So with GrimJack: Manx Cat #2 coming out a couple of weeks ago, I'm once again getting my kicks by going through the issues and seeing what John Ostrander and Timothy Truman tell us about GrimJack (aka John Gaunt) and the world he inhabits over the course of the mini-series. This isn't a perfect investigation of what a first-time reader could learn, since I'm very familiar with GrimJack, but I'm going to try my best to look at it from the perspective of a new reader, albeit one who knows there's a plenty of history already established.
Page 1 - GrimJack tends to be unfriendly towards people when he's in a bad mood. The unfriendliness tends to include threats of violence or other unpleasant acts, though they don't impress Gordon or Goethe much. Probably not idle threats, since panel 5 shows Gaunt's hand holding the handle of his sword as he talks to Goethe.
Page 2 - Gaunt will put aside hard feelings towards someone if they're willing to pay. He doesn't jump to conclusions about who stole the Cat away from Goethe (away Gaunt had stolen it and given it to Goethe), or doesn't voice conclusions if he has any. Gordon says Gaunt's loved ones tend to die. Gaunt makes no response.
Page 3 - Lots of info. Gaunt agrees with Gordon. Gaunt was close with Gordon's ex-wife, a Jo Chaney. She sold Munden's to Gaunt to spite Gordon. She became a vampire to spite Gaunt. Gaunt staked her (Why did Chaney want to spite anyone?). Gaunt makes references to a 'Demon Wars', a 'doomed land of Pdwyr' and a 'Rhian' (What are those?). Gaunt feels only those you let in can hurt you, so best to keep everyone out, but he can't. Also, wherever he is, there are multiple worlds visible in the night sky, some large enough continents can be seen. Gaunt's also walking with his sword drawn, and looking over his shoulder at one point (Why?).
Page 4 - Gaunt knows people who have information, and knows how to get them to divulge it. His main snitch is named Feetus, a legless Demon wars vet. Gaunt has a friend known as BlacJacMac, or BlacJac, who has a mercenary army. Like Gaunt, BlacJac fought in the Arena. BlacJac knows how to fight (we see at least two beings running away, and another four lay bloodied on the ground around BlacJac). BlacJac, like Gaunt, Gordon, and most everyone else, smokes.
Page 5 - BlacJac doesn't take kindly to people attempting to mug him. He also has a new girlfriend named Goddess. He has sufficient awareness to know Gaunt's being followed (Gaunt knows it too). Wherever they are, there are odd, pink, vaguely dragon-like vermin that scrounge through garbage.
Page 6 - BlacJac likes to give Gaunt a hard time about being old, and about being ugly.
Page 7 - BlacJac's willing to follow Gaunt's lead. They both have enough control to not start firing immediately, preferring to ask questions first. Clones are common enough where they are that someone is as likely to be one as to be someone's son. It is not unheard of for repo men to use guns. Lots of garbage wherever they are.
Page 8 - Johnny Aristo hired these particular repo men to retrieve the Manx Cat from Gaunt. They're large, poorly defined faces, and at least one has a bird leg.
Page 9 - Gaunt grasps things quickly, as Hab needs him to retrieve the Cat, so Hab can take it, but since Gaunt doesn't have it, Hab can't kill him. BlacJac works on the same frequency as Gaunt, and just as quickly (they're both shooting in the bottom panel). Gaunt's not above using human shields.
Page 10 - Gaunt's a fair shot with a handgun (three shots fired in panel 2, two hits that we see in panel 3, though the distance is unknown). Not actually using Rehab very effectively as a shield, since he's holding him patrially off to the side (is it to keep Rehab from kicking his gun away?). In what may be a jab at Wanted, one of the soon to be dead mopes in panel 1 says they need to shoot around Rehab by curving the bullet or something. That doesn't actually tell us anything, I just thought it was funny and wanted to mention it.
Page 11 - Gaunt's fairly strong (throws Rehab hard enough that the impact knocks Hab over).
