Comics: Ten Grand ~ Issue 7: And Then The War

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: C.P. Smith

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover A by C.P. Smith)

"Not all murder is evil...

In the right time, the right place, for the right reason - -

it can be a blessing more profound than any you can imagine." - Jehoel

The Plot:

Previously, Jehoel's escape from an eternity of imprisonment in the place of in-between heaven and hell had led to Joe's restoration of his memories.

In this issue, Joe and Jehoel continues to thread the path to the gates of hell. The very conflict between the light and evil may be bigger than Joe can imagine as he is told of The War. Joe finally reaches the gates of hell with more questions arising regarding whose side is playing on him and for what reason.

The Good:

This issue gives us a nice story of The Beginning, The War, The Fall and The Void. It was a nice take on the war between the good and evil. We were also given a scenery on what would happen to those who opted to question both sides.

There were two splash pages that were incredibly drawn by Smith. The first is the splash page that speaks of The Beginning. The picture was like an infinite cycle of baby angels. The next splash page was the one that shows The Unity, The War, The Fall and The Void. That splash page was really fantastic. It was really beautifully drawn as the happiness and the brightness of the page gets darker as you look down.

The story pulls us back on track of Joe's path to hell as he goes to save Laura.

The Bad:

Even though there are 2 splash pages that I like in this issue, the cover was not appropriate for me. I think that cover would have been more applicable if it was used in Issue #5 of Ten Grand.

I am still bothered by some of the illustrations made by Smith. Mostly these are regarding how Joe's ears were drawn. In some panels they were good. But for the rest, they were really weird. They were still drawn with the ear swelling like it caught a disease. It was just a good thing that Jehoel had long hair so his ears does not need to be drawn.

The Verdict:

The illustrations more or less becomes tolerable after the shock that we got from Issue #5. The story lifts itself once more after the dull moment in Issue #6.

It looks like we are nearing the issue wherein Ten Grand is going to drop the bomb any moment now. This is because of the suspense that is building up in this never ending war between good and evil. This is definitely an issue worth collecting. Mostly because of the two splash pages regarding The Beginning until The Fall of the angels. Straczynski has definitely led us in the middle ground of the great war.

Don't forget that great 4 page teaser at the end regarding Dream Police

"If we cannot win, we can at least deprive them of the victory." -Jehoel

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: http://www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: http://www.imagecomics.com

Comics: Ten Grand ~ Volume 1

Trade Paperback

Collects Issues # 1-6

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Ben Templesmith and C.P. Smith

Letters by: Troy Peteri

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover by Ben Templesmith)

This is the first collection of the series that J. Michael Straczynski has offered to us from Joe's Comics.

Ten Grand Volume 1 collects issues # 1-6. The story centers on Joe Fitzgerald, a former mob enforcer. This first volume contains stories that begins and ends with his encounter with an angel. It starts with his deal with the angel taking care of Laura and ends with him freeing another angel trapped in the planes in between heaven and hell.

The volume uses the original edition "A" cover of Ben Templesmith as the opening page for each issue. Aside from the story, it also contains the alternative covers of issues # 1-6 and a look at how the cover of this volume was made.

I'll start first with the good things that I had seen with this volume in comparison to the singles it collects. Typos such as the one in page 3 of issue #5 has been corrected. This is regarding as to who needs to hold the door open for the portals to heaven and hell amongts angels and demons. An art change in some panels was also seen. It can be found on page 98 of the volume wherein the transition from earth into the planes in between heaven and hell have changed from Templesmith's into Smith's art. There was also this nice art after issues # 3-5 that was placed, which wasn't used as a back cover for the singles of said issues.

Now, that the good things are done, let us go to the things that I didn't like with this volume. First is seen on the table of contents. In here a typo is already seen with regards to the issue number. The only thing that they had gotten right was for Blood Oath. Next, if you got the singles of issue #1 compare that to the one in this volume. It could be seen that the colors had become a bit lighter. This goes on for issue #2, since the colors had returned to its original state in issue #3. This lighter tone decreases that dark vibe that one could get from reading this series. That is really a downer, since this started on the very first issue of the volume.

There are a lot of ups and downs with this first 6 issues that are compiled in volume 1 of Ten Grand. The story looks great until it got to the issue entitled "See Me". The story kind of slowed down for me at that moment. The change in the artist also felt so wrong. Smith has done some nice illustrations for Ten Grand but it is still Templesmith's art who I prefer to be seen. Well let us just see how Smith's art will fix itself for the next issues of Ten Grand as Joe Fitzgerald continues to fight for Laura amidst the battle between angels and demons. Overall, this volume is still worth buying.

"Love is the only thing worth dying for. I should know, I've done it plenty of times." - Joe Fitzgerald

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: http://www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: http://www.imagecomics.com

Comics: Ten Grand ~ Issue 6: See

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: C.P. Smith

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

(Cover by Ben Templesmith)

"I killed my father. It was my first hit." - Joe Fitzgerald

The previous issue started with a new illustrator of Ten Grand. New imagery of the series was presented as Joe walks down the road to hell. As the story gets deeper and nearer to the gates of hell, Joe finds himself lost and confused as his memory is strangely wiped clean of the events that occurred in his life. Most especially events that involve Laura.

In this sixth issue of Ten Grand, we are shown how Joe normally operates as a button man for Mr. Antonio. Along the way he met the angel Jehoel, who was said to be the Liege Commander of the Seraphim. This issue concluded with Joe's memory finally restored.

This issue tones down a bit from its regular climactic feel. Towards the later half of the story it somehow became poetic. As for Smith's illustrations, I could say that it was weird seeing Joe's ear on the scene wherein he just entered a random room to evade his enemies. It's strange that his right ear appears swollen. For the fight scene between Jehoel and a Seraphim, personally it was quite confusing. I just can't follow what is happening other than the fact that both of them are fighting against each other with Jehoel winning it. On the other side, the funniest thing that Smith made was the splash page wherein Joe was seen to be having this weird expression as soon as he realizes that he's holding a sword in flames.

There's just a little thing that I've noticed on Templesmith's cover. He drew Joe on the cover with an appearance of a halo on his head. I'm not sure if this is a foretelling of things bound to happen in the future.

Overall, I would say that the story slowed down for this issue. Despite having angel Jehoel, Mr. Antonio and a peek at Joe's childhood, it still didn't hyped me up while reading this issue. I guess the only thing worth seeing is the return of Joe's memory. Other than that, I personally could just skip this issue. Mostly it is worth buying for the nice graduation message made by Straczynski written on Joe's Counter. The 4 page preview of the 1st issue of Apocalypse Al is worthy to be read as well.

"Love is the only thing worth dying for. I should know, I've done it plenty of times." - Joe Fitzgerald

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: www.imagecomics.com

Comics: Ten Grand ~ Issue 5: Nothing Interesting Ever Happens In Heaven

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: C.P. Smith

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover by Ben Templesmith)

Previously the story ended with Joe discovering that Laura has been taken away from the place they perceived to be heaven. This prompted him to rush right away to one of the places where the planes of earth and hell nearly overlaps. Rescuing Laura did not only meant he must be quick, but he must also continue to stay alive. For that 5 minute deal with an angel must have already been cut off.

This issue gives us the picture of another popular place that is known as "the one in between." Joe encounters the "Lost", Howlers and his deceased self. A resemblance of Charon, from the Greek mythology, makes an appearance in which he ferries Joe to the other side of the river. A river whose current depends on how adventurous or tame our life has been. After crossing the river, Charon then points to Joe two roads that leads to heaven. The very long road and a very short one in which Joe had picked to go to. This issue ends with him forgetting his prime purpose of crossing this plane that overlaps earth and hell.

There's a cool but weird stuff that was used by Joe in this issue which is called as the "Hand of Glory." It appears to be a hand. However, its fingertips are dozed with either icing or wax based on the illustration. Then its very tips are seen to be in flames. This thing reminds me of the hanaukkah lamp that the Jews use. Of course the difference is that it uses 9 candles and not a hand.

This issue turns out to be the beginning of a change in the art of Ten Grand. Personally, I didn't like the art used in this issue since it reminds me of Samurai Jack, a cartoon series from Cartoon Network. I guess the cool thing that the new illustrator of Ten Grand has done was the splash page depicting a Charon-like figure surfing the boat with Joe on a river in which large waves have crazily appeared.

The story continues to be interesting as small bits of Greek mythology even made its way into this issue. Its only the art that I don't like that much. It just doesn't feel good for me even though the timing of the change in the art style is coincidentally good, since there was a change in the surroundings that the main character is roaming on. We will just have to wait and see for what is in store for us as Joe looks for Laura. Especially now that he has forgotten her. Till then "Surf's Up!"

"Love is the only thing worth dying for. I should know, I've done it plenty of times." - Joe Fitzgerald

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:
Joe's Comics: www.studiojms.com
Image Comics, Inc.: www.imagecomics.com