Comics! Ten Grand #1

Ten Grand #1 

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Illustrated by Ben Templesmith

Preview and Solicitation

Review
JMS shilled for DC Comics, effectively making the argument that corporate comics are the way to go and that Before Watchmen would herald in the new dawn of comics.

Well, not exactly those words, but the man do voice his opinion pretty heavily. Basically, boo hoo for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons that they don't technically own Watchmen and kudos to DC for willing to put forth a prequel for something they own. Moore could have made Watchmen books anytime and simply didn't so DC decided to move ahead and let others write and draw it, Moore' permission be damned. And then he gave his finger to fans and trotted off with DC's money in his back pocket.

Or something like that.

I really did not want to pick up this book due to JMS' position on Before Watchmen. Fuck him. As a person who prides himself on creator-owned work, I never understood what he, or any creator on Before Watchmen, could gain by shilling for DC.

But then Ben Templesmith was listed as the artist for this book so I had to give it a try. Me likes Templesmith.

On its own merits, this book isn't half bad. A nice setup, some basic understanding of what kind of situation the main character is in and some of the world around him. The one thing that got me is that instead of showing just a normal case for the guy to handle, JMS decides that this book will about a case that got away. Interesting choice, but still one that works.

Templesmith on art. Need I say more? I do? Ok, it is great. The coloring and mood in each panel is perfectly laid out. Templesmith has an energy and talent for taking something that drawn by another artist would look gory as can be. Under Templesmith's hand, it looks like a beautiful painting that doesn't make you loose your lunch, but instead appreciate the uniqueness of this artist's hand.

But from the point of view that JMS is an asshole, there just isn't enough there for me to keep going, even if it would help make Templesmith a little more coin so he can continue his work.

I'm going to have a hard time backing the work of any creator who worked on Before Watchmen. It just doesn't seem right to back anyone who I felt betrayed the sense of creator-owned work that was Watchmen.

Grades
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 9/10
General Feeling After Reading: Shame.
Buy Next Issue: If this didn't have JMS' name on it, I would in a heartbeat.