I was already excited for this one before opening it. I like vampires. I like supernatural weirdness. I like noir when it actually commits to the mood instead of just dressing a character in a trench coat and calling it a day.
MORT #1
Writer: Travis Brown
Artist/Colorist: Nate Walkington
Letterer: Marin Leon
MORT #1 takes all of that and mixes it with gangs, funeral homes, monster politics, and a very tired mortician who clearly needs a nap and probably a better work-life balance. So yes, I was in pretty quickly.
The Kickstarter (that can be backed until August 6) describes MORT as “the hard-boiled adventures of a monster hunting mortician,” and honestly, that is a pitch that does a lot of work immediately. The first issue is titled “A Body Worth Burying” and follows Mort, a sleep-deprived funeral director and supernatural detective who gets a very strange request: a mysterious woman in red asks him to conduct the funeral for the most powerful vampire in the city.
The problem is that the vampire is not dead yet.
That is such a good hook. Simple, weird, funny in a morbid way, and immediately full of questions. Who wants this vampire buried? Why now? What kind of power does he have? And what does it mean to hold a funeral for someone who is still technically alive?
That is exactly the kind of supernatural noir setup I want.
The Premise Works Immediately
What I liked most about MORT #1 is that it knows what it is.
This is not just a vampire comic. It is not just a monster-hunter story either. The noir angle gives the whole thing shape. You have the mysterious client, the dangerous underworld, the sense that everyone knows more than they are saying, and a lead character stuck in the middle of something bigger than one job.
The vampire/gang mix took it to another level for me. Vampires already come with hierarchy, power, old grudges, hunger, and drama. Put that inside a crime world and suddenly the supernatural side feels organized, dangerous, and political. It is not just “a monster appears.” It feels like there are rules, alliances, and consequences hiding behind the case.
That is what makes the issue fun. It opens the door to a bigger world without dumping too much mythology on you at once.
Mort Is a Strong Lead
Mort works because he feels specific.
“Monster-hunting mortician” could have been a gimmick, but here it feels like the whole point. He is not some glamorous vampire hunter running around looking cool for the sake of it. He is a funeral director who already spends his life close to death, and now he is also dealing with the criminally supernatural side of the city.
That contrast gives the book personality right away.
He feels tired, grounded, and completely used to dealing with things most people would run from. I liked that. There is something very funny and very appealing about a character whose job already involves death, and somehow the supernatural world still manages to make his day worse.
Also, knowing the creator has real funeral industry experience adds something. The Kickstarter says the idea came from 15 years of working in that world, and you can feel how that makes the concept sharper. It is not just a random horror mashup. There is a personal angle under the genre fun.
The Noir Vibe Is the Best Part
The biggest win for me is the tone.
MORT #1 has that rainy-night, bad-decision, something-is-rotten-under-the-floorboards energy that supernatural noir needs. The premise already gives you vampires and funeral homes, but the noir mood is what ties it together. It makes the world feel grimy, dangerous, and full of secrets.
And that is where the comic feels most promising.
This first issue does not need to explain everything. It just needs to make me want to know more about Mort, the city, the vampire power structure, and whatever mess is waiting under this funeral request. It does that.
The art also helps sell the atmosphere. This kind of story needs shadows, mood, and a sense that the world is a little cursed. The issue has that. It feels pulpy and supernatural without becoming hard to follow, which matters a lot in a first issue. You want style, but you still need the story to move.
MORT finds a good balance.
A Strong First Issue, Not the Whole Spell Yet
Because this is issue #1, it is mostly setup. That is not a bad thing, but it does mean the book is still opening the door rather than showing us the full house.
The good news is that I wanted to walk through that door.
The first issue gives us a clear lead, a strong hook, a fun supernatural-crime premise, and enough mood to make the world feel worth revisiting. It does not feel like a complete meal yet, because it is not supposed to. It feels like the first bite of something that could get really good if the next issues build on the vampire politics, the gang tension, and Mort’s role in this underworld.
And honestly, I want issue #2.
That is the job of a first issue.
The Kickstarter
MORT #1 is on Kickstarter until August 6, and this is the kind of indie comic that is worth supporting if the premise sounds like your thing.
The campaign says issue #1 is complete and ready for print once funds are received, and that the series is planned as a six-issue miniseries. It also says issue #2 is already in the art stage, which is always nice to see from an indie project trying to build momentum.
So if supernatural noir, vampires, gangs, funeral homes, and a monster-hunting mortician sound like your kind of trouble, this is one to check out.
The Coven’s Verdict
MORT #1 is a strong, stylish first issue with a killer hook.
It has vampires, noir, supernatural crime, funeral-home weirdness, and a lead character who feels built for exactly this kind of world. I loved the mix of monster politics and hard-boiled mystery, and the whole thing has enough personality to stand out from a lot of indie horror pitches.
It is still a first issue, so I want more before calling it a full favorite, but as an opening chapter? It absolutely works.
I went in excited, and MORT #1 gave me the exact kind of supernatural noir mess I wanted. Vampires, gangs, a mysterious woman in red, and a funeral for someone who is not dead yet?
Yeah. I will be attending the next service.
FAQ
What is MORT #1 about? MORT #1 follows Mort, a sleep-deprived funeral director and supernatural detective who is asked to conduct a funeral for the most powerful vampire in the city, even though the vampire is not dead yet.
Who created MORT? MORT is written by Travis Brown, with series art and the main cover by Nate Walkington. The Kickstarter also credits Marina Leon for lettering, formatting, logo design, and production support.
Is MORT #1 part of a series? Yes. MORT #1 is the start of a planned six-issue miniseries.
Is MORT #1 worth reading? Yes, especially if you like supernatural noir, vampire stories, monster-hunting detectives, crime comics, or indie horror with a strong hook.
Where can you support MORT #1? MORT #1 is currently funding on Kickstarter, with digital and physical reward options available through the campaign.
