Ink and Riffs--July 2026

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com.


INK

“The Glass” (comic)

Lara and Suni are childhood friends who meet again after 10 years. Suni is a member of the world’s most successful idol group, “The Glass.” Lara is looking for a job while planning her wedding with her fiancé, Mark. After a small accident, they meet again and Lara gets a job as Suni’s manager. However, Suni has a secret—she’s been in love with Lara since childhood, and is determined to keep the promise they made to each other when they were little….to marry her.

I came across this series and have been hooked ever since. It’s intensely emotional, with scenes of Lara bearing the burden for what she feels are her mistakes, while at the same time talking around her feelings. Suni, meanwhile, has to deal with the repercussions—both to her and the group—when things don’t go the way she hoped. The art is another strong point in the series, with amazingly detailed scenes done with a great color palette that brings it to life in a unique way.

Check out the series on the Webtoon app or at https://tinyurl.com/visit-the-site-here.

“Ferocious” (comic)

This five-part series, written by Luke Piotrowski, illustrated by Emanuele Ercolani and out through Mad Cave was something of an impulse read, but well worth it.

A tavern boy’s sheltered life is overturned by the arrival of a towering, draconic woman, a wayward soldier from a distant war who single-handedly lays waste to his entire village. He swears an oath of righteous vengeance, but in order to fulfill it, he’ll have to seek training… from the warrior woman herself.

This series begins as a fantasy revenge thriller, but really evolves as the pages turn. The boy, named “Wren” by the demonic woman who wipes out his town, begins to form a connection with her, despite his desire to end of her life. We learn more about the war and how it’s resulted in the woman’s race being unable to have children, meaning that their time is coming to an end. The emotion in certain scenes is really powerful, and the ending…well, you’ll need to see it for yourself.

I really liked the artwork here. Ercolani really brings the intensity in each scene, and there’s gore aplenty for those that like that sort of thing. The emotional scenes are really brought to life through the art, and these are some of the best examples of what Ercolani can do.

Check out more at https://tinyurl.com/3ys4m4mz


RIFFS

“You Are Here” (music)

The new album by old favorites One Time Mountain is rock just as it should be—intense, passionate, and filled with lines that you cannot help but shout. The 10-track album come as a the band recently debuted a new lineup, and I’d say the team is already a well-oiled machine.

“Overdrive” is my top pick, which was hard to do. The sound gets your fist pumping and brings an infectious energy. “Goin Crazy” speaks to hitting the town on a Friday night and I think we can all relate to the desire to just cut loose after a long week. The album also incudes acoustic versions for “Goin’ Crazy” and “Understand,” and offer a very different but no less awesome a sound.

This an insanely good album, really showcases the dedication that OTM has to the music and you really need give it a listen.

Check out more by the band at https://www.onetimemountainmusic.com.

“Reverberations” (music)

I was totally hooked on “Reverberations,” the debut single by The Sirens. The song’s about being stuck in a relationship that you refuse to leave, and the strong vocals and kickass instrumentals really carry it through. Can’t wait for what this duo does next.

Hear more of the band’s music at https://tinyurl.com/yy79vc2y.

“Pirates” (music)

“Pirates” by Shelby Natasha, from her “It Was Mine” EP is a beautiful song written as a dedication to the artist’s brother, who passed away after a decade-long battle with addiction. You can really feel the emotion and connection in this song, which includes audio samples from home movies.

Shelby’s music can be found at https://shelbynatashamusic.godaddysites.com.