Four books into the ongoing story of Daisy Blackwood, Pilot for Hire, and I'm still enjoying her adventures now as I did when I picked up and read the first graphic collection. Creator/writer/artist Ryan Howe has created a truly likable character with a bit of wit, some quick comebacks, and a whole lot of intelligence and gumption to go up against some crazy supernatural baddies that seem to get worse with each story. These comics are told in newspaper strip-style format, and the pulp-style adventures are paced perfectly to keep the action going, the story moving, and the excitement building.
Paranormal Perils provides readers with not one, not two, but THREE new stories featuring Daisy Blackwood and her new friend/roomie, Huma Laghari (who was introduced in the last collection). Daisy and the Doc have returned home, where Ross Parsons is anxiously waiting. Daisy welcomes Huma into her humble home, but any much-needed rest gets pushed aside when a little fire sprite escapes its container, and the two women have a bit of a comedic escapade re-capturing it. The main feature, to to speak. of this volume involves a cult calling themselves the Golden Tone, who are making a nuisance of themselves in town. Daisy and Huma set out to stop some of the Tone's members from harassing some innocent pedestrians, which leads them into uncovering a nefarious plot involving some high ranked officials and some very human sacrifices! Of course, Daisy does what Daisy does best - blows things up! - and brings all of the cult's plans come crashing down on their heads in the most literal fashion possible. The short story that wraps up this fourth volume is a cute little tale about a missing mummy that is not necessarily the danger everyone things she poses - and yes, I said that right - SHE. And before the pages close on this book, Daisy finds herself asking Huma to join her in business, so that they can share more supernatural adventures together going forward!
The first tale, "Hot Times," is not overly serious, as Daisy introduces Huma to her home, her friends, and her life - but Huma has brought a fire sprite back with her, and when it gets loose, the two woman have one heck of a time trying to recapture the little booger. Of course, what's the easiest way to put out a fire? Not exactly the way you would think!
The main story of this collection, "Beautiful Music," starts off simple enough with Huma getting a needed haircut (after what the fire sprite does!), but quickly escalates into a full-scale adventure when they get into altercation with cult members of the Golden Tone. It's a mixture of supernatural and technology, and Daisy happens upon the smallest of clues that begins to make her wonder if there is a bigger picture that she isn't seeing (because the cult leader's mask just happens to have the same symbol that she saw back in Norway...)
The final tale, "The Mummy," is supposed to be a simple delivery - but when the box carrying the mummy falls from her airplane, crashes, and the mummy gets up and walks away, Daisy must hunt her down. With the help of Huma, she finds the ancient queen is looking for the most unexpected thing of all! It's actually a touching little story that reminds the reader not to judge a book by its cover.
With this fourth book, Howe gives readers a bit of a respite from the longer adventures of the previous books, but the stories maintain the same quality, the same quirky humor, and the same excitement and adventure. His art is as beautiful as ever, and the mix of detailed backgrounds with blank background panels gives just the right mix to keep the reader focused on the story and not just the "pretty art." I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I really want to see Daisy Blackwood as a television series. I mean, let's face it - a 1940s/50s pulp-style action hero who is a female adventurer that manages to get involved in one supernatural escapade after another - it's got "HIT" written all over it!
So, one more book to go - and then I have to wonder if there will be any more Daisy Blackwood tales, as I have not seen any further collections solicited, nor have I seen any news on Howe's own website about future stories. I hope there is still more to come, as this is just too good a character to be put up on a shelf and left to collect dust!
RATING: 10 brooms and dustpans out of 10 for stories that give the reader some fantastic fun adventures to read with characters you just have to love!
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