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The Complete Jon Sable, Freelance
The Complete Jon Sable, Freelance, Vol. 1
The initial 54-page story guest-stars Ronald Reagan - and the second is Sable's famous 108-page origin saga! Written and drawn by series creator Mike Grell with a brand-new painted cover, this volume provides the backstory excitement that spurs IDW's all-new monthly Jon Sable, Conspiracy mini-series, along with a volatile introduction by First Comics founder Mike Gold and unpublished art by Grell.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2005
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Mike Grell
713 books82 followersMike Grell (born 1947) is a comic book writer and artist.
Grell studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Chicago Academy of Fine Art, and took the Famous Artists School correspondence course in cartooning. His entry into the comics industry was in 1972, as an assistant to Dale Messick on the Brenda Starr comic strip.
In 1973 Grell moved to New York, and began his long relationship with DC Comics. His first assignment at DC was on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, a high-profile assignment for an artist with no prior experience illustrating a monthly comic book. Grell says he got that job because he was walking in the editor's door to ask for work, literally, as the previous artist was walking out the door, having just quit. These stories were written by Cary Bates and Jim Shooter. The Bates/Grell/Shooter run on the title is very well-regarded today by Superboy/Legion fans, who consider it one of the high-water marks in the character/team's history. Grell's work on SATLOSH is widely thought to be some of the best beefcake/cheesecake ever committed to comic book pages, and is affectionately referred to as the 'disco Legion' in retrospect by fans of the title.
A writer as well as artist, Grell cemented his status as a fan-favorite with his best-known creation, The Warlord, one of the first sword and sorcery comics, and reportedly the best-selling title published by DC Comics in the late-1970s.
The character first appeared in 1st Issue Special #8 (Nov 1975) and was soon given his own ongoing title (The Warlord #1, Jan/Feb 1976). In this book, Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crash-lands in the prehistoric "hidden world" of Skartaris (a setting highly influenced by Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar). For years thereafter, Morgan engages in adventures dressed only in a winged helmet, wristbands, boots, and breechclout, and armed with a sword and (years before Dirty Harry handled one) a .44 Auto Mag.
At DC, Grell also worked on titles such as Aquaman, Batman, and the Phantom Stranger, and with writer Dennis O'Neil on the re-launch of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series in 1976.
[edit] Tarzan
Grell wrote and drew the Tarzan comic strip from July 19, 1981 to February 27, 1983 (except for one strip, February 13, 1983, by Thomas Yeates). These strips were rerun in newspapers in 2004 - 2005.
[edit] First Comics: Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer
Cover to Jon Sable Freelance #7. Art by Mike Grell.Through the 1980s Grell developed creator-owned titles such Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer. Jon Sable Freelance was published by the now-defunct First Comics. Starslayer, a space-born science fiction series, started at Pacific Comics, but shifted to First.
The titular character of Jon Sable Freelance was a former Olympic athlete, later a African big-game hunter, who became a mercenary. First appearing with a cover date of June 1983, Jon Sable Freelance was a successful non-super-hero comic book in an era when successful non-super-hero comic books were almost unheard of, and a graphically violent comic sold in mainstream comic book stores in an era when such was as rare. Jon Sable was a precursor to what would eventually be called, by some, "the Dark Age of Comics," when even long-established super-heroes would become increasingly grim and violent.
The character was heavily influenced by Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well as drawing on pulp fiction crime stories. Also, many of the stories of Sable's hunting exploits in Africa were influenced by Peter Hathaway Capstick's novels. At a convention in the late 1980s, Grell stated that his idea for Sable was "something like a cross between James Bond and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer."
Sable was adapted into a short-lived television series and the character's origin tale, "A Storm Over Eden," from the comic book, was expanded and novelized by Grell under the title Sable, which was publ
Grell studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Chicago Academy of Fine Art, and took the Famous Artists School correspondence course in cartooning. His entry into the comics industry was in 1972, as an assistant to Dale Messick on the Brenda Starr comic strip.
In 1973 Grell moved to New York, and began his long relationship with DC Comics. His first assignment at DC was on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, a high-profile assignment for an artist with no prior experience illustrating a monthly comic book. Grell says he got that job because he was walking in the editor's door to ask for work, literally, as the previous artist was walking out the door, having just quit. These stories were written by Cary Bates and Jim Shooter. The Bates/Grell/Shooter run on the title is very well-regarded today by Superboy/Legion fans, who consider it one of the high-water marks in the character/team's history. Grell's work on SATLOSH is widely thought to be some of the best beefcake/cheesecake ever committed to comic book pages, and is affectionately referred to as the 'disco Legion' in retrospect by fans of the title.
A writer as well as artist, Grell cemented his status as a fan-favorite with his best-known creation, The Warlord, one of the first sword and sorcery comics, and reportedly the best-selling title published by DC Comics in the late-1970s.
The character first appeared in 1st Issue Special #8 (Nov 1975) and was soon given his own ongoing title (The Warlord #1, Jan/Feb 1976). In this book, Air Force pilot Travis Morgan crash-lands in the prehistoric "hidden world" of Skartaris (a setting highly influenced by Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar). For years thereafter, Morgan engages in adventures dressed only in a winged helmet, wristbands, boots, and breechclout, and armed with a sword and (years before Dirty Harry handled one) a .44 Auto Mag.
At DC, Grell also worked on titles such as Aquaman, Batman, and the Phantom Stranger, and with writer Dennis O'Neil on the re-launch of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series in 1976.
[edit] Tarzan
Grell wrote and drew the Tarzan comic strip from July 19, 1981 to February 27, 1983 (except for one strip, February 13, 1983, by Thomas Yeates). These strips were rerun in newspapers in 2004 - 2005.
[edit] First Comics: Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer
Cover to Jon Sable Freelance #7. Art by Mike Grell.Through the 1980s Grell developed creator-owned titles such Jon Sable Freelance and Starslayer. Jon Sable Freelance was published by the now-defunct First Comics. Starslayer, a space-born science fiction series, started at Pacific Comics, but shifted to First.
The titular character of Jon Sable Freelance was a former Olympic athlete, later a African big-game hunter, who became a mercenary. First appearing with a cover date of June 1983, Jon Sable Freelance was a successful non-super-hero comic book in an era when successful non-super-hero comic books were almost unheard of, and a graphically violent comic sold in mainstream comic book stores in an era when such was as rare. Jon Sable was a precursor to what would eventually be called, by some, "the Dark Age of Comics," when even long-established super-heroes would become increasingly grim and violent.
The character was heavily influenced by Ian Fleming's James Bond novels as well as drawing on pulp fiction crime stories. Also, many of the stories of Sable's hunting exploits in Africa were influenced by Peter Hathaway Capstick's novels. At a convention in the late 1980s, Grell stated that his idea for Sable was "something like a cross between James Bond and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer."
Sable was adapted into a short-lived television series and the character's origin tale, "A Storm Over Eden," from the comic book, was expanded and novelized by Grell under the title Sable, which was publ
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 30, 2015
Jon Sable is an ex merc, a bodyguard for hire, an adventurer, and a children's book writer. Mike Grell writes and draws a complex, very entertaining and realistic character. This hero has the human flaws we all experience as we travel through life. Excellent series by a fantastic writer. Highly recommended
January 28, 2018
Mike Grell is a comic book writer and artist. He brought Green Arrow into the modern age with The Longbow Hunters giving him a darker, grittier, and more adult feel. Grell also created Jon Sable, a mercenary with a very 1980's feel.
Sable is a celebrated mercenary, but also very rich from his children books that he writes under a pseudonym. Sable is a former olympian (he participated in 1972 in Munich), where he met another Olympian who became his wife. They moved back to Africa (her home) and the two were raising a family and Sable working as a game warden, when.... bad stuff happens.
It's a little over the top, but still not beyond belief. The first issue is right into the action before an arc that gives Sable's origin story. The mechanic for the origin story is quite interesting. The art is solid, the story has that 1980's feel (which it should), and overall this makes for a fun read.
Sable is a celebrated mercenary, but also very rich from his children books that he writes under a pseudonym. Sable is a former olympian (he participated in 1972 in Munich), where he met another Olympian who became his wife. They moved back to Africa (her home) and the two were raising a family and Sable working as a game warden, when.... bad stuff happens.
It's a little over the top, but still not beyond belief. The first issue is right into the action before an arc that gives Sable's origin story. The mechanic for the origin story is quite interesting. The art is solid, the story has that 1980's feel (which it should), and overall this makes for a fun read.
December 12, 2020
Serie creada, guionizarda y dibujada por Mike Grell a principios de los años 80 para First Comics.
El cómic hace bastante hincapié en la caza deportiva (que el protagonista tanto ejerció en su juventud) como algo natural. A ojos de hoy, eso está fuera de lugar, porque por suerte actualmente estamos más concientizados sobre la protección de los animales, y en muchos países la caza está prohibida.
Jon Sable, como personaje, me hizo acordar a Punisher por el aspecto vengativo y de pasado trágico, pero sin duda bebe mucho de los justicieros del pulp (aunque Sable lo hace por dinero y no por justicia).
Los guiones son mucho mejores de lo que esperaba y menos exagerados y rebuscados de lo que en general son los cómics sobre mercenarios. Este tomo trae, además de dos primeras "aventuras", los cuatro números que sirvieron de origen del personaje.
El cómic hace bastante hincapié en la caza deportiva (que el protagonista tanto ejerció en su juventud) como algo natural. A ojos de hoy, eso está fuera de lugar, porque por suerte actualmente estamos más concientizados sobre la protección de los animales, y en muchos países la caza está prohibida.
Jon Sable, como personaje, me hizo acordar a Punisher por el aspecto vengativo y de pasado trágico, pero sin duda bebe mucho de los justicieros del pulp (aunque Sable lo hace por dinero y no por justicia).
Los guiones son mucho mejores de lo que esperaba y menos exagerados y rebuscados de lo que en general son los cómics sobre mercenarios. Este tomo trae, además de dos primeras "aventuras", los cuatro números que sirvieron de origen del personaje.
Want to read
March 19, 2011Una persona con cuyo gusto coincido de vez en cuando me dijo que esta serie es malísima. Como su criterio suele ser caprichoso e infundado, y a mí me gusta mucho lo poco que leí de Mike Grell, queda como to-read con la esperanza de que no lo posponga mil años más.
November 2, 2015
I only discovered this series a few months back, and I was hooked from start to finish. This first IDW volume collects some of the best stories in the series including Sable's origin story. If you like action/adventure and mystery stories, this is for you.
January 24, 2024
The world’s deadliest mercenary…who also writes children’s books to pay the bills…
Complete Mike Grells Jon Sable, Freelance Volume 1 collects the first six issues of the 80s adventure comic.
Mike Grell has a pretty decent resume mostly for DC on Warlord and Green Arrow, but his creator owned work kicks up his action significantly.
Jon Sable has been a lot of things…Olympic athlete, safari guide, soldier of fortune…but now years after starting a new life after the end of his old one (buried with his family), he resides in New York where he conducts private mercenary work while also promoting his highly successful kid’s books under a pen name.
A hard edge action story with a mix of real world events and political commentary, Jon Sable Freelance is a grim story where even the lead isn’t a true hero…but he’s better than the trash he goes after.
Complete Mike Grells Jon Sable, Freelance Volume 1 collects the first six issues of the 80s adventure comic.
Mike Grell has a pretty decent resume mostly for DC on Warlord and Green Arrow, but his creator owned work kicks up his action significantly.
Jon Sable has been a lot of things…Olympic athlete, safari guide, soldier of fortune…but now years after starting a new life after the end of his old one (buried with his family), he resides in New York where he conducts private mercenary work while also promoting his highly successful kid’s books under a pen name.
A hard edge action story with a mix of real world events and political commentary, Jon Sable Freelance is a grim story where even the lead isn’t a true hero…but he’s better than the trash he goes after.
September 18, 2020
A great romp through the 80s comics with the great writer-artist Mike Grell. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) , Munich, New York locales enhance it all.
April 22, 2009
This was a gift based on my wife's supposed interest in African pulp. She's more interested in the Victorian Egypt of Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody mysteries.
Instead of the Victorian period, 'Sable' was written in the 1980s with a feel more from the 1970s. The first few issues in this trade collection are centered in New York City. These are pretty hit-or-miss, including an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in front of the UN. Things get better when we go into Jon Sable's origin set in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in Africa. Here, along with a 1980's Rambo-esqe revenge story, we get a good slice of African history.
I don't know if I'll go through Volume 2 or not
Instead of the Victorian period, 'Sable' was written in the 1980s with a feel more from the 1970s. The first few issues in this trade collection are centered in New York City. These are pretty hit-or-miss, including an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in front of the UN. Things get better when we go into Jon Sable's origin set in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in Africa. Here, along with a 1980's Rambo-esqe revenge story, we get a good slice of African history.
I don't know if I'll go through Volume 2 or not
September 26, 2014
Reflejo del cómic independiente que germinó en los Estados Unidos de los 80, la obra de Mike Grell resume desde una perspectiva adulta las obsesiones, dudas y miedos que dominaban por entonces a través de un personaje torvo y desencantado; un mercenario de feliz pasado que al perder su mundo se dedica a sobrevivir con una doble vida que le permite lujos y prestigio mientras realiza encargos peligrosos solo para probarse así. Un visión justiciera llena de claroscuros que supera con mucho los clichés del vigilante.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews