I’ve been looking forward to Peepland #1 since the first announcement and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s set in the seedy 80’s New York underbelly of peepshows, pornography and punk – what’s not to like? A chance encounter for peepbooth worker Roxy Bell brings her into the world of murder which soon catches the attention of the cops, criminals and the city elite.
Peepland #1 doesn’t shy away from its adult subject matter, which you will see when you get to the part censored preview pages below. It’s not all neon nudity though, as the outdoor artwork perfectly captures that cold, gritty, stylized and slightly scary 80s New York. It’s only issue 1 so the story hasn’t had time to develop yet, but the seeds are there. Roxy Bell and her punk ex-partner Nick Zero are interesting characters, and I’m sure Detectives March and Alvarez (complete with 80s porn star mustache) are going to feature heavily.
Without giving too much away, what I loved about Peepland #1 is the way a huge piece of evidence lands in Roxy’s lap and there’s a genuinely tense moment where I was wondering if she was going to look at it and what it would be. You’ll see if you read it but there’s some clever writing and art around those scenes thanks to Christa Faust, Gary Phillips and Andrea Camerini. I can’t wait for Peepland #2.
