If you watched my report on this year’s RIPExpo, you saw Dave, Lara, and Amanda at their table, signing the Tales of the Night Watchman issues I bought. Dave also took part in a panel discussion on micro-presses.
Tales of the Night Watchman, created by Dave Kelly and Lara Antel, is written by Dave. Three talented women then bring these characters to life. Lara illustrates a six-issue story arc, titled, The Long Fall. A bonus, 2-part story, The Dwellers of Big Bogie, illustrated by Amanda Scurti, concludes with the upcoming June issue. Two stand alone issues, illustrated by Molly Ostertag, are also available.
Tales of the Night Watchman follows Nora and Charlie, two typical 20-somethings working in a New York City coffee shop, except Charlie is possessed by the spirit of a detective who died in 1941. When he is needed to combat paranormal activity, the Night Watchman awakes ‐ and Charlie falls asleep.
Inspired by Golden and Silver-age comics like Batman, Dick Tracy, and the Phantom, Dave has written a modern-day telling of a dual-life character: mild-mannered barista and guardian from the spirit world.
Lara’s clear-line style, influenced by Mœbius, Will Eisner, and David B., varies white and black space to clearly differentiate the “real world” with that of the Night Watchman. Amanda and Molly each depict a more gray-scale world.
Available from So What? Press,, Tales of the Night Watchman brings a traditional genre to the 21st century.
Be sure to visit the Tales of the Night Watchman website to get your copies.
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