Billed as “a slice of North-Eastern crime” The Closing Hour is that all too rare thing in one-shot comics genre fiction – a satisfying complete-in-one story that also blends deep characterisation into its narrative mix. Written by Thomas Armstrong, and illustrated by John Biggs, this 24-page short is notable for its intricately panelled sequentials, presented in an unusual A4 format that really gives the art space to breathe despite its often crammed pages.
The story touches on themes of redemption, the nature of personal morality, cycles of violence and escaping our pasts. Its focus is the relationship between schoolboy Sammy and his stepfather Fred, the latter of whom is about to find his past catching up with him when a shady character turns up at his Newcastle deli shop, with serious consequences for both him and his adopted family…
Set in late 1960s Newcastle The Closing Hour has a true sense of regional authenticity, particularly in regards to the local dialect Armstrong uses and Biggs’s recreation of a period North East. Indeed those visuals, with their use of detailed environmental realism and slightly caricatured characters, are highly atmospheric. Especially in regards to the moody bluish monochromatic colour schemes with occasional splashes of red or crimson backdrops to accentuate moments of violence. While most pages, as mentioned, are compressed to the point of bursting, Biggs also knows when to open up his visuals for dramatic effect, and his fight sequences are particularly impressive with pliable, kinetic energy.
While I don’t cover a lot of the more obvious categories of genre fiction work myself at BF The Closing Hour is a welcome exception to that semi-official rule. After being given to me in a hotel bar on the Saturday night of Thought Bubble last year I’m glad my copy survived its journey in my coat pocket around various Harrogate drinking venues so that I could spread the word about this rock solid piece of storytelling.
Thomas Armstrong (W), John Biggs (A) • Self-published, £6.50
Review by Andy Oliver
