Grimjack was originally released at a time when I rarely looked beyond the confines of the DC and Marvel universes. In fact, I don't think there was a direct-market store in my hometown at the property's peak, so buying a copy wasn't an option anyway. Still, I'd heard about Grimjack, about the strength of the gritty and violent hero, and I've come to love the work of both its writer and artist -- especially when they collaborate. I can see now why I heard such good things about Grimjack. It's no deep examination of the human spirit or anything, just a cynical, dark action story with a gritty but entertaining edge. I think what's most enticing about the book is the rich level of detail, not only in the art, but in the entire structure of the post-apocalyptic society in which the title character exists.
John Gaunt, the mercenary for hire also known as Grimjack, has signed up as a cop with the city of Cynosure, and when a warrior by the name of Dancer tries to conquer the city and is driven back to his hideout, Gaunt gives chase. He's not trying to bring Dancer to justice so much as to get even for some past skirmishes during their lives as gladiators. The scenario does not play out well, forcing Gaunt to take on a new mission as a secret soldier in an elite force dedicated to maintaining order. Given Grimjack's track record, though, it doesn't take long for that gig to go sour as well.
Truman's gritty style is perfectly suited to the characters here. There's a ruggedness in all of them; that's what it takes to survive in Grimjack's world, and Truman makes it clear with his art. He captures the chaos of the violence and action incredibly well, and he packs a lot of detail and characters into the panels. There's an almost claustrophobic feel to several scenes as Truman successfully conveys a swarm of enemies or a crowd of sheep waiting for someone to enthrall them. This comic book also stands out as the strongest work I've seen from colorist Lovern Kindzierski. The duller tones reinforce the ugly nature of the setting and players, and the glowing oranges and yellows really communicate the blistering heat of the opening scene nicely. I also appreciated the use of ghostly blues to bring out the supernatural qualities of the monsters at the end of the issue.
Ostrander delivers a thoroughly accessible read here, but it's clear that he's incorporating references to past Grimjack stories at the same time. This Punisher-esque character has seemingly lived a whole string of lifetimes, and we even get a sense of that here as he moves from one job to the next. I was also pleased that Ostrander immersed the reader in action and not just exposition. There's a lot going on here, even on the first page alone.
I just can't over how much Ostrander tells the reader about Grimjack and his world here while still telling a couple of exciting stories. Also impressive is how the property crosses so many genres. Grimjack: Killer Instinct is part post-apocalyptic survival story, part dark fantasy, part political/black-ops thriller, with a hint of cop drama thrown in for good measure. 8/10
