Writer/Artist: Steven Grant, Mike Zeck
Publisher: Cyberosia, $19.95
Why You Should Know It: Damned is a hard hitting crime comic that follows Mike Thorne, a newly freed man who wants to fulfill the dying wish of a fellow inmate. Unfortunately to do so, Thorne has to break parole and quickly finds himself falling into worse and worse trouble. Full of moral ambiguity, plenty of violence, and fast paced but clean storytelling, Damned is a fun and enjoyable read even if you’re not too into the crime genre.
The collection is decent if just a little pricey. Damned isn’t a quick read but it’s not dense either. Originally published as a four-issue series from Homage, the trade does include an additional six pages of story as well as design notes, the original covers, and more. The total package is over 100 pages and on glossy paper stock.
Personal Review: I can usually take or leave Grant scripts, but this one is well paced with good characterization and just a fun quick crime story. It’s not overly wordy but it’s not super condensed storytelling that over utilizes splash pages. Grant and Zeck make a great team that play off of each others strengths.
Zeck’s layouts are tight and easy to follow. One thing of interest is that the line work feels a little bit like Erik Larsen of the Savage Dragon. This may be Denis Rodier’s inking, but the final effect makes the finished product look like a strange cross of Zeck and Larsen which I actually find very appealing. Larsen’s work can be too loose and harsh at times, so merging that sort of style with Zeck’s smoother finished feel results in very engaging layouts and characters.
If you like this then try: Punisher Circle of Blood, Spider-Man Kraven’s Last Hunt Punisher Max, Criminal
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