A Descent into Dullness

Matt Wagner's Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell written by James Robinson, art by Teddy H. Kristiansen

I'm not very familiar with Matt Wagner's Grendel comics. They're some kind of quasi-religious order of killers in some vaguely cyberpunk world. They all have some kind of mask and/or tattoo of their distinctive mask/symbol. And they had a cross-company crossover with Batman once. Which is why the my ownership of this book has to be some kind of weird impulse buy. I mean yes, it is written by James Robinson (The Golden Age, Starman, Leave it to Chance) one of my favorite comics' writers. But I honestly never even NOTICED that that until fairly recently. YEARS after I'd bought the book. Which honestly doesn't say much for my powers of observation...

Anyway this book follows several plot lines. One about a Southern gentleman and gambler (who is a Grendel), a mad yet deadly vampire hunting ex-accountant (who is a Grendel), a young woman who is an rare art curator (and a Grendel) and a private dick (who isn't a Grendel) looking into the murder of a client. All four character's arcs intersect in New Orleans. A city run by the most corrupt, debased and decadent clan of Grendels. But hey, what else is new in the Big Easy. Anyway the tale ends up involving secret heirs to the throne of the Grendels, voodoo priestesses and vampires...

Its all amazingly cool, even if I have no idea what half of it is supposed to mean. Its a fine mix of horror and noir all masterfully drawn by Kristiansen...

Mage: The Hero Discovered
Written and drawn by Matt Wagner, Colors by Jeromy Cox and James Rochelle

Collecting the first 15 chapters of the story of Kevin Matchstick. A simple man who attempts to stop what looks like a mugging in an alley. Matchstick isn't quite in time and the victim mutters the word "Grackleflint" to him before dying. And so begins Kevin Matchstick's journey to destiny. A destiny that will involve ghostly guardians, sardonic wizards, beautiful women and strange and deadly beasts...

Wagner crafts an epic story here, the first part of the Hero Trilogy (not that there is any sign of when he'll get to that third part). This 30 dollar paperback has over 400 pages of story plus extras like the original cover art and the short story "The Kelpie". A definite plus to add to any collection...