I think everyone has heard of the character of John Shaft, even if you have not of the movies including the John Singleton remake which came off more like a shadow of what the originals were. The character made famous by Richard Roundtree, was probably one of the most unique icons form the 1970s and actually created its own archetype. There have been clones of this character through films that came out after, that, but none were as good as John Shaft. Most people don’t know that they were based on books.

This is a fact that I didn’t know myself until I met the writer of this new comic, David Walker, at New York Comic Con, as he seemed to be very invested in writing the character in the books and not in the movies. Then when they announced Bilquis Evely as the artist, I did not know who she was, but was intrigued after doing a Google search of her work. So when the first issue dropped, I was more than intrigued, I became a believer, as this was not only true to who the character should have been as the title of the first arc, tells the reader, he is a complicated man.The John Shaft in these books, is far more interesting and more intricate than what was portrayed in the movies.

The story starts in 1968, shortly after John gets discharged from the Army, where he begins his civilian life working as boxer. He refuses to throw a fight within the first few pages and soon finds himself looking for work again, where it dawns on him to start a detective agency. He starts his first case, looking for a shoplifter but ends up getting more complicated than that, from gangsters to ending with a search for a missing girl. By story’s end, the reader will find a character, which they actually never knew, but will be more than intrigued to understand.

Altogether, a fine story that challenges any preconceived notions had of this character and his motivations and really of the time. David F Walker shows exactly why Dynamite chose him to write this story and the prose novel, which goes with each issue, as he understands John Shaft enough, to give him the proper interpretation. The art by Bilquis Evely, is a godsend as, she captures the era and the characters in the most interesting hues. Overall, a solid book that although was set in the 60s is very much relevant today.

Story: David F. Walker Art: Bilquis Evely
Story: 10 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review