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View Full Version : Grimjack: Killer Instinct #1 (of 6) (spoiler-ish)


TheMightyGeek
02-03-2005, 10:37 PM
Somebody call Hell and check the temperature. I suspect it's dipped quite a bit.

There's a new issue of Grimjack out. About damn time.


To give one a sum-up, Grimjack is the story of the life of John Gaunt, a man who's lived in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure his entire life. Cynosure butts up against dozens of different dimensions, each with its own unique reality. "Magic works in some dimensions, Guns work elsewhere, swords work everywhere."

Gaunt is a mercenary, a thief, a murderer, and perhaps the one honorable man left in this reeking cesspool of a city.

Killer Instinct gives us a slice of this life, starting with the end of his stint as a member of the Trans-Dimensional Police (TDP) and starts to look at his life as a Member of Cadre, a shadowy organization that starts out trying to bring order to Cynosure, but in the end becomes as twisted as the city itself.

I, for one, am all for re-starting the tales with a look at John Gaunt himself. Those who are familiar with the original run know what I'm talking about. Jim Twilley was an interesting character, but I cut my teeth reading about Gaunt. He's not your average protagonist. He has flaws. Great big friggin' HUGE flaws. You get a glimpse of this in the first five pages where he has to choose between fighting an enemy and saving a friend.

The art is by Tim Truman, the original Grimjack artist, and I must say, welcome home, Tim. How many requests for sketches have you gotten since your initial 24 issue run? Truman's art was built for Gaunt, and it shines.

The story? It's John Ostrander, returning home to well-travelled ground. He has solid footing here, and this is his baby. but enough metaphors, this is good shit. My one gripe is that there's only 22 pages. We need more. I gotta go back and re-read my original run. Yeah, baby, I got 'em ALL!!

Even the Starslayers. Even the Demon Knight Graphic Novel.

All you pansy-ass kids can go read your spandex-clad twaddle. I got my Grimjack fix again. The rest of the world can go to hell.

Oh, it does that in the original run, too. Literally.

Buy this book, or don't. Your choice.

canugrok
02-04-2005, 03:44 PM
I also have everything from the original run and this just hit the mark. John O and Tim seemed to do this so easy. We got some of the background characters, with more to come next issue. The story stood alone but also gave us a brief glimpse into Gaunts' disturbing past and things to come.

A bit high on the price tag, but I'm glad GJ is back. It was easily one of my favorite books oh those many years ago. And Horray to John for trying to bring back the "intelligent" lettercol.

Next up is Jon Sable, which I'll take a look at again. Concrete is back (and I love what Paul Chadwick is doing with this run) and I heard something-please let it be true-that Baron and Rude are working on some new Nexus.

Now, with McCloud getting some exposure from Superman: Strength, maybe we'll see Zot! again?

Oh well...MiracleMan anyone?and

algertman
02-05-2005, 09:48 AM
i'm gonna pick this up, i missed at the comicshop wednesday, but they had a new TPB with older material, and it rocked

Stuart
02-05-2005, 10:07 AM
Haven't had a chance to pick this up yet, but very much looking forward to it. Grimjack was one of the best titles of the 1980s imo, and it's good to see him back. That said, much as I'm happy to see Gaunt, I also want to see John Ostrander close off the dangling thread for Twilley promised at the end of the original run - I want to see Twilley take on Hell to free his friends!

JimShelley
02-05-2005, 01:51 PM
Long time Grimjack fan here - and I loved it!

It's like the book was never discontinued, but it's still a great jumping on point for new readers.

Now if Chaykin would go back to making American Flagg...

And Starlin would revisit Dreadstar...

That would pretty much seal the deal on this 80's renaissance! :)

Supreme Convoy
02-06-2005, 07:24 PM
Ostrander wowed me on Blaze of Glory. If I can find a Grimjack paperback, I'd be more than happy to give that a shot.

I am MODOK
02-07-2005, 06:15 PM
I read a ton of old Grimjacks a few years ago, but to be honest don't really remember too much of what happened.

But man, this issue made me want to go back and re-read.

Honestly, is there anyone who does crazy-worlds better than Tim Truman? His art here is fantastic, as always. I especially loved his street gang costumes for Grimjack's short-lived allies.

And John Ostrander always delivers. Excellent story, pacing, and introduction to Cynosure.

Story: A
Art: A

Supreme Convoy
03-02-2005, 03:01 AM
I mentioned in another thread that my regular comic shop was closing down so they sold me Grimjack #1 for a quarter. And while I don't know what happened 15 years ago, it seems new reader friendly. It got me into the world of Grimjack.

Unfortunately at $4 an issue, it's too steep for me. I love IDW stuff but I can't read it regularly because they put me way out of budget and I've been stretching it lately :*(

Nonetheless, I'll try to catch some deals on it (if I buy all of them in bulk at a con or something)