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Mesmo Delivery
Mesmo Delivery is the full color debut sequential work by Brazilian creator Rafael Grampa. The story is one of mystery and action, as Rufo, an ex boxer, must deliver the goods while promising to NEVER open or inspect his cargo. Mayhem ensues as the precious cargo becomes the goal of others. Wizard calls it "Convoy meets The Twilight Zone."
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Rafael Grampá
47 books31 followersRafael Grampá began working as an illustrator at the age of 14. He began by illustrating self-help books – what he calls the “how to raise your problematic teenagers sort”. During this period, he also did t-shirt designs, caricatures, children’s party decorations, coats of arms and logos for butcher shops and surf shops. He worked as an art director at the Brazilian motion graphics studio LOBO in 2003 where he worked with clients such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Creme Savers, Banco Real, Grendene , Diesel and others. Recent freelance work includes the concept design for ESPN-NBA spots, for Wieden+Kennedy NY, directed by Blacklist’s CISMA, and the visual ID for RESFEST/10 Brasil, that includes a opening and a toy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 8, 2015
Does for the pub brawl what the spaghetti western did for the western: stylizes it, takes it to the max, blows it apart. Not the most original or complex concept in the world, but Mesmo Delivery is all about the... uh... delivery – and that is SPECTACULAR! In terms of action choreography, this one is hard to beat. What really makes the whole thing work for me, though, is the story's pitch-black heart and its sick sick sick sense of humor. Highly recommended to anyone who gets a kick out of Frank Miller’s Sin City or Hard Boiled (illustrated by Geof Darrow), the movies by Quentin Tarantino... or maybe even out of Peter Jackson's gory trash masterpiece Braindead!
December 8, 2011
It blew me away! I stayed away from it for a while because the art didn't appeal to me, but I have to say that it definitely grows on you. Grampá is a young artist with a highly personal style. I love his composition, especially on the action scenes, he uses the shots masterly, like a young Orson Welles, gradually revealling more about the story and the characters.
The story is gripping too and I could see this being adapted into film by Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez. Not for the faint hearted though, the violence is too extreme and not credible at times, in particular the bottle opening scene, it short of killed the mood for me. Other than that, I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
The story is gripping too and I could see this being adapted into film by Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez. Not for the faint hearted though, the violence is too extreme and not credible at times, in particular the bottle opening scene, it short of killed the mood for me. Other than that, I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
November 9, 2024
A visceral flasher flick that uses interesting 'camera' angles and establishing shots. The detailed artwork and unique visual ideas helps this stand-out from the action comics pack.
I've been interested in reading a full length Grampa story since seeing his work in various anthologies (Marvel's Strange Tales among others). At first I saw him as a Paul Pope rip off. Some of his cover work does look very similar to Pope. He has the same attention to movement and fluid line work. But I think Grampa, as seen in this book, allows more detailed environment that allows the reader to better understand the action. There's numerous over-the-top action scenes in this book that could have been a complete nonsense mess in other hands. Grampa's visual choreography does the impossible and allows the reader to follow each step.
Theres one page where the panel shows a man running and screaming. The next panel zooms into his mouth. The last panel has a blade cutting into his throat. Its that kind of thing that allows the silliness to work. We understand completely where both characters are in the scene. We see the terrified state of the victims and how the attacker has the upper hand (attacking from behind while the victim is running away).
Grampa shows the narrative from angles that most comic artists wouldn't think of. I think the only other areas of comic that I notice this kind of thing is in Koike's Lone Wolf and Cub and other gegika of that kind. But Grampa fully draws each panel with character and background (which I think is a western, cinema inspired, technique). He has one shot of the character getting out of a truck to enter a bar. He opts to show you the shot from beneath the truck. You see the axle of the truck and the character's bottom half. Is that kind of thing that helps make this book interesting and fun to read. Its that kind of thing that makes this better than a Superhero beat-em up or Darrow's Shaolin Cowboy book.
I've been interested in reading a full length Grampa story since seeing his work in various anthologies (Marvel's Strange Tales among others). At first I saw him as a Paul Pope rip off. Some of his cover work does look very similar to Pope. He has the same attention to movement and fluid line work. But I think Grampa, as seen in this book, allows more detailed environment that allows the reader to better understand the action. There's numerous over-the-top action scenes in this book that could have been a complete nonsense mess in other hands. Grampa's visual choreography does the impossible and allows the reader to follow each step.
