Comics Books

For those of us who struggle from time to time with drawing animals, especially if the animal is sitting or standing a certain way then this is a great book to buy. Another book from the brilliant Hikaru Hayashi, he shows you some steps of drawing the animals with the use of shapes to start off with so that you can give the animal form. He also give you examples of each animal from different angles, as well as their routines. The only bad thing about this book would be that he doesn't give you detail throughout the whole entire book. Only the the first couple of pages start you off with shapes. I would definately recommend this book for those who already know how to draw to some extent and above. I do not recommend it for beginners. The only nude picture in this book would be of a woman holding her cat, but her back is facing towards you, so it really isn't a big deal at all. This book is far from tasteless.

I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS BOOK. JUST RECENTLY STARTED DRAWING MANGA AND ANIME, AND LOVING IT. THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR THE VARIETY OF ANIMAL IT COVERS, BUT I REALLY FAIL TO SEE HOW THEY ARE MANGA ANIMALS. I HAVE MANY BOOKS ON DRAWING ANIMALS, AND COULD HAVE JUST ADDED MANGA "EYES" TO THEM AND SAVED MY MONEY. LOTS OF PICTURES BUT LACKS INSTRUCTIONS.

I'm glad to see thay made a book on how to draw animals i am especialy happy to see they show how to draw ferrets and other animals u realy don't think abou drawing.

This book waa really helpful. It has a lot of pictures that makes up for its lack of information. It includes a lot of different animals from the simple hamster to the complexity of the orangatang and the lion.

It is broken down into four main sections. The first section includes basic information. While the other three include the actual animals.

The Second section has most household animals but also a few exotic ones such as meerkats. The first few pages are mostly dogs and then it goes into cats. I believe that these are the animals that the author goes into most detail. But for each animal it has a number of different poses and includes a look inside their mouths which I find helpful when drawing bite marks.

The third section includes wild animals and also becomes more difficult. It gives a huge variety but the sections become increasingly smaller. And the last chapter labeled birds is very small and has a lot of detail but seems very crammed to the point where you can become confused. This section also includes one page of fish, angel fish and goldfish, which was pretty upsetting. They could have included a lot more bony fish and on more than one page.

If you need written instuctions on how to draw an animal, this is not the book for you. But if you can look a step by step drawn instructions then you should do fine and will find it very helpful.

ok, this book is one of the BETTER BOOKS in the HTDM series (the male book is pretty good too) and it does have a nice variety of animals in it, like giraffes, camels, tapirs, birds (tho not many *frown*) etc...it WILL NOT show step by step, so beginners beware...it just provides basics, and it kinda expects you to be able to take methods and put them to use in drawing animals...

out of all the books i own and have seen, this is probably one of the only books that is realy useful...it actualy teaches you something, in which others do not, b/c all manga books in this series have naked girls in them (disturbing...so utterly disturbing...everytime i see the HTDM female book, i feel like im going to lose my lunch)...tho wat DID get to me is even tho this book is SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO TEACH YOU TO DRAW ANIMALS, IT STILL MANAGES TO STICK A FEW UNCLOTHED WOMEN IN THE CAT SECTION...my response, as you can guess, was "wat...the...crap?"...i thought it was animals only, not humans! geez! that aside, the book helps w/ geting the animal proportions down right, and differences between some species and genders...

one of the only books you should get if you like manga...most others are useless, and a big waste of money...the ones you should also consider when learning to draw are listed below:
Tadashi Ozawa's 5 Volume collection "HTDM: Anime and Game Characters" (they have the pretty colorful covers...they teach u how to draw different types of characters, expressions, and actions both daily and battle)
HTDM Bodies and Anatomy (female nudity, males r covered...just get it for the muscle structure)
HTDM Male Characters (nudity curiously omitted...*raises eyes b/c all others make sure "body parts" on women are very detailed*)
HTDM Animals (but you already knew about this one *laugh*)

Love the read. Great book. At first I was a little skeptical about the whole having so many different stories in one book. Especially since a few aren't that long. But all of them were amazing and had that small additive that tied them perfectly together. My favorite was the last story. It was so good that it had me in tears. It also was the one to answer the question what else do these stories have in common aside from the hybrid children. THough word of advice once you reach that part of the story make sure you're not outside or anywhere else you don't want people to see you crying. Cuz I was walking around a book store reading this and about almost broke into tears. I making some really funny faces though. Anywayz great definitely worth the buy...

