Dread Serious

Call him Ras Wolverine? When Drew MacIntosh feels the power of his magical amulet, his talons sharpen and his enemies scatter. Dread and Alive is a comic series in which creator Nicholas Da Silva takes the visual language of superhero comics and explores and expands the oft-mystical Maroon culture residing deep in Jamaica's interior. The comic has won praise for its clever use of Jamaican patois and engaging storyline, which follows MacIntosh's dalliances with the supernatural in the Maroons' "Cockpit Country" and his home in San Francisco. Now into its fifth issue, the series' secret weapon is its accompanying musical compilation. Packed with well-curated reggae from past and present, it sets the tone for the visuals. February's comp nods to Canada with tracks from Poirier, Face T and Dubmatix.