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GrimJack
Grimjack: The Manx Cat
GrimJack returns in an all-new, out-of-this-world adventure - but solidly in the multi-dimensional land of Cynosure. What starts as an easy enough snatch-and-grab job becomes a hunt for truly ugly answers - all over a piece of ancient and magical object d'art long known as The Manx Cat. GJ's quest has him running into old friends and enemies alike, including the beautiful and dangerous Darlin' Lil, the obnoxiously powerful Roscoe Schumacher, his old "buddy" BlaJacMac, and BJM's "buddy" Goddess, Munden Bar's barkeep Gordon, and, of course, the all-knowing Bob the Gatorlizard. Combines the six-issue mini-series, with all the bells-and-whistles!
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2010
35 people want to read
About the author
John Ostrander
2,080 books172 followersJohn Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2016
4.5 stars.
Another strong Grimjack series. As I stated in a previous review, I have read all of the original Grimjack series but I don't remember it being as good as the two more recent series.
This one wasn't quite as good as Killer Instinct, but was still really good. This is still a prequel to the original Grimjack series, but takes place after Killer Instnct. This one deals with a cat sculpture that is much more than it seems. Also we get to see Bob the Gator Lizard's origin.
The Tim Truman artwork is superb, but still just a hair below Killer Instinct.
Overall a great comic series, and a must for any fans of Grimjack. If you have never read Grimjack before, Killer Instinct and this series are a great starting point.
Another strong Grimjack series. As I stated in a previous review, I have read all of the original Grimjack series but I don't remember it being as good as the two more recent series.
This one wasn't quite as good as Killer Instinct, but was still really good. This is still a prequel to the original Grimjack series, but takes place after Killer Instnct. This one deals with a cat sculpture that is much more than it seems. Also we get to see Bob the Gator Lizard's origin.
The Tim Truman artwork is superb, but still just a hair below Killer Instinct.
Overall a great comic series, and a must for any fans of Grimjack. If you have never read Grimjack before, Killer Instinct and this series are a great starting point.
April 21, 2015
I believe that the original Grimjack series from First Comics is one of the most underrated comics of all time, especially the first 20 or so issues illustrated by Tim Truman (John Ostrander wrote all 75 issues). This original graphic novel (first published online, one of my least favorite of all publishing venues) brings back that Grimjack magic. It was a joy to see once again Bob the Watch Lizard, Gordon the bartender, Roscoe, Blackjacmac, Goddess, and Feetus, plus a bunch of great new characters. This is an extremely well-written adventure, as the reader is pulled along from one situation and setting to another. (And Cynosure, the city that Grimjack calls home, is one of my favorite places in all of fiction.) Set prior to the original series, we witness Grimjack's first meeting with Bob the Lizard, who also plays a major role in the climax of the book. This is an example of Ostrander's strength in writing this story: even a throwaway line or character pops up later to affect the storyline and our hero, John of Gaunt. Thanks, gentlemen, for bringing me back to one of the joys of my youth.
April 7, 2011
It is SO good to see Grim Jack again!
October 9, 2011
One of the more fun Grimjack stories. Ostrander's writing is tight as ever, and Truman's art is still great. Excellent stuff.
January 14, 2022
The original creators of Grimjack team up once again for another story about the mercenary John Gaunt and the city of Cynosure, where all realities meet. The Manx Cat takes place after their previous piece (Killer Instinct) and before the original run of Grimjack at First Comics.
This time Gaunt finds himself hired to “reclaim” stolen property (the eponymous Manx Cat statue), leading to a plot with multiple parties trying to gain control of said property. In the chaos Gaunt is motivated both by a desire to clear his name (over a crime he did kind of commit) and to get paid by everyone. There is of course a femme fatale involved.
This is also the story of how the gatorlizard Bob ended up at Munden’s Bar. Much like Killer Instinct’s backstory for how John Gaunt gained ownership of said bar, this isn’t exactly a crucial element of his past that has kept fans up at night for decades, but it is a nice little detail to have in the tapestry that is Grimjack.
Speaking of details, this book has some real treats, like the statue in front of the courthouse. Rather than the familiar figure of a blindfolded woman holding up balancing scales, we get a winged serpent-man holding up scales with a hanged man on one end and the dollar symbol on the other, with the dollar sign clearly weighing more, thus hoisting high said hanged-man. Delightful.
Another detail would be a dog, serving as an elevator operator, red uniform and all. I recall Droopy playing the same role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. And then there’s the scene where Gaunt is required to cover his hair and mouth when he’s visiting a monastery, his prominent nose hanging over a scarf in a manner very reminiscent of The Shadow. The little things are precious pearls that give these kinds of stories their soul.
The Manx Cat is of course a riff on The Maltese Falcon. The very cover of this book features a picture of what looks like an old pulp novel with a tattered dust jacket, depicting Gaunt holding up the statue in a pose that recreates a similar image from the 1941 movie starring Humphrey Bogart. Only this statuette has supernatural properties, as befits an object of importance in Cynosure. The story goes on to escalate onto a far greater scale, than initially assumed, but at the same time it also delves deeper into personal matters.
Spoilers for this book and Grimjack as a whole follow:
If one isn’t aware of John Gaunt’s unfortunate status as someone trapped in the cycle of rebirth due to rejecting his rightful place in the afterlife during the original First Comics series, they will be confused by what goes on towards the end of this book. As part of a spiritual sojourn to the past, John Gaunt finds himself inhabiting the body of one of his previous incarnations, meaning his cycle of reincarnation goes back in time as well as forward. His old mentor tells him as much when saying that it need not be linear in time.
Spoilers end.
I didn’t expect a prequel book like this to dwell into such heady matters, and I was pleasantly surprised. The talents of Ostrander & Truman remain in tip-top shape and while delivering a complete story, The Manx Cat leaves me wanting more. Grimjack just has endless potential for great stories. But this book came out in 2010, and reading it 12 years later with no new books out leaves me in despair. At least there’s the Amazon series to look forward to.
This time Gaunt finds himself hired to “reclaim” stolen property (the eponymous Manx Cat statue), leading to a plot with multiple parties trying to gain control of said property. In the chaos Gaunt is motivated both by a desire to clear his name (over a crime he did kind of commit) and to get paid by everyone. There is of course a femme fatale involved.
This is also the story of how the gatorlizard Bob ended up at Munden’s Bar. Much like Killer Instinct’s backstory for how John Gaunt gained ownership of said bar, this isn’t exactly a crucial element of his past that has kept fans up at night for decades, but it is a nice little detail to have in the tapestry that is Grimjack.
Speaking of details, this book has some real treats, like the statue in front of the courthouse. Rather than the familiar figure of a blindfolded woman holding up balancing scales, we get a winged serpent-man holding up scales with a hanged man on one end and the dollar symbol on the other, with the dollar sign clearly weighing more, thus hoisting high said hanged-man. Delightful.
Another detail would be a dog, serving as an elevator operator, red uniform and all. I recall Droopy playing the same role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. And then there’s the scene where Gaunt is required to cover his hair and mouth when he’s visiting a monastery, his prominent nose hanging over a scarf in a manner very reminiscent of The Shadow. The little things are precious pearls that give these kinds of stories their soul.
The Manx Cat is of course a riff on The Maltese Falcon. The very cover of this book features a picture of what looks like an old pulp novel with a tattered dust jacket, depicting Gaunt holding up the statue in a pose that recreates a similar image from the 1941 movie starring Humphrey Bogart. Only this statuette has supernatural properties, as befits an object of importance in Cynosure. The story goes on to escalate onto a far greater scale, than initially assumed, but at the same time it also delves deeper into personal matters.
Spoilers for this book and Grimjack as a whole follow:
If one isn’t aware of John Gaunt’s unfortunate status as someone trapped in the cycle of rebirth due to rejecting his rightful place in the afterlife during the original First Comics series, they will be confused by what goes on towards the end of this book. As part of a spiritual sojourn to the past, John Gaunt finds himself inhabiting the body of one of his previous incarnations, meaning his cycle of reincarnation goes back in time as well as forward. His old mentor tells him as much when saying that it need not be linear in time.
Spoilers end.
I didn’t expect a prequel book like this to dwell into such heady matters, and I was pleasantly surprised. The talents of Ostrander & Truman remain in tip-top shape and while delivering a complete story, The Manx Cat leaves me wanting more. Grimjack just has endless potential for great stories. But this book came out in 2010, and reading it 12 years later with no new books out leaves me in despair. At least there’s the Amazon series to look forward to.
November 1, 2013
I had been reading the reprint trade paperbacks of the "regular" Grimjack series lately, and was slowly getting dissapointed by the artwork after Tim Truman left.
Luckily, Truman came back to illustrate this mini story of a "younger" Grimjack.
Although both the story and the art do tend to vary in quality over the length of this book, overall, it was a very nice book to go thru on an Halloween night when I didn't want to get disturbed by the Trick or Treaters :-)
Luckily, Truman came back to illustrate this mini story of a "younger" Grimjack.
Although both the story and the art do tend to vary in quality over the length of this book, overall, it was a very nice book to go thru on an Halloween night when I didn't want to get disturbed by the Trick or Treaters :-)
July 4, 2010
This tale take place a little earlier in John Gaunt's career in Cynosure as among the multiple things that happen is we find out how he got Bob the watchlizard for Munden's and more about how his soul becomes bound with the city. If you read this watch for multiple pieces of wordplay by author John Ostrander referencing popular and genre fiction and culture.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews