- The Hennesy Secret
- Written by Soul Singh Khalsa (Soul Singer)
- Illustrated by Avery Storms
- Chapters 1-4 Available now
A young man tormented by a dynastic curse, a trapped woman with psychic powers, and a spiritual teacher on the run…They are bound together by a demonic being which is trying to destroy them all!
Not the easiest series of comics I’ve ever tried to describe, I have to admit that The Hennesy Secret wasn’t easy to put down, either. I’d call it a slow burn if it had maybe moved a little faster, but there was something about the characters, their stories, and their interactions that kept me interested. Note: comics don’t all have to be spandex-clad demigods pounding each other into the ground.
Essentially, rich American guy Alan is being hunted by… something, a presence he can’t describe or define. He goes to India to find… something, a guide able to lead him to some sense of peace he can’t describe or define. While there, Alan finds some defense against the darkness in the form of Rani, the daughter of a supposed guru, who is gifted with insights and abilities in her own right but lacking her father’s ambitions. Set along Alan’s path are Robert, another American also in search of something spiritual, and a cryptic fellow (seriously, Yoda would look at the guy & say, “Dude, just spit it out.”) who may or may not be the guide they’re both looking for.
While all this is going on, someone in New York has taken great interest in Alan’s journey, tasking a powerful psychic to latch on and follow him wherever he may go. Written by Soul Singh Khalsa, The Hennesy Secret has as much going on between the panels as many books have between the covers, with stories weaving in and out among no less than four major characters, plus the shadowy villain and his henchperson.
The black & white illustrations by Avery Storms are just detailed enough to deliver, highlighted by some great design and beautiful character work. Their lines are simple, not jumbled or cluttered. Panels are laid out and easily followed, without clinging to a traditional grid. I was recently asked what I thought of comic illustrations being left without color, & I kinda wish I’d had access to The Hennesy Secret at the time as a great example of what black & white art can do.
There are some glicks and glucks where another round of editing might’ve smoothed the dialogue out, and narrative jumps that skip the tiny bit of context that would make the story less confusing, but overall I have to give The Hennesy Secret a recommendation. It’s not going to be for everyone, specifically anyone who needs a faster-paced comic to keep them interested. But for readers looking to digging into something deeper, more layered, with multiple interwoven stories leading to something bigger it could be just the thing.
Final Score: 10/13
