Mercy

by J.M. DeMatteis

Graphic Novel

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Sequential Art, Horror

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Also Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally

Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.

Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.

Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Buddhist in tone - you have to forgive in yourself what you seek others to forgive...mercy has to be shown in connection to the offended and offender: a karmic 'dot-to-dot' picture that must be connected by the linearity of compassion. Unusual and very thought provoking, a book that will have you asking deep questions you have put off to the side.

[Danielle Robb · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the narrating character aside, I loved Mercy herself, the main over lining message and the art.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in love with this comic. The art is amazing, the tone sublime and the writing/narrative is handled with such poise that this is almost a work of literary genius. Not just a comic. Highly recommended

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

In no world is Mercy good, but it's totally gorgeous (in terms of 90s painted comics) and clearly a labor of love. Basically all the characters are 2D stereotypes of either people of color or White People With Upper Class Problems, and the concept of Mercy as a character who watches over them wants to be a thing so hard and is really not a thing. The writing is -- I mean, pretty overwrought and saccharine and bad -- and the plot is basically a series of nonsensical vignettes about sad people connected across some sort of space/time void. It's a story that wants to pull at the heartstrings but is ultimately just a sort of pop psyche treatise on compassion (which, importantly, is not the same as mercy). You know how Alanis Morrisette's "Ironic" was not actually about irony? Well, that.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always look to DC's Vertigo imprint for the cutting edge, artsy and more adult graphic fiction. While this one-shot certainly had the jaw-dropping art I expected, it was not overly experimental in any other ways. I thought the story fell flat; it came across as trite and overplayed instead of the deep, emotional connection I think the author was trying for.

[Guido · Rating 3 out of 5]

J.M. DeMatteis y Paul Johnson experimentando en el temprano Vertigo.

[Romano · Rating 2 out of 5]

En líneas estéticas y temáticas es sumamente bello, pero honestamente no estaba en el estado mental adecuado para comprenderlo y apreciarlo. Es sumamente complicado llegar a ese nihilismo iluminado en que el comprender que el universo avanza sin sentido y riendas da una plena sensación de paz y felicidad.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is beautiful. The text feels like a journal entry from a philosophy of trauma class. Sort of a stream of consciousness revelation of the nature of pain. It was okay.

[Reyel2107 · Rating 4 out of 5]

the artistic tale of a godess !!!!!

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is very cold and Sienkiewicz-creepy in the background but soft and warm in the foreground.

[Gamal Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ambitious, avant-garde, philosophical redemption story that begins in a dying man's hospital bed, traverses culture, space, and time, and ends with insight on the fundamental nature of reality.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

the cover of my pb edition has the cover shown for the kindle.

[Monky · Rating 4 out of 5]

very emotional and hopeful book, wasn't expecting a vertigo book I understood on a first read but theres definitely still things to dissect

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

pOPSUGAR: DIFFICULT SUBJECT

[Devon Munn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't care for it that much the art style and narrative were interesting enough. Vertigo was really one of the best comic publishers out there and why they continue to be my favorite even though Black Label has taken their place

[Macha · Rating 3 out of 5]

the artwork by Paul Johnson is phenomenal. but the text is vague, sententious, and empty. i'm forced to conclude at this point that the author's reputation is overblown.

[H. Givens · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rhythm of the script is good, but the message is trite.