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Published by: Image comics / Joe's Comics
Released on: Mar. 19, 2014
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: C.P. Smith
Cover: C.P. Smith
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Former mob hit man Joe Fitzgerald was killed along with the love of his life Laura. An angel brought him back to life but under a condition. If he dies in a righteous manner, he can see Laura for five minutes. He's learned her soul is trapped in Hell, wrongly, and he makes his way through the gates to get her.
Cult leader Brother James, the guy who killed Laura and Joe and the reason she's there, meets Joe in Hell and gives him all sorts of bad-guy villain talk. In fact, the lion's share of the issue is devoted to him telling his own story and laying things out for Joe as they are: Laura's entrapped soul, angels versus demons, the end of the world….you know, small talk. He's apparently invincible, as Joe's bullets are about as effective on him as punching a bowl of pudding.
This book is so good to give anything more by way of info is a disservice. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, there should be no doubt as to the quality of storytelling. It's intelligently written and 100 percent engaging. The art is the second issue handled by C.P. Smith and it continues to impress and delight with it minimal line use and really attractive coloring. A few pages by Ben Templesmith deliver some flashback footage, and the difference in art fits right in with the way the issue unfolds. But man, is Smith's art fantastic. Not typical stuff.
High praise is not enough but it's all that can be given. Page after page, Ten Grand continues to be one of the best comic series around. It's got an edge, it's got an anti-hero, it's got demons, and it's violent. Heaven versus Hell/good versus evil…more times than not such a tale makes for interesting reading and Ten Grand is at the top of the heap.