This is both one of the best and one of the most depressing manga's I've read. In fact on of the stories was so sad I had to call my sister crying. Something I have not done is a long time. However, for all that it made me cry it made me feel, and I do not regret reading it. Mind you not all the stories were that sad. The book is mostly of one shots that are connected to one another. While the others made me sad, they also managed to put a smile on my face. Only one the stories made my heart hurt with a untreated wound well after I finished the story, and I can say that after you have read this manga you will know the one I am right now writing about.
If you want fluff as most manga of this genre tend to have this is not the one you are looking for. However, if you love finding yourself in a emotional rollercoaster, both good and bad this is the piece you are looking for.

One of the absolute best yaoi manga in existence. It is definitely emotional as it spans three different couples that are all intertwined in a very interesting way. I'm not going to spoil but from the first chapter on this manga tells an excellent tale that at points will bring tears to your eyes. I know I cried when I read it.

Although the stories are generally short, they are sweet, sexy and fun. At one point I was laughing out loud as the hilarious conversations, they are perfect and witty! Also, the art was well done, and story lines not overly dramatic or unnecessarily angsty, each are different, so you get a range from simple fun to poignant loss each telling a tale of a hybrid child, a being created to change and grow according to their owner's needs and wishes. This is a great "introduction" for readers just beginning to enjoy yaoi. In fact, I have bought and given copies as gifts to friends though I always keep a copy for myself. Very enjoyable yaoi manga!

I really liked Hybrid Child. The stories were imagainitive and the art was beautiful. This manga is sweet and sad and humorous and just as good the second time around.

I was afraid when I bought this manga that I would end up with yet another man gets boy, takes boy, boy is submissive and learns to love type of story, but I was wrong. The author managed to give the "Hybrid Chld" in each story a strong, distinct personality and a caring nature that was returned by the human counterpart.

And the last story was heartbreaking, I cried at the end. And I rarely cry.

No hardcore sex...but it wasn't needed.

My version of I Gave at the Office is worn and torn from the use it's had from me and my fellow office folks. We are eagerly looking forward to another collection as good as this one.

Enjoyed this very much. A non-nasty Dilbert. Plus a domestic strip as well.

It's really Funny, & A good read, my only complain is that the sunday strips are in Black & white , What? No color? that aside, I recommend it , By God!

This was an excellent collection! Only complaint is that it's not (and never is) long enough.

Sally Forth is my favourite comic and I think Mr. Howard has one of the best senses of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially since my local paper no longer carries this strip and I am starved for the hilarious episodes of the life of the Forth clan. I know there are old Sally Forth books which are no longer in printing. Please consider re-releasing these books so I may spend more hilarious hours with Sally, Ted & Hillary.

This is a detail review of Garfield. Not only Garfield but also the products of Garfield in whole world. If you didn't know much about garfield, you can find a lot of information in the book. It's a great book for Garfield's Fans.

If your a Garfield fan this book is a must! It's great!! It gives you lots of info on what's become of Garfield over the years. Jim Davis is the "King of Humor" to have come up with so many funny ideas. I was a fan when I was growing up and now my step-kids are all fans thanks to all my old books.
I bought this book for the kids but I ended up reading it as well. This book is the link of where Garfield came from, and celabrates his wonderful 25 years.
Thanks for making people laugh for so many years all around the world Jim Davis!

This book makes a wonderful gift for anyone! You'd wish you got one for yourself too!

