Grim #1
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Flaviano
Colourist: Rico Renzi
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Pullbox link: https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAR220773
I think we can safely say, that in the last couple of years BOOM! Studios have been riding high in their accomplishments and releasing some unique and interesting stories amongst their back catalogue. With recent successes from titles such as Something is Killing the Children, BRZRKR and Proctor Valley Road, it was only a matter of time before we were graced with a brand-new number one comic that may pique a lot of readers’ interest. But will they strike gold this time round? Let’s explore, shall we?
Jessica Harrow is dead. And that should be the end of her story, right? Wrong. Jessica is mixed up in a macabre afterlife, where her main role is that of a Reaper. She ferry’s souls on her little boat, and she takes them to the next chapter of their own afterlife. Her latest soul acquisition Bryan, has an array of questions to try and understand where his next expedition begins. Upon doing so, Jessica reveals she doesn’t know how she died. This revelation is the key to our journey with this character. As Jessica’s personal afterlife begins to unravel, she needs to find the truth to how she came to be. And in doing so she will face her toughest voyage yet; finding out who is the actual Grim Reaper.
Stephanie Phillips knocked this first issue out of the park. It is incredibly concise, direct, and has enough emotional depth from our characters, to keep the readers invested. There is some very light humour inserted into specific scenes which allows us to breathe and bask in the surroundings a little more. With a title such as Grim, there will be many assumptions if this will be as bloody and dark as Something is Killing the Children. The best way to look at Grim, is that this is an extension of the BOOM! Studios universe where they unearth new and strange territory. It has clear horror influences, but not all horror media will be the same, whether its comics, movies or TV shows.
Outside of a solid story, there is nothing better than an artistry and colourist team, that can work together and melt their talents into something wonderful. The colour palette is truly lush. Rico Renzi manages to balance beautiful warm and cool colour tones to their advantage. Renzi creates not only a tone for the comic, but it sets the standard for the overall aura, that the comic wishes to present to its readers. Flaviano’s artwork is incredibly controlled in this first issue, and with each panel that passes, the artwork manages to flow with incredible ease. Phillips’ may be the one who sets the scene with their story, but it’s Flaviano who controls the readers imagination with his artistry.
With all that said, does this have the potential to be another huge comic book series for Boom! Studios? Absolutely. However, online there are already comparisons to Something’s Killing the Children; this could work for or against the success of this release. It could work in its favour as it may be a helpful recommendation for anyone who isn’t sure whether or not they want to start reading Grim. The downside to this is the high level of expectation from BOOM! Studios to create another project, that will blow the indie comic industry out of the water. No one is saying that it doesn’t have the potential to do so, but judging how fast the comic book industry works right now, one week you have the hottest and most sought-after comic, and then a week later people move onto the next thing.
After reading the first issue, I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves an interesting story, that unravels piece by piece. It has a horror tone, which I love, but it’s another facet of that genre. Not everything has to be over-the-top, gory and gratuitous. Grim issue one will bring the emotional depth you need, with just enough bewitching colours and artwork, that will wash over your imagination and make you crave issue two.
