in this graphic novel we follow Elena Albott, a queer Black woman, as she tries to start fresh working at for the newspaper. Obviously that isn't quite what happens. The interesting story + the great pacing kept me invested all throughout it.

Overall, though, this was a solid read! I was particularly taken by the scenario and atmosphere, as well as the visual style. The narrative was a little predictable and simple for me, but it was still amusing.

From the art, to the dialogue, to the story, to the atmosphere it created of Detroit during this time period. This is definitely the difference when people of color tell stories of people of color.

the style didn’t get me and i stopped reading quickly because everything was written so tiny!! bUt i might give it another chance

After reading volume 1, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this second volume of Abbott. This graphic novel follows Elena Abbott, a Detroit black newspaper journalist during the 70s who doesn't let anyone or anything stop her from telling the truth. The truth about life and the truth about the horrible and supernatural crimes that plague her city. Where many reporters would tell the easiest story and move on, Elena Abbott seeks justice. She is one badass female protagonist!

Previously we see her battle the umbra to protect her friends, family, and community as well as avenge her dead lover and best friend. In this volume we see her continue to stand up for what she believes in as she takes on a new challenge - defeating the forces of evil before they ruin the campaign of Detroit's first black mayor. Abbott's job is never done, but this one might cost her...and it just might mean her life.

Loved this story. Its nice to see strong black women be the hero of the narrative. Abbott's character is fun to watch as she grows as both a person and a hero. She has been through a lot, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing whats right. When she gets knocked down she will get right back up again.

It's also nice to see some representation for the LGBTQ community. A character that isn't just a side character but the main protagonist. The writing with this volume is done in a way that if you haven't read the first installment, the story and its characters are easy enough to follow, but if you get a chance to read the first one i highly suggest that you do. I really love both of these graphic novels and hope to see it extended in the future.

I want more!!! I really enjoy the plot but some detailes were kind of missing, but in general it was a good reading.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

While the characters were all very interesting, I found myself putting the book down after every couple of pages. The story just wasn't holding my interest and I was confused quite a bit throughout the story. Overall, there were some great themes and good characters, yet just wasn't really the best fit for me.

Something happened with this book on my NetGalley shelf. After reading the first few pages (and not liking it) I put it away, but couldn’t find it after.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this graphic novel.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this graphic novel on my NetGalley app so unable to read and review. However I will definitely be buying a copy of this in the future as I can't wait to read it!

I don’t read many graphic novels so when I do they are generally something interesting that caught my eye and that’s what this one is. An interesting story and some great art work. Knowing it’s a sequel though I did go back and read what came before first. I would definitely read more in the future.

I enjoyed this, but I would've enjoyed it more if I'd read Abbott first. This is a "me" problem, and not the book's fault, but if you're considering reading this and haven't read the first story, you should at least familiarize yourself with it so you'll know what's going on.
The art is gorgeous, I loved this visually. The story is good, but feels kinda rushed in spots - the fights felt a little too easy, for instance. I think the story could've been stretched out for another issue or two to give more of a sense of conflict, get more tension built up. I appreciated the sense of the times, the history felt present, if that makes sense? I was a kid when this is taking place, and the vibe matches what I remember, at any rate. The supernatural element was creepy, the story of using scare tactics to convince white voters to vote against a Black man is still relevant, and her boss' misogyny still rings true; the elements are all good, I just wish everything had been explored more. Still, I enjoyed this and will look for the next volume.

#Abbott1973 #NetGalley

I am trying to read more comics and when I saw Abbott: 1973 available on Netgalley, I instantly thought "I NEED to read this", now I finally did it. And I am so happy for that.
A queer black woman who is also a badass journalist fighting against supernatural forces??? YES, PLEASE!!
I wish we could have seen more about the investigation part, though I know that's not the focus of the story and I don't know if I missed something before this but I was very confused about the past of the characters and that kinda made me enjoy the experience a little bit less. That being said, I liked most of the characters that appeared and that ending made me really curious, I'm looking forward to discovering more about this amazing universe and what'll be Elena Abbott's next steps in her fight.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Urban fantasy and paranormal romance, including works by Jim Butcher and Patricia Biggs, are two speculative subgenres that often get lumped together. And just like chocolate and peanut butter, they create something better than the sum of their parts. Rather than dissect these stories for the elements that are either urban fantasy or paranormal romance, the meager taken up with this review would be better spent enlightening readers about a pair of graphic novels that are not only a great example of both urban fantasy and paranormal romance but contains some social commentary into which readers can sink their mental teeth. These two graphic novels are Abbott and its sequel Abbott 1973, both written by Saladin Ahmed and illustrated by Sami Kivelä.

Abbott introduces the reader to chain-smoking, tough as nails Elena Abbott, tabloid reporter with an acerbic wit, a need to always be smoking, and a supernatural destiny that piques the interest of the dark forces brewing in Detroit. In Abbott, Elena must battle a secret society with close ties to the Umbra, a literal force of darkness that wants to destroy the world. The first book introduces the reader to Abbott’s world and its colorful characters, some who don’t make it to the end of the first story. In Abbott 1973, after learning more about her destiny and enjoying a new relationship, Elena must find out who or what is trying to interfere in Detroit’s mayoral election. Elena and her friends must battle not only the agents of the Umbra but also the racism and corruption that flow through Detroit’s streets like poison.

Those who like hard-boiled noir, ‘70s cop shows, or urban fantasy will find something to like in Ahmed’s story. Elena features prominently in every panel, always smoking and rarely smiling. Elena might not have a lot to smile about, particularly when it comes to her status in this version of the Motor City. Elena has lost lovers to threats both mundane and paranormal, and she faces racism as well as sexism in her job as a reporter, but these struggles are what make her an interesting character as well as someone to whom modern readers can relate. Kivelä’s artwork helps immerse the reader in Elena’s world, not only by invoking the fashion and aesthetic of the ‘70s but by using an art style that brings to mind early ‘80s Vertigo comics. These books are for fans of The Dresden Files as well as the Mercy Thompson series, but they also display a social awareness in its depictions, for example, of racism among Detroit’s police. This look into deeper, darker issues that aren’t supernatural helps set it apart from the many heroines of this genre that are both witty and tough as nails.

So, i'm gonna talk about Abbott: 1973 that i discovered, fun fact: its five Graphic Novels in one volume, which i loved.

Abbott: 1973 tells us about this woman, called Elena Abbott, that works in a newspaper, in Detroit, which, all of the people that works with her, are black, because of the segregation that existed in that age (what doesn't mean that don't exist today okay?).

But, Elena, besides being a reporter, she lives as a huntress of evil forces, even why, its happening the election for the mayor of the town, and she have to handle all of that, and having mental health at the end of the day.

My Opinion: The first Graphic was too introducing for me, which is no problem, because, i had the chance to enter in this world, and get familiarized with. The Graphics number: two, three and four, they were amazing to see how Elena is a great character and real too. Beside the other characters that have a participation, i liked a lot (claps for the Muscular Hippie hahahaha), but the Graphic number 5 was kinda disapoiting to me. The final fight was too fast, i would like to see more of it. There was nothing too espectacular. It seemed that, the author was hurried to finish, that missed some points.

If you want to read, go ahead 💕

Elena Abbot is one of Detroit's toughest reporters. She is using all her abilities to rescue Detroit from dark forces trying to corrupt the city's most important election.

The art is really neat. The supernatural forces are in a purple color and they look like they are made of mist. It is a really cool addition that as a non-artist just looks like magic to me. It looks different from the other panels and the switch between the "real world" and the supernatural was a really cool effect.

The story was interesting and I couldn't put it down. I was invested from start to finish and couldn't wait to see how this would end.

The book collects issues 1-5.

Creative Team:
Written by Saladin Ahmed
Illustrated by Sami Kivela
Colored by Mattia Iacono
Lettered by Jim Campbell

Abbott 1973 throws the reader right into the action with Elena Abbott, a black female news reporter in Detroit at the height of racial tensions with a magical enclave out for her blood.

I honestly thought this was the first book in the Abbott series and was shocked when the characters kept referencing previous events that I knew nothing of.

Even though I hadn’t read the previous book it wasn’t difficult to pick up on what was happening. The only struggle I had was understanding the motivations of The Umbra.

I loved the Rep in this book a lot, like biracial lesbians in the 1970s? I am here for it.

The art style was very evocative of comics from the 1970s without being tacky.

I really enjoyed the story, but wish sometimes that there was time for a reaction after events took place. This is a common theme with western comics, where it’s all action and drama and no time for the reader to really absorb the emotions of the scene.

I wish as a reader I knew more about the origins of Abbott’s magic. Like it’s cool but I have no idea why she has it or what it is. To be honest I feel like Abbott is badass enough that she could probably take on the Umbra without the magic.

Either way, I really enjoyed this book and am definitely going to pick up a copy of the previous book in the series

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

ABBOTT: 1973 picks up where the first collection leaves off, following an increasingly fearless Elena Abbott through more supernatural investigative adventures. Detroit is on the cusp of electing its first Black mayor, but the pushback has been vile and vicious. The evil ghostly force that Abbott encountered before is back and using even more horrific methods to get at her, seemingly the only person able to fight back on equal ground. Abbott’s now working at a Black-owned paper but the patriarchy is still alive and fucking well, with her new boss determined to sexualize her and police her behavior under the guise of respectability.

This second installment was everything I loved about the first and then some, showing us more of Abbott’s backstory (including her and Amelia’s childhood relationship), introducing us to Abbott’s brother (a veteran who may also have some of her power), and once again pitting Abbott against the white supremacist underbelly of the city, including the Italian mob, the Free Masons, and descendants of KKK members. Abbott is one of my favorite heroines; I love watching her kick ass and the scenes with her and Amelia live rent-free in my brain. I do wish we were shown more of how she learns to work with her mysterious powers, but maybe that’ll come later. The story ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next installment! Thanks to Boom! Studios for the eARC.

Content warnings: racism, sexism, homophobia, kidnapping, injury/death

'Abbott: 1973' by Saladin Ahmed with art by Sami Kivela is an urban fantasy graphic novel set in 1970s Detroit.

Elena Abbott is a reporter, but also can fight the supernatural. When the Detroit mayoral race looks like it's being rigged, she realizes there is more at stake. She enlists her ex-military brother and one of his friends, but will that be enough?

I really liked the setting, the story and the vibe of this story. The art is pretty great too. This was a great idea for an urban fantasy story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I loved the concept and the artwork and the characters -- everything was just A Good Vibe. I'm super excited to see how it all gets fleshed out in future issues!

I haven't read anything written by Saladin Ahmed so I thought I would pick this up. I was not disappointed. I loved the main character and the supernatural premises intermingled with historical context.

The protagonists struggle to survive both the real and the supernatural world is nicely done. The relationships also was a good twist. I won't go into details and give spoilers. But this one is worth picking up!

Thank you #NetGalley and Boom! Studios for giving me the opportunity to read this.

#Abbott1973