If there is one thing from my childhood that has remained a part of my life as an adult, it is my love for that fat, orange, cranky tabby cat named Garfield. I recently received "In Dog Years I'd Be Dead: Garfield at 25" as a present. It is a coffee table book that looks back at the history of the fat, orange tabby. This book is an extremely comprehensive look at everything Garfield. It goes into details about everything from commercial ads to the classic cartoon series "Garfield and Friends". As a diehard Garfield fan and an artist, I appreciated seeing the earlier, rough sketches of Garfield strips. This book may be a couple of years old but it certainly covers pretty much everything that the fat cat has given to the public. I especially loved seeing some of the more sillier photos of Jim Davis and Garfield. Another favorite moment is the section with all the counterfeit Garfield products. For some reason, I find something fascinating about something as ugly as those counterfeit products. "In Dog Years I'd Be Dead..." is the ideal coffee table book for diehard Garfield fans. Great intro by columnist Dave Barry.

This book is soooo awesome! it was so cool to see what the old garfield comics looked like! I recomend this book for any garfield fan! Soooo AWESOME!!!

Extremely cleverly cartoon with a wonderful "cast" of believable sea creatures. Pure delight and full of great humor.

Shermans Lagoon has to be the best comic I have ever read! (and trust me I read a lot of comics) This book deserves no less than 10 stars,it is so funny because of its cast of characters. They range from a fish genious to a big mean giant squid. But the top character has to be Hawethorne the hermit crab who seems to endlessly take advantage of Sherman the shark. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One word describes the book--------FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY----OK, that's three words.

This is a really fun compilation. They did a great job selecting the cartoons for this one. If they start a thread, they finish it.

I love these - such a fun spot on the comics page. Hawthorne reminds us that sneaky lives everywhere.

Pat Brady is a very expressive artist and I absolutely love these comic strips!

This book is one collection of the Rose is Rose comic strips that should be running on your newspaper. Buy it to see what you are missing.

If you bought this Rose Is Rose book then you've probably purchased some previous books. If not, then what are you waiting for?! This book reminds us that life does not always have to be so grim. We all share humanity. This comically reminds us that life is a treasure and we should value it like gold. You will love this book, as I do. Enjoy your reading.

Though my local paper does not get this strip, even I can tell that it has recently blossomed. In its earlier stages it seemed cutsie and corny, now that Pasquale is talking, and Rose's alter-egos are in full gear, we are full experiencing the world of this adorable family. Roses frequent meetings with her ladybig, Pasquales guardian angels slip ups and Jimbo's constant teasing (Pasquale! Did you remember to pay the moon bill?") have kept me laughing and sympathizing. A strip to go down in history.

Although I admit to being a long time Calvin and Hobbes fan, I have to say that I've grown to prefer Rose is Rose. I love the strip and all of it's sweetness - even selfish cousin Clem. I've seen a lot of people compare this strip to Calvin but I have to say that Pasquale holds his own. While Calvin and his father have anything but a loving relationship, Pasquale worships his father and the teasing between the two is always a gentle sort.

For anyone who loves a family strip without biting sarcasm this is the book for you.

Have you ever felt like you stood out from the crowd? Like you were so strange and different, that people couldn't help but stare? Lately, Aimee's been getting that feeling all the time. Yes, she's a fangirl from California who has the ability to detect all things cute. She loves dolls, drawing, manga, and video games. In her spare time, Aimee and her friends like to cosplay, which is making costumes and dressing up as your favorite anime or video game character. But none of these things are the reason that Aimee stands out like a sore thumb. Aimee's 6' tall and, while that's not such a big deal in California, when you're visiting Japan, you might as well be Godzilla.

When you're 6' tall and in Japan, you tower over almost everyone else. People might mistake you for a monster out of a Godzilla movie. You don't always fit in every bathroom stall. Losing your luggage on the flight is a big deal, because finding cloths your height is almost impossible. People are scared to share a hot springs pool with you. And dressing up as a geisha means you need two people and a chair just to put on a wig.

