane set pieces with quiet character beats, delivering a debut that promises escalating intrigue.
Art
Jacob Phillips wields inks with masterful chiaroscuro control, shadows pooling like spilled ink to amp tension in every dimly lit alley or museum vault. Layouts flow dynamically across splash pages of chases and tight grids for tense dialogues, guiding the eye with razor-sharp panel borders that mimic film reels. Character acting pops through expressive fedora tilts and gritted teeth, while muted tones evoke noir grit perfectly.
Color work by Phillips synergizes moodily, desaturated palettes in New York nights contrasting the Anvil's infernal glow for visceral impact. Composition layers foreground thugs against blurred backgrounds, heightening spatial drama in fights; automatons' mechanical menace leaps via stark line weights. Visual storytelling carries silent beats effortlessly, making every page a kinetic visual symphony.
Character Development
Ezra Cain emerges as a compelling antihero, his ex-cop cynicism masking anthropology smarts and moral code, motivated by favors and fair shakes in a biased world. Consistency shines in his no-nonsense persuasion methods and quiet regrets over unfinished degrees, rendering him instantly relatable as the everyman fixer. Supporting cast like wary Sweet and distraught Rachel hint at depths, their motivations tied credibly to era tensions.
Originality & Concept Execution
Mashing Mickey Spillane hardboiled detective yarns with Indiana Jones relic hunts feels fresh in comics, especially via Condon and Phillips' return-to-form grit post-That Texas Blood. The premise nails pulp homage while injecting WWII geopolitics and mythic horror, delivering promised adventure-noir thrills without clichés overwhelming the execution. Ancient anvil as McGuffin promises unique perils, executed with confident flair that elevates the genre mashup.
Pros and Cons
What We Loved
- Kinetic chase layouts propel action with balletic precision.
- Noir dialogue crackles authentically, laced with 1940s slang punch.
- Chiaroscuro inks build brooding tension masterfully.
Room for Improvement
- Prologue automatons feel slightly trope-reliant visually.
- Backmatter clippings slightly disrupt cliffhanger flow.
- Meyer intro rushes immigrant stakes amid denser setup.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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The Scorecard
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1/2
Final Verdict
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 nails the pulp-noir sweet spot, blending Cain's gritty hustle with anvil-fueled myth in a package that punches above its page count. In a limited stack, it earns prime slot for its sharp execution and hook-laden promise, rewarding fans of Condon and Phillips' mature grit without demanding prior reads. Straight fire for noir adventurers; your pull list just got tougher.
9/10
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