The first issue of this series about a former mob enforcer turned the ultimate variety of legit (he died, and now works for an angel) was eye-catching but a little uneven. Happily, this book seems to be finding its pace, and with beautiful, glowy art and the beginnings of a truly impressive supernatural landscape going on here, “Ten Grand” has a lot to offer.
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Illustrated by Ben Templesmith“ANGELS NEVER LIE”
FDA (Federal Demon Association) Advisory. Contents contain: one cult church where incantations are encoded into the playlist; one flesh-dwelling, food-obsessed demon; one seer capable of perceiving the spirit world but blinded to this one; one missing woman; one murder; one angel with an agenda of his own; and one rendezvous between supernatural investigator Joe Fitzgerald and the woman he loves, now deceased, in what may or may not be heaven. Warning: do not operate heavy equipment while reading.
That is a fairly detailed solicit, and it’s safe to say that this issue goes a lot more places than the first. Put simply, though, in the course of trying to help out his newest client, Debbie, Joe checks out the “storefront church” for the cult known as Divine Will, and it’s far darker a place that he initially assumed. “A goddamn vortex of utter darkness”, to be precise, and as Joe tries to figure out what’s going on, he will be offered a deal. And who knows whether it’s better than the one he’s already agreed to?
This is an introspective story, held together by Joe’s focalizing voice, and his narration for the most part retains an appealing noir quality. And while it doesn’t mesh with the supernatural content perfectly, the contrast it establishes is kind of neat. What does your typical noir narrator epitomize if not skepticism, even cynicism? Having one be so completely in thrall to an angelic force – and to a woman, through a romantic, and not a seductive, relationship – is a nice way of turning this stereotype on its head, even as Joe makes a show of maintaining his cynicism. The downshot of this dichotomy is that it’s still a little difficult to get into Joe’s head, and his emotions – particularly during the romantic moment that stands at the core of this issue – don’t quite hit home with the force that they should. We still need a few more reasons to feel for this guy – but then, we’re only on issue two, and he may win us over yet.
As the issue goes on, we get quite an interesting incidental character, whose unique abilities are sure to be useful in future issues, and best of all, a demonic encounter which definitely lingers in the mind’s eye. The world is certainly beginning to be – and this is a pun – fleshed out, and the grotesque characters that populate it add an archetypical, fable-like quality. This book is at its best when negotiating the places where the real and the magical overlap, and this issue is all the better for spending a lot of time in this space.
Ben Templesmith’s art is perfect for portraying a world where the barriers between the everyday, the demonic, and the celestial are permeable, I would almost say fragile. Every scene, from murky alleyway to heavenly no man’s land, seems lit up from within by a flickering glow. Meanwhile, Templesmith’s characters have a great, haunted look about them, fitting into with this atmospheric world perfectly. Interestingly, there’s definitely something a little too perfect about Laura, and the vaguely sinister lens through which we’re viewing her is just enough to get us suspicious of the whole situation without bowling us over. As the events of the issue indicate, all may not be what it seems in Joe’s employment situation, and a shining featureless landscape with the woman you love standing in the middle of it may not be heaven after all. Templesmith’s storytelling is full of these little subtleties, while the big moments and the action scenes come across loud and clear, and overall it’s hard to imagine a better tour guide to get us through this mysterious city.
“Ten Grand” is shaping up into something interesting, and while not all the emotions ring true just yet, we’re getting there. Meantime, this is one gorgeous world, and one harrowing criminal landscape, not least because the goons involved have more than the usual methods at their disposal. This is underground crime gone magical, and all the more terrifying and fascinating for it.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