Aimee's determined to have a good time while she's visiting Japan. It's her dream to see Kyoto, home of traditional Japanese culture, and Tokyo, a city that's all about the future. Along the way, she and her friends, A.J. and Judy, visit temples, watch musicals, get lost on the trains, cosplay in Harajuka, and adopt a doll. Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan is Aimee's sketchbook journal of the entire trip.

Cute. Simple. A lovely guide book to one girl's adventures in Japan. So don't look for millions of pages of details. This is about her and her two friends and their journey to the VOLKS store in Tokyo by way of Kyoto. The cartoonist happens to also be six feet tall. It is a sketchbook and guide to many of Japan's little delights and, sometimes, tiny problems. It has a glossary and a appendix of websites of hotels, food places, stores and so on.

"Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan" is the "story" (the term is used loosely here) of Aimee Major Steinberger's trip to Japan to visit her favorite doll maker. Along the way she goes to temples, tries strange foods, and does everything a good tourist should do. And she makes notes and sketches of it all, which she puts together into this book.

Aimee's style is distinctive: passionately cute, acknowledging a manga influence without kowtowing to it as so many would-be Japanese imitators do. Although most of the book is done in this cartoony style, a handful of more realistic sketches of people and animals suggest a versatile talent at work.

The book is not, nor is it intended to be, a penetrating social commentary on Japan, but Aimee does have an eye for what makes the country unique, interesting, and above all, fun, and she evokes these things memorably. Readers who are already familiar with Japanese culture will not find many surprises here, but they will find a kindred spirit, and readers without that cultural knowledge will get a personable introduction. In a word, good times all around.

~

Seriously love this book. It's a fun account of Ms. Major Steinberger's travels in Japan. Not only are you taken through her own experiences as a foreigner, but you're also given little cultural tidbits that are just as interesting. Plus, the illustrations are fabulous. I look forward to more from Aimee in the future.

I purchased this book because I had heard of it in a chat forum and was already familiar with the author/artist. Most books don't keep my interest long enough to get through the book in a day or two, but this was impossible to put down. Aimee's lovely sketches and playful comments kept me laughing at the turn of every page. Her useful information will fuel anyone dreaming of a trip to Japan into setting the date after reading this book. I am excited to visit the places she mentions and share in the wonderful experiences she wrote about.
What a brilliantly lighthearted way to address the ups and downs of tourism.

A+

Is nothing more compelling than the JSA?? I mean come on! This book is so sweet, I got diabetes from reading it!

I got to say I'm absoluetly loving Goyer on JSA. He really gets you to like the characters and he has seemed to master what is so great about the JSA they aren't about conflict like the JLA but, they are a family. And with that being said Goyer has managed to balance all the characters on the team and make you want to know more about each one. I reccomand this to anyone but, do yourself a favor and pick up the first two trades first.

A little unexpected, but he wasn't going to stay gone forever. It was handled quite well, and made Hawkman a more interesting character, who I started following. Thus, it certainly did what it set out to do, in that it made me want to read Hawkman again afer such a long time.

DC went crazy in the 1990s. Thinking that all their characters have become too archaic for the cutting-edged tastes of today's readers, they systematically set out to eliminate all their "old" characters and replace them with "new" characters. Thus we have all the big "events" of the 1990s - the "death" of Superman (to be replaced by FOUR Supermen - and finally the original returned with long hair), the "maiming" of Batman (to be replaced by a psychotic, badly-drawn Jean Paul Valley), the "defeat" of Wonder Woman and the "amputation" of Aquaman.

And there were the "events". Underworld Unleashed. Zero Hour. Final Night. Day of Judgment. Our Worlds At War. Joker's Last Laugh. etc. etc. Mega-crossovers that involve a million titles.

Here in this book, we have DC doing what DC should have been doing. Silver-Age storytelling with a modern sense of the epic. Goyer and Johns here stick to the "comic-characters-as-absurd-heroic-visions" view of past-writers like John Broome and Gardner Fox. There are no attempts here to force the characters to become unneccessarily "adult" ala' the pretentious Vertigo attempts. The characters here dress and talk like comic characters. And that's what they should always have been. And finally, no crossovers. The whole saga happened within ONE title - JSA.

Of course, as the title implies, Hawkman returns. And what an awe-inspiring scene that was. I still get that familiar tingle down my spine looking at that full-page blast of Carter Hall resurrected and proclaiming, "Arise, my once and future love!" And his return was just in time too. As the JSA then rush off to face Onimarr Synn.

Finally, there is that JSA meeting at the end of the story. Hawkman is back. And they do a little re-examination of what the JSA stands for - "Young Justice and the Titans, they look up to the Justice League. But the Justice League... they look up to US!" That's what the JSA is all about - LEGACY, what with being the original super-team in human history.

GET THIS BOOK! THEN GET THE HAWKMAN : ENDLESS FLIGHT TPB ALSO!

I have never been much of a JSA fan, or of any of the older character's like Alan Scott (formely known as Green Lantern, now known as Sentinel), Jay Garrick (the first Flash), or Sandy Hawkins (originally Sandy the Golden Boy, now Sand). Then I picked up this book just cause it had been written by David Goyer (who wrote the three "Blade" movies) and my whole perspective of the JSA changed forever. The story was excellent, the character's are incredible (especially the reformed Black Adam), and the artwork is amazing. This has to be one of my top 10 favorite comic stories (Marvel and DC put together) of all time, and I highly recommend this book to any comic lover.

Its nice to have these graphic novels so as not to ruin the orig1nal comicbook versions. Of course these are nice collectibles too! for those insatiable KISS fans!

This book contains issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Kiss Psycho Circus comic book. Three stories are told: 'The Witching of Adam Moon', 'Nature of the Beast', and 'Smoke & Mirrors'. All of the stories are very compelling to read, especially if you are into dark fantasy or horror. Issue # 3 is my favorite in this book. (Although the entrance of the character Kismet in issues # 4-6 is a welcome addition, not to mention Madame Raven's backstory.)

You do not need to be a fan of the band in order to fully enjoy this book, but fans of the band will enjoy all of the hidden Kiss references. Brian Holguin is one of the best comic book writers in the business and he works very well with Angel Medina/Kevin Conrad. Their visual storytelling style is excellent. Go visit the circus, you won't regret it.

I thought they did an excellent job on this book. I can't wait for book 2. The artwork is spectacular. The storytelling was good, but the overall story was slightly lacking. My biggest complaint was that it was too short. I need more. So raise your glasses to the crew that put all the hard work into this one... Buy it.

You wanted the best you got the best! It's a f***ing great comicbook. See ya at the Psycho Circus tour '99

This book includes issues # 7, 8, 9 and 18 of the awesome comic book Kiss Psycho Circus. Each issue is a one shot story that can be read by anyone- fan of the band or not. (Issue # 9 contains the great origin story!)

Brian Holguin really knows how to write compelling tales, and Angel Medina and Kevin Conrad work really well together as far as the art goes. The art in the last issue is by Clayton Crain, the current penciller. Great art + Great Stories = Must have book!

Security guard (in front of a bar): "You goin' in here, Gaunt?"
Gaunt: "Yeah."
Security guard: "There gonna be a fight?"
Gaunt: "Maybe."
Security guard: "Guess I better move then."

Damn, I love GRIMJACK! With this comic book it's always been hard for me to properly convey my feelings without resorting to cuss words, I get so into it. I was a mere teen when I first picked up GRIMJACK, and I was simply blown away by the title's flawed, world-weary anti-hero and by the fantastic concept of Cynosure. Grimjack is the street name of John Gaunt, a nasty, surly, grizzled mercenary for hire. Grimjack is a bit past his prime (he's in his 50s), but he makes up for that with vast experience, street savvy, and an implacable streak of ruthlessness. Oh, and he fights dirty.

