Small Gods Volume 1: Killing Grin

Small Gods #1-4

by Jason Rand, Juan Ferreyra (Illustrator)

In 1991, after decades of skepticism and disbelief, the existence of psychic powers was finally, definitively proven. Today, an estimated 1% of the world's population possesses psychic abilities. These people are not super-heroes. In most ways, they're just ordinary people, living ordinary lives. They have families, careers, and dreams; they eat, sleep, live...and die. One such person is precognitive Detective Owen Young. Small Gods Volume 1: Killing Grin tells the story of the terrible decision he faces when a secret he's kept for years -- a secret that could send not only him, but many of his friends to prison -- falls into the hands of an opportunistic criminal. This 128-page trade paperback features the sold-out, critically acclaimed Small Gods #1-#4, plus sketches, pin-ups, covers, and special bonus features never before seen!

Genres: Comics, Sequential Art, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

SMALL GODS übernimmt die Grundidee von MINORITY REPORT und reichert den Plot um ethische Bedenken an; das geht erzählerisch nicht wirklich schief, reißt mich aber auch nicht mit. Die Story nimmt kaum Fahrt auf, vielmehr dreht sich alles um eine schwerwiegende Entscheidung, die die Hauptfigur (ein Cop, der Verbrechen zu verhindern versucht, die er als Precog vorhersehen kann) treffen muss, nachdem ein von ihm festgenommener Verbrecher aufdeckt, dass er ein unregistrierter Telepath ist. Vergleichbar ging es mir mit der s/w-Artwork, die ich ebenfalls nicht schlecht fand, aber etwas zu steril, zu sauber.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good graphic novel with fantastic art. I prefer coloured comics but the art was so good in this one I did not miss it. The story was one about a good man with a secret who is trying to make the best decisions without anyone getting hurt. I like the plot and was intrigues by the world that the team created. There is a shorter piece at the end and that was also good.

[Cale]

This is a surprisingly deep story about police in an alternate world where psychic talent exists in about 1% of the population. Instead of focusing on the abilities, most of the story revolves around the impact and bureaucracy of dealing with those abilities with a police force. The world-building is fascinating and deeply thought out, and the story spins out of that, as a good policeman with a secret manages to endanger his whole team, and must balance the cost of action against the good of those around him. This isn't an action-packed book; instead it's very thoughtful and even stressful, as we see options disappear and possible choices raise the stakes. The artwork, all gray-scale, is very good as well, using the shading as well as many artists use color. It's not at all your typical super-powers story, and is all the better for that.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing concept with lots of great moral quandaries. The conflict was a bit hard to follow at first - it took me way too long to figure out that the police force knew Owen was a precognitive, but not that he was a telepath. I really liked the art, though I do tend to prefer my graphic novels in full colour. I could also have done with a few less white people.