Theres one page where the panel shows a man running and screaming. The next panel zooms into his mouth. The last panel has a blade cutting into his throat. Its that kind of thing that allows the silliness to work. We understand completely where both characters are in the scene. We see the terrified state of the victims and how the attacker has the upper hand (attacking from behind while the victim is running away).
Grampa shows the narrative from angles that most comic artists wouldn't think of. I think the only other areas of comic that I notice this kind of thing is in Koike's Lone Wolf and Cub and other gegika of that kind. But Grampa fully draws each panel with character and background (which I think is a western, cinema inspired, technique). He has one shot of the character getting out of a truck to enter a bar. He opts to show you the shot from beneath the truck. You see the axle of the truck and the character's bottom half. Is that kind of thing that helps make this book interesting and fun to read. Its that kind of thing that makes this better than a Superhero beat-em up or Darrow's Shaolin Cowboy book.
July 16, 2013
Mesmo Delivery was first recommended to me by a comic book artist, and it's definitely an "art for art's sake" kind of book. There's a story, but it's both structurally basic and conceptually vague -- it's the visceral that's the star of the show here, strung across an adrenalized adolescent "whatif" framework made entirely of references to Tarantino films: "Huh huh, wotif the earcutting scene from Reservoir Dogs was like a whole movie," "Huh, yeah and wotif the briefcase from Pulp Fiction was like a giant truck or somethin," "Huh, yeah and wotif Clarence from True Romance had like Uma Thurman's samurai sword," "Huh, dude that'd be sweet," "Huh huh, yeah dude that'd be sweet."
None of which is to say that Mesmo isn't a lovely reading experience, or that I'm not happy to have it as part of my collection. It is, and I am. It delivers exactly what it promises, and works almost at the level of an art object, if not exactly a coherent graphic novel. Fans of the violent, the odd, and the recklessly amoral would do well to pick this up.
None of which is to say that Mesmo isn't a lovely reading experience, or that I'm not happy to have it as part of my collection. It is, and I am. It delivers exactly what it promises, and works almost at the level of an art object, if not exactly a coherent graphic novel. Fans of the violent, the odd, and the recklessly amoral would do well to pick this up.
January 31, 2016
This was a fast reading graphic novel with not quite a lot of pages...but the story looked interesting at first sight...not quite so in the end...but the drawings with the art of the book where indeed mesmerising... a really good effort...
August 25, 2017
Neither the story nor the graphics did it for me..
May 28, 2017
Uma hq impressionante em termos de arte, com uma pegada "underground" que eu adoro.
O problema é o roteiro. Tem muita ação e pouca história. Não há um bom desenvolvimento de trama aqui. As revelações são muito previsíveis. No primeiro flashback eu já saquei qual era o final da história. Isso é um problema sério em termos de narrativa.
Ainda assim, Grampá mostrou seu potencial. Em termos de arte não há sequer uma crítica de minha parte, mas o roteiro ainda precisa de um pouco de arroz e feijão.
Vale a leitura por ser uma história despretensiosa com muita ação, numa pegada meio "velho oeste moderno".
O problema é o roteiro. Tem muita ação e pouca história. Não há um bom desenvolvimento de trama aqui. As revelações são muito previsíveis. No primeiro flashback eu já saquei qual era o final da história. Isso é um problema sério em termos de narrativa.
Ainda assim, Grampá mostrou seu potencial. Em termos de arte não há sequer uma crítica de minha parte, mas o roteiro ainda precisa de um pouco de arroz e feijão.
Vale a leitura por ser uma história despretensiosa com muita ação, numa pegada meio "velho oeste moderno".
July 12, 2023
A little crazy piece of comic art at its coolest.
November 11, 2008
Not much story here, but the art more than makes up for it. A fight comic that looks like it was pencilled by Jeff Smith and inked by Dave Cooper during a contest to see who could tell a story the most like Paul Pope.
On a side note, if I were the guy who did the English rewrite on this and I had been credited as providing "dialogues," I'd inflict something akin to the violence we see in the book itself. Reminds me of when a certain comics writer I was freelancing for tried to credit me for "editting."
On a side note, if I were the guy who did the English rewrite on this and I had been credited as providing "dialogues," I'd inflict something akin to the violence we see in the book itself. Reminds me of when a certain comics writer I was freelancing for tried to credit me for "editting."
October 12, 2020
I’m very intrigued by his drawing style.
This is a one sit read, not that much of a plot.
What it lacks in dialogue it makes up in great drawing and interesting angles.
This is a one sit read, not that much of a plot.
What it lacks in dialogue it makes up in great drawing and interesting angles.
September 30, 2011
The major problem I have with indy comics is this: the artists think they can write as well as they draw. Grampa is a good artist but he fails as a writer. He wanted to create comics & wanted to start with a "simple" story (his word, not mine)--this is where the comic fails. Not only is his story "simple" but it is also very "cliche". There is nothing within this thin book that presents anything new to the redneck/hick-town story. His infusion of the paranormal to the redneck story is neither groundbreaking nor exciting--by all accounts it's pretty standard. The dialogue is also pretty standard & does nothing to move the story past it's surface even when a few cryptic sentences are uttered by very cookie-cutter characters which are suppose to make the reader excited. In a few words: It fails on all levels as a story due to its lack of innovation & inspiration. As an artist he has a signature style while as a writer he is weak at best.
In the words of Dirty Harry: "A man has to know his limitations."
Another aspect I find very unispiring within this redneck tale is the need for a Elvis fan/impersonator which is almost a standard in all southern fried storylines. It too is incredibly cliche. If the artist can't write then look for a writer who can. Collaberation can yield new, fresh ideas which this story desperately needs.
With that said, Grampa's art is what makes me not give this book one star. The sequential panels almost tell the story without the need for the dialogue & I would almost suggest Grampa remove the crap sentences dribbling from his characters' mouths in sloppy word balloons & redo the story with visuals only. With some creative reworking of sequences, along with additional panels, he could achieve this.
In the end, this is an uninspired story wasted with a signature style of art.
In the words of Dirty Harry: "A man has to know his limitations."
Another aspect I find very unispiring within this redneck tale is the need for a Elvis fan/impersonator which is almost a standard in all southern fried storylines. It too is incredibly cliche. If the artist can't write then look for a writer who can. Collaberation can yield new, fresh ideas which this story desperately needs.
With that said, Grampa's art is what makes me not give this book one star. The sequential panels almost tell the story without the need for the dialogue & I would almost suggest Grampa remove the crap sentences dribbling from his characters' mouths in sloppy word balloons & redo the story with visuals only. With some creative reworking of sequences, along with additional panels, he could achieve this.
In the end, this is an uninspired story wasted with a signature style of art.
September 7, 2012
This slim volume is also pretty slim on plot. For the most part, all 4 stars are on account of Rafael Grampa's stunning art. Truly, he draws the hell out of this thing. Very few comic works so immediately make me want to give up drawing so instantly, because they so concretely demonstrate what great comic illustration work looks like. Honestly, I'm tempted to give this thing 5-stars, but I'm just a little squirrely about giving the top rating to what amounts to an over-sized comics' worth of dark unltraviolence and broad redneck humor.
But, man, it's some amazingly well depicted ultraviolence.
Grampa's work lives at some distant crossroads between the work of Paul Pope, Frank Quitely and Geoff Darrow. Detailed, almost fussy (but in a way that doesn't look fussed over), with a rock and roll sensibility; and an uncanny knack for visual storytelling. If you love comics for the art. And love them for the way they can tell stories through just art. If you are a visual person. Pick. This. Up. Now. If you're comic tastes skew towards the cerebral, or if you have a low tolerance for unnecessary violence, feel free to pass it by. You probably won't like it. But, you'll be missing out.
But, man, it's some amazingly well depicted ultraviolence.
Grampa's work lives at some distant crossroads between the work of Paul Pope, Frank Quitely and Geoff Darrow. Detailed, almost fussy (but in a way that doesn't look fussed over), with a rock and roll sensibility; and an uncanny knack for visual storytelling. If you love comics for the art. And love them for the way they can tell stories through just art. If you are a visual person. Pick. This. Up. Now. If you're comic tastes skew towards the cerebral, or if you have a low tolerance for unnecessary violence, feel free to pass it by. You probably won't like it. But, you'll be missing out.
March 10, 2014
Mesmo Delivery should not be read for the story but for its fluid and violent art. The only comments I can make of its story is it is short (it feels more like a first chapter than a short story), it is violent or Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez-esque, and while the characters aren’t fully developed, they are still interesting and comic.
But the art is beautiful and for that this book should be read. It is imaginative and thoughtful. Even when people have their heads cut off or their faces punched in (graphic, yes), Grampá has a style that is colourful and unique and makes you want to do two contradictory things: it flows and makes you move quickly through the panels, while you also want to stop at each image to examine the detail. Brian Azzarello is right in his introduction. Read the book and then read it again. It’s a trip.