John Gaunt is one of the most tortured souls in comics, and the man can certainly brood with the best of them. We learn why as, thru the course of GRIMJACK's run, Ostrander unveils Gaunt's sordid past and recounts the tragedies what slapped the poor bloke upside the head. Gaunt's seen everything. He's an ex-everything: an ex-gladiator (from boyhood), an ex-soldier, ex-temporal bounty hunter, ex-transdimensional cop, ex-spy...His base of operations is the dubious Munden's Bar, located on the lip of the Pit, the most murderous part of Cynosure. And, sure, Grimjack swishes a stylish cape and sports a purple beret, but there's no foo-foo in this cold-blooded killer. He's no-nonsense meat and potatoes, charnelhouse mean and alley cat vicious. He's not exactly a swell guy, but he's faithful to his friends and rigorously follows his own code of honor.

Equally instrumental to the series' popularity and success are the grimy, dank Munden's Bar and the wondrous Cynosure metropolis, these two venues being characters in their own right. Munden's continues to reflect Gaunt's melancholy nature, while Cynosure, the nexus of all dimensions and realities, presents Ostrander and Truman (and Grimjack) with an endless and exotic playground in which to romp. In these stories, steampunk technology tends to bump heads with eldritch sorcery. Because of the nature of Cynosure, GRIMJACK presents a mishmash of genres, ranging from swashbuckling adventure, to film noir, to sword & sorcery and sci-fi, to western, then horror, and even comedy. Naturally, a dash of the hard-boiled is peppered throughout.

A brief history: GRIMJACK started out as a backup feature to First Comics' STARSLAYER series. But it wasn't long before John Gaunt bullied his way into his own series. GRIMJACK's monthly issues ran from 1984 to 1991, for a total of 81 issues, after which its publisher First Comics went bankrupt and placed this title in hideous red tape. It's only been since 2005 that co-creators John Ostrander and Tim Truman were able to wrest back the rights to GRIMJACK.

The fallout to this is that, not only are we being treated to new Grimjack stories, but there's also the release of THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK volumes, which collects the regular series' entire run (it's up to 9 volumes now). THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1 collects the 8 Grimjack backup stories in the short-lived STARSLAYER series (from #10-17), as well as STARSLAYER #18, which guest-stars John Gaunt in the main story. Here in these initial tales is where we first meet Gaunt's fellow merc and staunch buddy BlacJacMac, Gaunt's gruff ex-partner cop Roscoe Schumacher, that unmatched barkeep Gordon, and, of course, the popular and ever inebriated Bob the Watch Lizard.

With GRIMJACK, writer John Ostrander's always had the knack for seamlessly meshing a hardboiled approach with crisp dialogue and fast-paced narration. He knows how to make the weird and the fantastic seem normal in Gaunt's environment. A pulp flavor colors Gaunt's adventures. There's a taste here of Burroughs and R.E. Howard, of Lovecraft, and Raymond Chandler, as well. In these pages you can just about see the rapid improvement in Tim Truman's artwork, originally vigorous and raw but then speedily metamorphosing into more polished but still energetic illustrations. For THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1, eight new pages are constructed to frame the stories. Those curious to see the evolution of Truman's art need no further than to compare these eight pages to the early issues. But it must be noted that Truman's rendition of John Gaunt was so immediately definitive that Ostrander, as he mentions in his foreword, didn't hesitate to hand over co-creatorship honors to Truman. At 128 pages, this volume also comes with three forewords, respectively by Ostrander, Truman, and longtime editor Mike Gold. If you're a Grimjack junkie, these are revealing must reads.

Finally, you know you're doing something righteous when Roger Zelazny declares himself a fan.

SPOILERS here.

