He’s No Gentleman

Or is he?  The Gentleman # 1 introduces us to Oliver Solomon, a private investigator haunted by cults, magic, nightmares, and the fallout from a disastrous relationship.  The fact that the relationship was polyamorous and bisexual is incidental; this book is modern cosmic horror noir in the vein of Angel Heart or The Spectre.  If you’re a fan of Lovecraft, Machen, or John Constantine you’ll enjoy it.   There are femmes fatale, hard-boiled action, poor decisions, and spellcasting.  This first chapter isn’t self-contained, but it leaves you wanting more.  Writer Greg Anderson Elysee weaves a tale as old as ancient rituals to appease forgotten gods but as fresh as last night’s Tinder hook-up you immediately regretted – a story carried largely by the strength of the personalities involved and their very human emotions.  The art, by Massilimiliano Veltri and Marco Pagnotta, reminds me of Tom Mandrake at his best, and that’s a high compliment.  The letters by Micah Myers jump off the page.

You see, Oliver’s apartment has just been invaded – by an old boyfriend and an attractive sorceress he’s hooked up with.  Reluctant to aid them, Oliver investigates her – only to find something terrifying.

This story is just beginning, but somehow I think Oliver is going to regret not just kicking those unwanted guests out and staying home to watch Netflix with his cat, Simone Simon.

If you’re a fan of occult cosmic horror and the hard-boiled types who investigate it, you’ll want to pick up The Gentleman from Evoluzione Publishing.