John Ostrander and Tim Truman’s Grimjack is one of the meanest comic books to come out of the 80s. It began as classic noir with a science fiction backdrop but quickly matured into a bleak satire on modern life with frequent forays into the philosophical implications of impending mortality. John Gaunt, a.k.a. Grimjack, is an ex-gladiator, ex-wizard, ex-cop, ex-soldier, current mercenary and bona fide senior citizen who brings death to every one he loves — sometimes he’s even the one who kills his loved ones, but however it plays out, he’s always bad news. He drinks oceans of rotgut, he smokes constantly, he swears and he lives in a bar — all of that almost makes up for his penchant for Highland bonnets, but let’s allow an old man his eccentricities.
Grimjack looks and reads like it was tailor-made to be transformed into a big-budget, special effects spectacular. Much of that is down to Truman’s depiction of Cynosure, the setting for every story. Cynosure is a multidimensional node, meaning all the many dimensions of creation manifest in Cynosure on a predictable schedule. This allows Cynosure to grow wealthy as a glorified trading post, since everywhere comes to it at some point. It’s populated by aliens, freaks, punks, geeks, gigolo unicorns, talking beavers, the hyper-wealthy and a great seething underclass.
Using contemporary (early 80s) Chicago as the bones of the city, Truman added a musculature of science fiction and fantasy elements — massive skyscrapers, floating pyramids, space ports, dragons — larded it with filth and then covered it in a skin of graffiti. High technology works in some parts of the city, magic works in others, gods and demons rub shoulders with sentient bats, and everyday schlubs just have to deal with it all. Cynosure looked lived in and dirty, and it was as much a character in the comic as it was a setting.
The two-legged supporting cast was just as interesting and flawed. BlacJacMac is Gaunt’s smooth-talkin’ former partner in the gladiator pits (he bears a striking resemblance to late-70s Isaac Hayes and is married to a goddess), Roscoe is his dwarfish former cop partner and occasionally his current partner — when he’s not trying to run Gaunt in for various crimes, Gordon is the regular guy who runs Munden’s Bar (Grimjack’s home) and has a tangled history with his boss, and then there’s Bob the watchlizard.
He’s as hard-drinkin’ as ol’ Grimjack and smokes more, and he’s just as heartbroken. Nobody knows why he latched on to Gaunt, but he’s all Bob has so the lizardgator stays — and drinks, and smokes and sings when he’s really depressed.
As mentioned earlier, Ostrander’s stand-alone, hard-boiled stories of betrayal and general nastiness gave way to larger story arcs. The first of these, The Trade Wars, concerned the ultra-wealthy warring openly in the streets and affiliated dimensions for greater profits, while Mayfair (leader of the city’s secret police force, Cadre, and Gaunt’s former boss) attempts to set up former gladiator Dancer (Gaunt’s mentor in the arena) as the city’s ultimate tyrant. A political thriller that also involves massive, multi-dimensional battles between alien factions, and a small group of hard-bitten, tough-talking soldiers-of-fortune who have conflicting loyalties to ex-employers and friends — yeah, that’s a good, solid basis for a film.
Of course, as with most comic books in this modern age, there’s industry talk of a Grimjack movie — and there has been for almost two decades. It may never happen, in which case I direct you to IDW Publishing’s The Legend of Grimjack Volume 4, which features the entire Trade Wars saga. (Digression: Have you ever noticed that “Volume 4” of anything is always epic? Black Sabbath’s “Vol. 4,” Led Zeppelin’s “IV,” “Star Wars: A New Hope” — what is it about volume 4s?) Be warned that Truman left the book just before the actual Trade Wars began, and his replacement, Tom Sutton, had neither the feel for Cynosure nor a very good understanding of forced perspective. John Ostrander is a great enough writer to overcome mediocre art, however, but while you’re out there looking for Volume 4, you should probably consider the first three volumes of that series, which are all Truman.
-Paul
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