Now when I say mangu, that’s my word for OEL manga-style webcomics. It’s not a slam, I just simply can’t bring myself to call it by any other community-accepted tag. It’s not manga, it’s mangu~!

That being said, I thought I’d review a more conventional story-driven comic. When I delved into this one, I was stunned.

Here we go: Crowfeathers

Crowfeathers is a long-running B/W project whose chapter 1 art is as hot as its current chapter 21 inks (some 420+ strips later). I appreciate consistency as much as stellar writing. The writer/artist/webdesigner, Sagebrush, seems capable of both. I also have a special place in my heart for solo projects–I wonder why.

I also wonder why I’ve never heard of this project before know. It’s nearing its third year, updates regularly, and displays visual quality on par with Van Von Hunter (a top-tier mangu that’s way more unreliable). I can only guess it’s looked-over based on sub-genre, which is a shame.

Crowfeathers is an often-violent fantasy-western following the adventures of an 1880’s bounty hunter. Supernatural forces eventually claim Chase Corbeau, granting him eternal life–in the body of a crow. That’s not a spoiler, that’s where it starts, present day with Chase rediscovering his past via an elderly Native American on a park bench. The real story is how he reached his heights and fell to such depths.

The art is well practiced and polished, and I’d be surprised if this was Sagebrush’s first project. Her dialogue is also natural and charming. Mixing the two is a dream for most webcomics, but she makes it look easy. The division between CF’s varied plotlines is handles well within the scope of each chapter (about 20 strips each). The pacing never wavers and every strip feels important.

Lest I forget a personal bonus, the gore is gory, the eroticism is tasteful, and the constant supernatural element doesn’t beat me over the head with “hey, look how cool this is!” This is meant for mature audiences, but that doesn’t mean it’s gratuitous. Sagebrush is an accomplished storyteller, and this one deserves more recognition for art, dialogue, and overall plot.

Crowfeathers will stay in my personal favorites as long as it keeps updating. This is the good stuff.

Your Sample: <3