FIRST COMICS
STORY: John Ostrander
PENCILS: Lenin Delsol
INKS: Mike Gustovich
COLORS: Janice Cohen
LETTERS: Janice Chiang
EDITOR: Mike Gold
COVER: Lenin Delsol and Mike Gustovich
32pp, Color, $1.00 U.S., $1.25 CAN (November 1983)
Starslayer created by Mike Grell
“Bounty”
Starslayer was a comic book series published by First Comics in the mid-1980s. It began as a six-issue miniseries, Starslayer: The Log of the Jolly Roger, created by writer-artist, Mike Grell. Starslayer focused on Torin Mac Quillon, a Celtic warrior from the time of the Roman Empire, who is pulled into the distant future by Tamara, a descendant of his wife after she remarried. Torin joins the crew of the spaceship, “the Jolly Roger,” in their fight against the oppressive regime that is ruling the Earth.
Starslayer #10 (“Bounty”) opens on the planet, Corindubar, where Torin and Tamara hope to obtain a replacement for the cracked “infinity unit” in the Jolly Roger's warp drive. They also find bounty hunters looking to claim the bounty on their heads, but unbeknownst to them, an immortal bounty hunter named Black Thom McKuen, is also stalking them.
Later, “The Rapter” continues to hunt the Jolly Roger. Then, Torin and Tamara get stuck with a new crew mate, Crayne, owner of the recently destroyed space port, “Tao VII.” And Crayne believes that Torin and Tamara owe him.
Meanwhile, the original owners of the Jolly Rogers, an old-Earth blood family, the D'Orsinis, want the ship back. And the D'Orsini matriarch, The Comtessa Lavinia, alerts all family members in this quadrant – report any sightings of Jolly Roger.
THE LOWDOWN: Reading the adventures of the Jolly Roger isn't really the reason I bought a copy of Starslayer #10, but I did enjoy the story and the art. It is a frivolous and fun space opera; imagine Star Wars if it focused on Han Solo and Chewbacca's adventures as smugglers. I might even go back to Starslayers's beginnings; I am really enjoying it. I second what the former magazine, Comics Scene, said at the times, Starslayer is captivating.
I also discovered an interesting bit of information about one on this series' creative team. Starslayer's lead artist at this point in its run, the British-born Lenin Delsol, is now an art educator, fine artist, and portrait painter.
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GRIMJACK
Created by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman
“Mortal Gods”
STORY: John Ostrander
ART: Timothy Truman
COLORS: Janice Cohen
LETTERS: John Workman
EDITOR: Mike Gold
The backup feature in Starslayer #10 introduces the character Grimjack, who would go on to appear in Starslayer issues #10 to #17. Grimjack would later receive his own title in the summer of 1984.
“Grimjack” is the street name of John Gaunt, a sword-for-hire who is also ex-paramilitary, war veteran, and former child gladiator. Grimjack operates from Munden's Bar in the Pit, a slum area of Cynosure, a pan-dimensional city that connected all the dimensions (or multiverse) that existed in titles published by First Comics.
The introductory Grimjack story is the two-part “Mortal Gods.” It is written by John Ostrander; drawn by Timothy Truman; colored by Janice Cohen; and lettered by John Workman. In the story, the followers of the god of blood and war, “Zago,” have invaded the forest lands of the people called the “Kyrians.” Zago plans to have the sands of his desert overrun the forest lands. The Kyrians' high priestess, Elvana, seeks the help of their god, Manwyyes.
Elvana's spell and chanting somehow transports her to Cynosure, the city where the multiverse meets. Cross a street and you might cross a dimension. Someone points her to Grimjack as the man who can help her find her god, and what he shows her is utterly shocking. Manwyyes is living as “Manny Weese” alias “Weevil,” a drunk, who also happens to be a friend of Grimjack's. What's left is for Manny to reveal how he became a god and for Grimjack to kill Zago, a god.
THE LOWDOWN: I have read very few Grimjack comic books, but I have been planning on getting into this character for decades. I finally forced myself to start. The first thing that strikes me about “Mortal Gods” is how beautiful Tim Truman's illustrations are. The page design carries the reader's eyes across the pages, and the art has so many layers and such rich textures that I found myself drawn into the world of Cynosure. The characters' expression are varied and feel authentic, especially Grimjack's. This is the work of a young artist raring to go.
Janice Cohen rich colors make Truman's illustrations pop off the page and bring the world of Cynosure to life. Readers familiar with Truman's work will recognize the artist's unique worm-inspired take on monsters and demons, and it all looks good under Cohen's colors.
Do I really have to say how wonderful the lettering by John Workman is? No, I don't, because you already know that...
I do want to emphasize that Grimjack's debut is a 16-page story told over two issues, Starslayer issues #10-11. This is the kind of serialized comic book story that will make some readers want to keep reading. Combine Grimjack with the main Starslayer story, and the result is an off-beat, unique and delightful science fiction comic book … that I have waited too long to read.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Grimjack, Tim Truman, First Comics titles, and unique sci-fi comics will want Starslayer.
A
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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