Driver for the Dead is a supernatural horror comic book miniseries from Radical Comics.  Set in the heart of Louisiana, Driver for the Dead is written by John Heffernan (a screenwriter for Snakes on a Plane) and drawn by Leonardo Manco (Hellblazer).  The series follows Alabaster Graves, whose specialty is handling dangerous or supernaturally-involved corpses, which he transports in his custom-made hearse, Black Betty.

In Driver for the Dead #2, Graves arrives in Shreveport to pick up the earthly remains of renowned voodoo priest, Mose Freeman.  Accompanying Graves is Freeman’s non-believing great-granddaughter, Marissa Freeman.  As they race back to New Orleans with the body, centuries-old necromancer, Uriah Fallow, inhumanely gathers his human implements.  It is all part of Fallow’s plan to gain possession of Mose Freeman’s body.

[This comic book also includes an 8-page preview of Abattoir, a new Radical Comics series created by Darren Lynn Bousman.]

THE LOWDOWN:  If DC Comics/Vertigo mixed John Constantine, the star of the long running supernatural comic book series, Hellblazer, with Frank Martin, Jason’s Statham’s character in The Transporter film series, they could conceivably create a character like Alabaster Graves or a comic book like Driver for the Dead.  Driver for the Dead is that dark and edgy (Hellblazer) and that action-packed (Transporter), although this series does have comical subplots that may make some think of B-grade horror.

Writer John Heffernan’s script is dark and violent, but Leonardo Manco’s art is the star here.  With Kinsun Loh and Jerry Choo providing eerie-infused painted color, Manco’s art creates a new version of mythical Louisiana complete with harshly-lit back roads, swamps that reach new levels of dank, and an atmosphere with a slimy-green color scheme.  Plus, Manco is just plain good at drawing bloody mayhem, foul images, and pure malevolence.

THE LOWDOWN:  Readers looking for action-horror hellraising will find it in Driver for the Dead.

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