Vigilante: Southland # 1 2016 NM-

Vigilante: Southland #1, published by DC Comics in October 2016, introduces a new vigilante, Donny Fairchild, an apathetic L.A. resident who takes up the mantle after his politically active girlfriend, Dorrie, is murdered. The story is a modern street-level crime thriller with socially relevant themes. 

Plot Summary

The first issue establishes Donny Fairchild's comfortable but directionless life as a maintenance man after a failed basketball career. He is apolitical, a stark contrast to his girlfriend, Dorrie, a professor and activist dedicated to fighting social and racial injustice in South Los Angeles. 

• The Murder: Dorrie is involved in a conspiracy involving shady land development deals and the theft of water rights in Southern California. She discovers crucial information and is subsequently killed in a staged hit-and-run incident.
• Donny's Motivation: Initially, Donny is not suspicious of her death, but when the police fail to investigate properly, he starts digging for answers. He discovers some of Dorrie's personal effects, including an "electrified mace" weapon, and a deeper plot that the system cannot address.
• The Transformation: After his own apartment building is blown up with him inside (though he survives), Donny is left for dead and determined to bring the killers to justice. He undergoes training from an urban legend known as "The Eastsider" and adopts a mask to become the new Vigilante, operating outside the law. 

Key Themes

The series, written by acclaimed crime novelist Gary Phillips, explores contemporary issues within its narrative: 

• Social Justice and Racial Issues: The story explicitly touches on themes of class struggle, gun violence, and the Black Lives Matter movement, rooting the Vigilante's mission in modern-day urban challenges.
• Revenge and Redemption: Donny's journey is one of personal redemption, as he moves from an apathetic observer to an active participant in seeking justice for the woman he loved. 

Creative Team

• Writer: Gary Phillips
• Artist: Elena Casagrande
• Colorist: Giulia Brusco
• Cover Art: Mitch Gerads