Calavera, P.I. #1 First Look

comicswithdan
Oct 4, 2024
2 min read

An undead private investigator trying to not only a kidnapping but also the murder in which he was the victim?

I'm in.

Calavera, P.I. is an upcoming supernatural noir 4 issue comic miniseries from cartoonist Marco Finnegan published by Oni Press. Now Oni Press is giving us a first glimpse at what this thriller will look like.

In 1925, Juan Calavera died a hero. After a career spent outside the law defending the Chicano barrios where the police refused to operate, he earned a reputation for fearlessness . . . and a gunshot in the stomach. Now, five years later, on Dia de los Muertos, his restless spirit has been summoned from the grave to help a desperate former colleague unravel a kidnapping all too close to home. With only days to solve the case before he is called back to the underworld, can Calavera reveal the identity of the masked human trafficker known as La Fantasma before tragedy strikes again . . . and solve the mystery of his own murder in the process?

Finnegan gave his insight into the book for the Oni Press press release:

“Our story opens in Los Angeles, while the roaring Twenties are in full swing, Jazz rules the clubs, Hollywood Starlets are the talk of the town, and the Latin Lover mystique is the latest rage,” said Finnegan. “At the heart of it all is Juan Calavera, P.I., the best detective in the City of Angels. His mastery of disguise, daring escapades, and steamy romances, until he is gunned down. Five years later, a terrible crime shakes the city… and brings the detective back from beyond the grave. He returns to an LA he doesn’t recognize, with multiple crimes to solve, including his own murder.”

The art looks incredible, the idea is top notch, and the preview pages are extremely promising. There's no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the most talked about books of the fall.

CALAVERA, P.I. #1 (of 4)

WRITTEN BY MARCO FINNEGAN

ART BY MARCO FINNEGAN