I haven’t been following Alabaster: Wolves closely, because I’m not good with dark fantasy or creepy supernatural horror, but I have to take a moment to praise Steve Lieber’s art. Look at how wistfully heartbroken this character appears. That’s the kind of subtle expression you don’t often see in genre comics of this type.

The premise of the miniseries, which completes with issue #5, out this Wednesday, involves a ghost, a talking bird, and a girl who used to have an angel possessing her. They team up, against their better judgment, to fight wolves and evil.

A key point of appeal is the strong sense of place, as Darcy ventures through a down-at-heels south that feels real, grounding the more exaggerated elements. The unique narrative voice, by Caitlin R. Kiernan, is refreshing, even if I think the series means more if you’ve read her novels with the same character.