Blue Hand Mojo. I first found this in Hoopla’s collections of graphic novels turned audio books. Glad I did too because people like to whine about the comics. It’s mainly because John Jennings’ art is an acquired taste, especially the coloring. But me personally, I like how Graphic Audio plays as if it’s a movie. Looks like I’m getting ahead of myself though.
Blue Hand Mojo: Where’s The Blue?
This title is a more fantastic look at probation era Chicago through an African-American. Frank “Half-Dead” Johnson is definitely more unique than the cookie cutter detectives. The tragedies that start him up are nothing to sneeze at neither. Nothing from the World Wars, but the domestic threats like lynchings that put his family in the dirt. So then comes the deal with the devil for half of his soul. But the deal isn’t totally tied to Frank’s built-in magic wand. That’s from someone who’s more like a cross between a muse-
As you can tell, Blue Hand Mojo’s got enough to stick with people through the thick and thin. I didn’t even mention Frank’s past working for Al Capone.
It’s just that some people won’t like an earlier John Jennings’ art as much as his more current stuff. Plus, this graphic novel’s budget had to color blind the mojo’s blue. Even though that’s important.
You Feel The Blue!
So how the heck does an audiobook make all of this better? It get rids of the visuals!
True, but it gets you in the mood to make your mojo flowing. You see Graphic Audio prides itself on making what you hear feel like a movie. I don’t know about the rest of you. Most of the time, when I listen to audiobooks, it just feels like somebody’s rehearsing a script. No atmosphere, just stuff that puts me to sleep. Granted Graphic Audio’s Deadworld adaptation did the same, but not Blue Hand Mojo.
Don’t Need to Sing to Play A Song
Let’s go back to Frank for a second. Ken Jackson’s voice acting really sells the complexities of the character. His smarmy and playful attitude hides the pains from a cruelty in his own home. While the tone comes with some tension, there’s a softness to it too. It gives a feeling that Frank has a need to connect to something bigger. The problem is, he’s in debt for the power to do that. One of the sources just happens to connect with his identity more. So Frank tries to counteract that with some real people in his community. It’s a captivating effect that draws audiences in.
While on the topic of sounds, the effects give readers a better feel of what they have on characters. It’s not enough to just describe the nightmares’ intensity. Some visceral sound effects make readers feel empathy for characters. It’s as if they’re in their shoes. Frank’s backstory and connection to magic especially.
Thankfully a musical score evens things out in the intervals. They give a nice feel for the tone, especially as scenes shift.
Blue Hand Mojo: Graphics Are in Audio
Blue Hand Mojo‘s audiobook version doesn’t just get around the limitations. It enhances the spirit central to the title’s identity that get readers into the feel for it. The voice acting and sound effects give you a way better impression of what’s going on than narrations.
How does something like this even happen? I mean Walking Dead and The Boys I get, but a more obscure comic like this? At Baltimore Comic Con, I asked this to a staff member of the paper book’s publisher. He had some connections with Graphic Audio and the rest was history. Probably more to the story, but it’s not for me to tell.
All that matters is, making the right connections in life can get through some tough times. Just hope more people can enjoy this if they’ve got time.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.