It's as compelling and accomplished as debuts come, a rich tapestry of portentous conversations, archaic lore and gruesome murders that makes long speeches about stock trading drip with dread. It feels like the start of something very special. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders #1 is a promising start to another series from Jonathan Hickman. I've been a big fan of his previous work, and this first issue offers the same combination of fascinating characters, a weird premise, and detailed infographics to flesh out the world and explore the lore. Read Full Review

As a writer, Jonathan Hickman has never been the easiest to get on board with, with his challenging and convoluted style sometimes falling into the trap of becoming insular and self-indulgent, preaching to the choir rather than bringing in new converts. But I think that Black Monday Murders, intentionally or not, comes across as a concerted effort to bring that hyper-deliberateness to a wider audience, putting all of Hickman's typical writing signatures on a plot that has more resonance than ever in today's election cycle. While it remains to be seen if Hickman and Coker can continue their momentum as the plot thickens, you'd be hard-pressed to deny that they absolutely slay with Black Monday Murders #1. Read Full Review

Stop what you're doing and go get The Black Monday Murders. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders is a series I'm really looking forward to more of. Hickman, Coker, and Garland all knock it out of the park (excuse the cliche) in this issue. They get just about everything right, and I don't really have any fully formed complaints. And that's after reading it through three times. I may give it another go before I talk about it on Comics Dash this week, so maybe then I'll have something to whine about. But really, I predict that it's just going to be myself and my co-hosts gushing about it. Seriously, this book is one to get on board with now. Read Full Review

All in all, Hickman and Coker have succeeded here, combining fantasy, style and crime-story noir with a slightly surreal, Christopher Nolan edge. Sometimes there are those comics that make you work a bit harder for the story and dig a bit deeper for clues rather than spoon-feed everything to you; this is such a comic, and the payoff to come so far seems quite promising. Read Full Review

I hope this series goes on and on. If you can only make room for one more book to get this week, make it The Black Monday Murders by Hickman, Coker, Garland and Wooton. Read Full Review

A new Hickman book is an event and The Black Monday Murders #1 is no exception. It's narrative is engaging from the very first page and grips you tightly until the very last page. It's greatest victory, however, is that it leaves you wanting more. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders is Hickman's most ambitious work to date, and if he doesn't wind up dying mysteriously in a small aircraft crash before completing it, it should be amazing to see to its end. Read Full Review

I'm a big fan of Hickman's creations. He puts a lot of effort into fleshing out his worlds and giving his audience their money's worth. This is not a light read. I put in a medium amount of effort and came away with a lot of questions about what is hinted at and a desire to learn more about the Board of Caina as the series progresses. Those who want to spend the time will find a lot to be run down based on the wealth of information laid out in this issue on the text pages interspersed throughout the story as well as in the story itself. This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it's the exact kind of thing that makes a Hickman series interesting to me. I really want to see where he's going to go with this, his commentary on the global markets of 2016 as parallels to 1929 and 1987 will be fascinating reading. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders#1 is a book the promises to drag you to hell in the best way possible. The mystery is already tightly wound, the magic hums on every page, and I'm geared up and ready for the next issue. While I'm looking forward to digging into the characters more, the premise and set-up of this book is well-executed visually and plot-wise. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders looks to be another worthwhile addition to the Jonathan Hickman canon. This first issue is both dense and varied, introducing key players on both sides of the conflict and offering an intriguing glimpse into a world where magic and finance are intertwined. It's both right in line with Hickman's past work and wholly unique. Read Full Review

The only downside is that the plotline and the villains are still a bit thick. We're new to the story, so of course the larger picture shouldn't be clear yet. Nonetheless, the reader is going to have difficulty discerning what's going on beyond "occultists are manipulating capitalism." It's good, but dizzying. Hopefully readers who stick around for the next issue will make sense of where it's going. Read Full Review

It would be criminal to rate it any lower because of the craftmanship on display, but I would recommend waiting this one out and returning when (or even if) it finishes. Read Full Review

The Black Monday Murders #1 is a comic with a solid, intriguing story and nice looking artwork, but is hampered by poorly defined characters and weak writing. It has the makings of something great or something with a lot of potential, but it feels hollow and there's not much in the way of characters to get invested in. If you are a diehard Hickman fan who doesn't mind his writing ticks, this should be fine for you. But if you are unsure, especially since this is looking to be a series that will cost you five dollars a month, you may want to hold off for the trade. Read Full Review

Fortunately there is a good guy – a classic noir story detective complete with hat and trench coat. Hes flawed from the outset but clearly the one person that can solve this mystery. The establishment is cracking and full of its own internal strife, which may help Detective Theo Dumas close the case, and then some. But will his discoveries spell his undoing? Time will tell, although,theres more to this protagonist than meets the eye, which could allow him a glimpse behind the curtain. The question is, will he be able to do anything about what he finds there? Will the good guys, such as they are, come out on top or will the monsters in control of society retain their hold on power? Youll like Dumas, and as of the first issue you may even be rooting for him. Hes a classic sort of everyman anti-hero that would save this book from too much doom and gloom. Read Full Review

There may be something worthwhile for those with the fortitude to finishThe Black Monday Murders #1 in a single sitting, but for many it may be too much of a slog to carry on through the rest of the series. You can't fault the team for their ambition – and in particular Hickman's continued insistence on telling his stories his way – but this first issue just feels a little too much like homework. Read Full Review

Typical Hickman...

i see hickman and i think "probably a good reading". Ad it is. IT's a very good starting point with an intriguing plot. The artist is a very good choice, good lines which produce a good atmosphere.

Masterful.

Written in true Hickman fashion. Took me an HOUR to read and digestion took another HOUR. This book was deep. It maybe too much for some but for a conspiracy theorist like myself, its right up my alley (pause)

Dre

Hickman really loves concentric circles, doesn't he?

In any case, a really solid first issue... if a bit too dense at times -- and there comes the caveat: Will he finish this comic? Anyone remember Dying and the Dead? As solid as this book was, I can't help but feel that this book will read really good only after it is collected as trades, and possibly only after it is actually wrapped up.

Been burned by the likes of Hickman and Ellis too many times to consider following them on a monthly basis when their schedule is more miss than hit.

In typical Hickman fashion, this is well researched, planned out, and meticulous in the graphic design. However, in typical Hickman fashion, it is also very dry, decompressed and cold. Readers who enjoy in depth, long running and highly technical stories will enjoy this, but if you like emotional, thrilling stories that lean on drama and character development, I'd advise something else.