I have seen the various series Alterna Comics publishes advertised in Previews often enough, but I've never purchased any or read any. None of their comics have ever really stood out to me or caught my attention. But a few months ago, I was at a small comic convention in St. Petersburg, and while combing through some $1 comic bins, I came across the complete 5-issue mini-series called Tinsel Town. I had never heard of any of the creators - writer David Lucarelli, artist Henry Ponciano, and letterer HDE - but the covers featured a female police officer, and the first issue boasted the tagline, "She was a cop in the early days of Hollywood - - in a town where nothing was what it seemed!" Now, anyone who knows me (or who has read this blog for any length of time) knows how much of a fan I am of comic books with female leads. So, at only $5 for all five issues, I figured why not? If it turned out to be a dud, I could simply pass them on to someone else.
Well, this series was anything BUT a dud!
Tinsel Town tells the story of Abigail Moore. She is the daughter of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. She always looked up to him, so as and adult, she is determined to follow in his footsteps. But in the early 20th Century, a woman becoming a police officer was not an easy task. Abigail is about to give up hope when she spots an ad looking for both men and women in the police department at Utopia City Studios! This is her big chance, she thinks. But Utopia City Studios is in the heart of Hollywood, and as we all know, in the city of make-believe, nothing is ever quite what it seems (as the cover tag so aptly warns...).
The first issue introduces readers to Abigail, giving us her complete backstory in just the first five pages (like comics used to do back in the day, instead of spreading out an origin story over 6-issues!). Then Lucarelli and Ponciano begin telling the real story, as Abigail applies for the job at the movie studio, to discover that she is being hired less for any ability or desire she might to become a cop, but more for her appearance and how she will look in a tight skirt. But Abigail is not one to give up easily, so she takes the job, determined to prove that she is up to the task. Along the way, she makes new friends - Frankie, a young man with stars in his eyes hoping to get his big break and the unnamed seamstress in wardrobe who gives Abigail a few pointers about what her job is really about. But, of course, there are always those jaded Hollywood types who are always sour and demeaning - such as Miss Redwood, the so-called "Chief" of Police and Abigail's boss ... Edward Coldwell, the man who runs the show. "Walk around, smile, wink at the boys, and flirt with the men," they tell her. Abigail begins to question her decision, but on her first day on the job, she comes face to face with a man prepared to jump off a water tower - she's a police officer, now, isn't she, so what is she going to do?
Beginning with issue 2, Abigail begins to really understand the meaning of the phrase, "everything is now what it seems." A daring rescue turns out to be less of a rescue and more of a publicity stunt. An escaped animal scares Abigail into firing her gun. A raging fire has to be stopped to save a working man's job. And an angry father bullying his son turns into an unexpected opportunity. But that's when things take a more sinister turn. All the fun and games are over, and the story becomes a lot darker as Abigail's friend, Betty, finds herself pregnant with a married man's child - and then she disappears. Following her instincts, she tracks her down to a house of ill-repute, where Abigail is nearly killed. When she discovers the dead body of her friend, Abigail becomes more determined than ever to find out what is really going on at Utopia City Studios, regardless of the danger. In true police fashion, Abigail follows the clues and uncovers the truth about the plot to kill Mr. Coldwell and take over the studios - a plot that she risks everything to stop in order to save her boss from certain death!
The writing of this series is top-notch, and Lucarelli creates a believable world of make-believe with characters that are real and relatable. Even the supporting cast comes alive within the story! And Ponciano's art fits the time period, the story, and the characters perfectly. This is a character and a story that I would absolutely love to see as an on-going series, as opposed to a couple of mini-series. There are no super heroics, no over-the-top stories or characters, and no overly-sexualized women that you see in comics today. There is just good storytelling with great art that draws you in and leaves you wanting for more. This series is a prime example of what comics should be! An online search reveals there was a second 5-issue mini-series published by Alterna in 2020 titled "Losing the Light," so I will be on the lookout for that.
Oh, and I should mention that the writer lets readers know on the first page of the first issue that this book and the character of Abigail are dedicated in loving memory to his mother, Miriam Lucarelli, who served as a police officer for more than 20 years! I can't think of any better way to honor her than with this amazing series.
RATING: 10 cones of ice cream out of 10 for crafting a turn-of-the-century crime story with a new twist - and in the process, introducing the world to what a real hero looks like with Abigail Moore!
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