Here are the stories reprinted in THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1:

"Mortal Gods" (2 parts) - Grimjack is hired to search for a missing God. He finds Him in a bar.
"Buried Past" - (5 parts) - This one details Gaunt's relentless pursuit of a mysterious vampire. Character developments galore as we first learn of Gaunt's lost love, of the devastated land of Pdwyr, and of Gaunt's espionage days at the Cadre.
"Night of the Killer Bunnies" - Holy Poot! John Gaunt grimly trains cute talking animals in waging war against homicidal wabbits. He gets paid in funny money.
"Blood and Thunder" - During a rescue mission Grimjack encounters Torin MacQuillon, the Starslayer.

The only reason that this gets 4 stars instead of five is that the books aren't as solid as I remember them being. Still, if you are a fan of Grimjack (as I am), this collection is for you. I hadn't read any of these books in well over a decade (probably closer to 20 years), and they are not as great as I remember them, but they are still pretty darn good. Grimjack is a cool character in a cool universe with cool stories... there is a Frank MIller-esque appreciation for noirish action and dialogue that will entertain anyone who liked Sin City. Enjoy!

I was overjoyed to hear about this publication. Taking the fabulous Grimjack series and making it available again to all. This has a quite lengthy and interesting introduction into the various trials, tribulations and stuff-ups along the way.

A very nice book, and looks great. Grimjack in all his glory from the start. John Gaunt is a troubleshooter or sword for hire, operating out of a bar in Cynosure, a city where many planes of reality meet, and anything might be seen. An ex-arena fighter, ex-demon fighting soldier, he now tries to get by and do the right thing.

This also includes a bonus new story done by the old team.

Grimjack was the book for me back in my college days. When First Comics (the book's original publisher) folded, the character and his universe fell into a sort of legal limbo. Now, I'm gratified to see that it's back, with new stories and this fine collection of reprints for you young whippersnappers to get caught up.
The eight-page introduction story (mainly consisting of familiar characters saying "welcome back") lets the old-time fans know that they were missed as much as they missed the book. It also gives the reader a chance to see how Tim Truman's art has evolved from the early days in the back pages of "Starslayer". Those stories are collected here, with the book ending in a crossover with the parent title, which is the weakest part of the book. One gets the impression that it was included for the sake of completeness only.
Ostrander shows considerable depth as a storyteller, especially in light of the limited space he had to work with at this point in time. The stories move forward briskly without ever feeling rushed. John Gaunt's internal monolgue is pitch-perfect, a steady voice of reason in a city where reality is markedly unreasonable.
Any fan of good adventure comics should start collecting Grimjack. Scroll up. Do clicky thing. Major credit cards accepted.

It seems amazing to me that it has been so long, but there it is. The Legend of Grimjack is staring at me, and I'm transported back to the early 80's and my halcyon days of comic book collecting as a young teen. I had broken out of the spell my mother had laid upon that kept me reading Richie Rich and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories well beyond when I should have, and I'd discovered not only Marvel and DC superhero comics but a wonderful world of alternative titles put out by smaller publishers. Grimjack was one of the first ones I discovered, and I was immediately hooked. The hero: a taciturn and scarred mercenary based out of a place that offered up a touch of just about any kind of genre you wanted since it was a multi-dimensional time and place - the city of Cynosure.
The Legend of Grimjack presents all of the original Grimjack stories in their original order and presentation, in color. I bought this collection when I saw the hardbound offered on an auction site and I didn't want to pay the exorbitant price they were asking. This collection is the same as the hardbound but in a trade paperback/graphic novel type format and I do not think it suffers in any way for being cheaper.
Twenty years later, Grimjack still seems just as well written and illustrated as it did to me back then. Many of the other comics from that era that I was entranced with have not held up nearly as well! Truman and Ostrander's work is well presented here and there's also the promise of new Grimjack stories to be released (I believe they have been released already in single issue format, with trade soon to come.)
The overall genre is certainly sci-fi, but there's (as I said) just about any flavor you could want and all of them are well done. I highly recommend this. It stands up to any hero book of the same era, and far surpasses many of them. First-rate stuff! (pun intended)