Guy Davis brings his demented hero back for another adventure, and I'm pleased to discover that this self-contained one-shot offers what I think is the strongest Marquis story yet. Davis blends the ugliest supernatural elements one can imagine with the ugliness of the human heart to deliver a disturbing yet exciting story.
There is plenty of hunting going on in the dark corners of the city these days. The General hunts the Marquis, driven by two purposes. He has been tasked by the Inquisitors to bring the Marquis to them, to be punished and blamed for the sins of a city that seems possessed. The Marquis, on the other hand, hunts the true perpetrator: an impish little demon that jumps from human host to human host, leaving a trail of the dead bodies of the wicked, slain by the Marquis's weapons.
If one had to point ot a single element in Guy Davis's artwork as his greatest strength, it would have to be his eye toward the grotesque. That sounds like a slam, I know, but it's a compliment, believe me. The twisted convergence of linework he employs to create the most horrific visions of demonic forms is unparalleled in comics; he even tops Mike (Hellboy) Mignola and Bernie (Swamp Thing) Wrightson when it comes to horror. The ugly organic forms make for an interesting contrast with the cold, angular design of the title character.
What set this Marquis story apart from the others was the parallel between the title character and the General. The General is one of the property's antagonist, but he's not a villain, per se. He has compassion for the innocent and defies the cruel methods of his religious superiors. He hunts the Marquis because he is, for all intents a purposes, a criminal and a madman, one who's left his mark on the lawman. The General's speech about the nature of the hunt demonstrates his keen mind, and his words are ones that the Marquis needs to hear, but never does.
While always a unique property, blending gothic horror with super-hero elements to great success, The Marquis has also been a comic book that presents a challenging read. His world isn't the easiest to understand. Fortunately, Sin of One is one of the clearest, most accessible chapters in the character's history, but at the same time, he doesn't completely sacrifice the mystery and ambiguity that help to set the property apart in the industry.
