Grim Jack (comic)

 

Published by First Comics, Grimjack was the creation of John Ostrander who developed the character with artist Timothy Truman to become this excellent series. Grimjack was the street name for a private eye/gun for hire John Gaunt who lived in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure, where all dimensions intersect and so the laws of physics are meant to be broken, magic can work, technology can cease functioning and all sorts of creatures co-inhabit, depending on which way you turn and which street you're on. Gaunt also owns a bar, Munden's, in the slums of Cynosure, with his bartender Gordon and mascot/friend/sentient lizard named Bob.

Looking somewhat like a space-aged pirate. Gaunt leaves a trail of mayhem and gore behind him, having been literally thrown to the wolves as a child and growing up in the Arena as an underaged gladiator. From there, he fought in the Demon Wars, worked as a bounty hunter, wandered the dimensions, fought and killed and, eventually, even died and returned. His friends were close'n'loyal, he had a few loves and always kept his personal code of honor.

Truman's backgrounds have lots of in-jokes and pop culture nods, everything from the Church of the Sub Genius to underground rock'n'roll bands - something that this book had in common with Truman's other hip book at the time, Scout. Hell, one panel has graffiti for the Blasters, Los Lobos, Rank and File, Son Seals and the Long Ryders! Other artists worked on the series later, but they all did their best to emulate the atmosphere created by Truman.

This is another series that I bought when it came out and I am not sure what reprints have been done, but it is another excellent comic and highly recommended.