Review by Frank Plowright

The 1921 massacre of African-Americans in Tulsa is still not widely enough known, and it’s used by Greg Burnham as a backdrop to his story of the teenage Sadiqah. She’s always believed herself to have special talents, and has no qualms about attacking young boys bigger than her when she sees them bullying others. When the Greenwood area of Tulsa is attacked, her parents ensure she remains hidden, leaving her a note confirming her suspicions to be true. The skills she’s been taught enhance her natural abilities.

Sadiqah is an instantly appealing character with her strong sense of right from wrong and her willingness to do something. Even what at first are presumed her delusions are charming, and she’s implanted in a plot where people who know more about her family seem to have some kind of hold on them and use the massacre as cover for their own purposes.

This is related in a prologue chapter illustrated by Shannon Sapenter, who draws more of the book than the other named artists, and in common with them has natural talent, but needs guidance in telling stories as comics. There’s too little variety of viewpoint, the movement doesn’t flow from panel to panel and exaggeration too often mixes with more realistic intentions. The combined effect distracts from the story rather than enhances it. It’s nevertheless disappointing to see only Burnham’s name credited on the cover, which is drawn by someone infinitely more polished than the internal artists.

Burnham’s not the most accomplished storyteller either. The concept of Sadiqah is strong, but pretty well everything around her lacks solidity. Too many elements clash because Burnham can’t decide whether he wants to write social documentation, fantasy adventure, SF or a Western. Dropping some of those ideas and bolstering others would have made for a far better experience. Also, be warned that The Search for Sadiqah grinds to a halt mid-story, with a continuation presumably intended.