Ten Grand … And Worth Every Cent!

If you’re in trouble with the wrong people, especially people with a connection to dark forces, go to the worst part of town, to places no one would enter in their right mind. Ask for Joe.  He will help you. He will save you. Even if it kills him … Especially if it kills him.

So goes the introduction to the newest offering from J. Michael Straczynski and his newest venture, Joe’s Comics.  The story is compelling, a former private eye who was killed by a demonic force along with his wife.  Facing eternal separation, she in heaven, he in hell, he is offered a chance at resurrection on the condition that he works against the forces of darkness on the mortal plane.  Now he works as a paranormal enforcer for people who run into trouble with dark powers.  His price?  Ten grand.

Issue #1 was a gift I received at C2E2 from J Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith (along with four hundred or so other fans).  The cover is a special variant specifically for the con, and it bears the signatures of Strackzynski and Templesmith, signed as fans waited patiently.

In this first issue, we meet Joe, we get his basic background as he takes a case to hunt down someone whom he had killed two years earlier.  Now that you know about the book, let’s get into the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Amazing story.  Straczynski can spin a great tale, and his dialogue is without equal.  Also, there are NO ADS in this book except for a full-pager for the Hero Initiative.

The Bad

Nothing that I can identify.

The Ugly

I am not used to Ben Templesmith’s art style.  Rather than speak ill of it, I consulted with an artist I met at C2E2, Alfred Trujillo, so that I could talk about it intelligently.  He pointed out the use of color saturation and rough imaging as a part fo the story telling, and with my second read-through, I came to truly appreciate the artwork.

In this story, Joe gives back the money and takes the job for free.  I got the comic for free, but would have been more than willing to buy it … so if you haven’t yet, head on out to your local comic book store and get a copyof issue #1 of Ten Grand.  It is worth every penny.

(Submitted by Jim Smith)