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Review: Ten Grand #3

By | July 4th, 2013
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After a rocky start, J. Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith’s supernatural detective story finally found it’s footing with it’s second issue. Here, with it’s third, it’s only getting stronger as it shifts focus to explore the main character and his tragic past. This is the quality the first issue should have been.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Illustrated by Ben Templesmith
Joe Fitzgerald’s client is dead. The young woman he went searching for on her behalf is dead. And he’s not happy about it. Worse still, someone’s shaking the foundations of Heaven, in a move putting the spirit of his beloved Laura in jeopardy. Someone’s going to pay for it…even if that means walking into Hell itself.

It was unfortunate, and even somewhat disappointing, that the first issue of “Ten Grand”, J. Michael Straczynski’s return to the world of Joe’s Comics, was so middle of the road for a concept that was had such potential. Which is why it’s relieving that by the third issue he’s found his footing with the series and is starting to tell an engaging story. Supernatural detective stories, especially ones about one man being caught between heaven and hell, aren’t exactly something new, especially in comics. However, there’s something about “Ten Grand” that, now that it’s found the series it wants to be, makes it so interesting despite that fact. It’s probably because of the atmosphere it creates.

The book’s sense of atmosphere is really what brings a new flavour to the writing, largely thanks to artist Ben Templesmith. Templesmith’s art is practically dripping with atmosphere from his character design and his scratchy lines composing the world all the way up to the flawless coloring that gives the book a drab, noir, almost unearthly quality. For a story about heaven and hell bleeding into the mortal world, Templesmith couldn’t have been a better choice. Even when Templesmith depicts the almost angelic limbo that Laura exists in, his colors bring out a darker, eerier side that betrays the notion of it being safe.

That’s not to say Templesmith is the only reason the book works. Straczynski has slowly but surely drawn closer to examining the lead character of Joe Fitzgerald over the past two issues which has culminated in an exploration of his rather tragic backstory here. This is really the crux of what makes the issue so engaging. Straczynski has finally allowed Joe to open up to the reader about his past, especially with Laura, and explain how he became who he is now. It gives the issue an emotional heart that the previous issues lacked and moves the series from a rather disconnected detective story to a story about Joe and his quest for his lost love.

The detective story that opened that series does in fact take a back seat here as, because the woman who tasked Joe to find her sister is now dead, the investigation has all but dried up. What this leads to is Joe taking on a more personal revenge story against Brother James, the same guy who killed Laura and tried to kill him. This allows for a more personal and emotional motivation for Joe as opposed to simply being tasked to find someone and it allows the reader to more connect to his progress.

The majority of this issue is given to a flashback that explains how Joe and Laura first met. While it really works to give background to their relationship and how it started, it also works as a morbid play on romantic comedy meet-cute tropes. For example, Joe and Laura’s first meeting was directly after Joe almost died killing another mob enforcer. By any rights that shouldn’t be the basis of a relationship, but Straczynski’s writing, with just a touch of tongue-in-cheek humour, really makes it work. The flashback really sells their relationship and why the reader should care going forward that Laura is in danger and Joe must reconnect with her. It’s just another reason why this issue is so much stronger than the ones before: Straczynski and Templesmith have really hit the emotional core of the book and expanded it.

It may have taken a couple issues, but “Ten Grand” is finally comfortable settling in on it’s story going forward and that just makes this issue all the stronger. From Templesmith’s art being as great and atmospheric as always and bringing life to the book to Straczynski finally letting the lead character breathe a little and explore him emotionally, this series is stronger across the board than it was when it started. And that is a very good thing because going forward, with the right storylines, this could be the serious contender to be the next “Hellblazer”. And wouldn’t that be something?

Final Verdict: 9.0 – Buy. If you missed out on the first two, go back and start reading this. If it stays this strong, this series will go places.


Alice W. Castle

Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears her, Alice W. Castle is a trans femme writing about comics. All things considered, it’s going surprisingly well. Ask her about the unproduced Superman films of 1990 - 2006. She can be found on various corners of the internet, but most frequently on Twitter: @alicewcastle

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