But the art is beautiful and for that this book should be read. It is imaginative and thoughtful. Even when people have their heads cut off or their faces punched in (graphic, yes), Grampá has a style that is colourful and unique and makes you want to do two contradictory things: it flows and makes you move quickly through the panels, while you also want to stop at each image to examine the detail. Brian Azzarello is right in his introduction. Read the book and then read it again. It’s a trip.
January 7, 2017
Folks, I learned something new today. Rafael Grampa has amazing skills as an artist. We are talking some truly staggering stuff here people. I mean, Mesmo Delivery floored me with how striking it was. That being said, the read though extremely short. It's basic, two men, one an ex-boxer, the other an Elvis impersonator are hired to deliver some mysterious cargo. I almost decided to give it three stars, but then looking at the beautiful layout a few more times, I simply could not do it. I hope Grampa has something else in store.
November 16, 2017
While Rafael Grampa's art style is impressive and gorgeous to watch unfold across the page, there's just not enough substance here: it's like a half an intriguing Twilight Zone episode that goes to commercial but never comes back, leaving you wondering how the story really ends.
March 14, 2016
What the fuck
September 1, 2025
A vibrant and artistically gorgeous exploration of violence. As an art book, it's five stars, but as a story, it just doesn't deliver. It feels like the first half of a Twilight Zone episode, in that we get a first twist right at the end that adds another layer to the story and sets up a potentially cool ending. Except that the story ends at the first twist and we don't find out enough about the protagonist or backstory to make the story feel complete.
Art-wise, even though I'm not into super violence, it's a five star book. Apart from that, it's an extended barfight scene where you don't really get to know the characters doing the fighting.
If you wish Invincible had even more punching but less superheroes, then this is probably a five-star book for you.
Art-wise, even though I'm not into super violence, it's a five star book. Apart from that, it's an extended barfight scene where you don't really get to know the characters doing the fighting.
If you wish Invincible had even more punching but less superheroes, then this is probably a five-star book for you.
February 7, 2023
Very stylish, very slight, all killer, no filler. A fun, quick little read. Gross, greasy, grimy, but compelling. Was interested in this after reading Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, where Grampa supplied the art. I can see why Frank Miller wanted to work with him. This has got that naughty sparkle in its eye. It’s like the comic equivalent of watching someone do tricks on a skateboard. And all for the equivalent of a simple bar fight at a truck stop delivered with the energy of a Looney Tunes short.
The plot is too slim, but doesn’t really hold it back. I guess that’s the point. Went down nice and smooth.
The plot is too slim, but doesn’t really hold it back. I guess that’s the point. Went down nice and smooth.
November 21, 2020
A cool looking comic that mostly consists of a very violent, but cartoony, fight sequence that was handled inventively. It’s very short with just enough context and conclusion so that it does work as a complete story. Still, it left me wanting, and I’m interested to see what Grampa can create with a bit more space.
August 4, 2017
Необычный рисунок. Простецкий сюжет и очень короткий комикс.
Две клевые идеи:
Две клевые идеи:
December 28, 2017
BCDER: 91
Oh man, we need more Rafael Grampá! What a beautifully gruesome book. It's like Frank Quitely and Geoff Darrow had a baby.
It's a very quick but near perfect read. You'll read it more than once it's so good.
Oh man, we need more Rafael Grampá! What a beautifully gruesome book. It's like Frank Quitely and Geoff Darrow had a baby.
It's a very quick but near perfect read. You'll read it more than once it's so good.
July 21, 2018
Structure and graphics, that is all about this book. Sense of humour which is easy to follow for Coel brothers & sisters or Tarantino fans. I liked that small book as it is perfect one. Every page is a piece of well thought graphic art.
February 26, 2023
Jedan od onih malih, jednostavnih akcića, koji se mogu prepričat u dvi rečenice, a zalipe za stolicu i ostave širom raširenih usta i osmjehom u oku. Ritam akcije, detalji koji iskaču, kvaliteta crteža, sve zajedno majstorski odrađeno.
July 28, 2025
Rafael Grampa is a genius to create such a simple story and make it so interesting and so action packed and detailed. The story shines in the beautiful strong art with its beautifully ugly characters. I adored every page.
July 3, 2017
Stunning (and extremely violent) artwork and design built around a very simple story. Very well executed (excuse the pun).
August 4, 2017
God, this is gorgeous.
June 29, 2018
So... where's the rest of the story?
Incredible art...INCREDIBLE.
The story... cool, but... really, the rest? Where? When is it coming?
Incredible art...INCREDIBLE.
The story... cool, but... really, the rest? Where? When is it coming?
December 1, 2020
Brilliant, warped and horrible
January 1, 2022
Phenomenal art in support of... nothing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews