Do not read horror in the ER. In my defense, Trance Book One has a colorful, awesome looking drag queen on the cover (and in my limited experience drag queens usually lend themselves to a thoughtful, but fun, time). I guess the witch/pentagram and the snake on the cover should have been a clue it was going to be spooky/graphic. But, again in my defense, I was reading on my tiny phone screen (reader copy form, final form due in mid/late May 2023) and could barely make out the cover to start with. Once I got into it, yes, there was humor (there is a scene about not getting on another d**k but using magic to get rid of the man who done her wrong), but it can be dark. Joey Capuana has something going on here, I’m just not sure what.
I figured out that it is a Scout Comics publication and due to another graphic novel that I read from them, I’m assuming that their style is realistic magic/fantasy with hints of horror/thriller. And they can be literary and have an off-putting sense of humor. I will need the completed story to know how I feel about the entire story arc to Trance, but at the same time, I am not sure I want to know (though I am wondering about one character and what they have to do with some murders). It is all interesting but has a feeling of plot points missing. With that said, this was one crazy ride and had fascinating elements to it. The artwork is sassy, glossy and what you expect from a “comic graphic novel.” Pablo Collar must have had some happy juice or adult pharmaceuticals though, as it can be a bit psychedelic! Or that could be due to colorist, Julio Rojas.
There is a lot that is for Mature Audiences only. There is magic, homophobia, violence, strong sex scenes that frankly while not gratuitous, could be a bit more than just a little disturbing. I guess part of that was where I was (i.e.: the ER doing a lot of hurry up and wait while the doctors, nurses, techs, etc. finally figured out which way was up and which was down with my dad, which was why I was in hospital to start), and partly because it is just a real mind screw. We have a Queen of Club Trance. She (I believe the pronouns are she/her, but if mistaken, please let me know) is the headlining singing witch. She just broke up with her boyfriend, yet there is something suspicious with his ghosting her. There are the others of the coven too, such as the leader and club owner, a trans man who has ties to the local homophobic pastor/church down the street from them; a young dancer who loves to put men in a trance and get them to enjoy themselves by making them tell him what they want (who also loves a good casual hookup), and a few others who have telepathic powers. But the rules of society and magic cannot be broken, though it does look like they are going to get smashed when gay men are found brutally murdered and all hell breaks loose.
I am assuming there will not be too many surprises, and the story will be straight forward. I think I have pinpointed a vessel of evil and possibly an unknowing pawn, but there could be a few twists and turns as things progress. Overall, this book seems to be about family and the lengths we will go for our loved ones.