Page 12 - Gaunt's doesn't feel it necessary to kill everyone who attacked him (Why?). But if Hab isn't smart enough to take Gaunt up on the offer, he might do it after all.
Page 13 - Gaunt was born in 'the Pit' (don't know what that is). Raised in the Arena (discussed last issue). He survived the Demon Wars (obviously, but what were they, besides wars involving demons presumably?). He chased 'the Dancer down to Hell' (don't know who the Dancer is, and Hell metaphorically or literally? He mentioned demons so it could be literal Hell). He describes himself as the 'last man in the multiverse you want on your ass.' So there's a multiverse, somewhere. Also, his eyes were previously depicted as blue, white your standard white sclera around it. As he says all this, his eyes are narrowed, and completely black. Iris, pupil, sclera, all of it black, save a tiny circle of blue in what is probably the pupil. Not sure if that's significant, or just really cool. I know it's the latter, but it could also be the former.
Page 14 - BlacJac prefers the more direct approach of killing people who trouble him. Feels Gaunt was doing PR work. Last month, I mentioned that Munden's doesn't accept tourbots. Now we learn what they are. A person can have their mind placed in the trashcan shaped mobile thing, and travel places while their body is safe elsewhere. Gaunt considers them a plague upon 'Cynosure'. Gaunt can appreciate ingenuity. Also, graffiti on a wall informs us 'Tucker Lives'. Not sure if this is relevant, but letting you know just in case.
Page 15 - Lots of people after the Manx Cat, including Mr. Tourbot, a Jean Loire, who wants to work with Gaunt. Gaunt won't discuss business in the street, and won't discuss it with a tourbot. Munden's Bar is located on the lip of The Pit. BlacJac doesn't like tourbots either.
Page 16 - Gaunt's served in regular armies. Note that's plural. BlacJac apparently is the kind of leader that inspires loyalty, maybe because he keeps his army well supplied. Feetus has a floating platform he sits on. He and BlacJac, drink what might be beer. Might be soda, or maybe canned milk.
Page 17 - Goddess, who Feetus can find nothing about, makes her appearance. BlacJac has people who'd like to kill him. He likes to do his research on people.
Page 18 - Goddess finds Gaunt interesting looking. Interesting looking enough to inquire if he'd like to join her and BlacJac sometime (legitimate offer or playing off their insecurities?). The fellows both decline. Feetus apparently not interesting looking enough to receive similar offer, but not troubled by it.
Page 19 - Feetus concurs with Gaunt's assessment last month: Darlin' Lil is an aristo who steals from aristos. Doesn't sell her spoils where others do. Goddess says the Manx Cat dates back to chaotic gods and the dawn of creation. Also interprets rumble of thunder as her father calling. Leaves abruptly.
Page 20 - BlacJac's still busting on Gaunt's age. Gaunt mocks Feetus' normal living arrangements. Gaunt uses cops for information, namely Roscoe. Doesn't think him hitting Roscoe, or Roscoe throwing him in jail will get in the way of business.
Page 21 - Roscoe, unlike Commissioner Gordon, knows when a shadowy figure enters the room. How? Don't know. Roscoe calls being paid for info his retirement fund, but doesn't plan on retiring to take a pay cut.
Page 22 - Gaunt won't give information away for free if he has to pay for info. Lil lives in the Sherman-Helmsley Plaza. The elevator operator is reminiscent of Droopy. Lil's family has what Gaunt describes as 'old money'. In this place, one can buy pocket dimensions and attach them to the floor of the hotel one lives on. Gaunt's sensing things again.
Page 23 - Robots exist, as servants at least. Is it near Halloween, a jack o'lantern sits next to the door, looks fresh as well. One robo-servant is like something out of Gone with the Wind, or a similar piece from that period.
Page 24 - Robots may be servants, may be old and in need of repair, but can still have sense of humor. Gaunt doesn't have anymore trouble fighting robots than he did against Hab and the repo boys. The robots release dust (smoke?) when damaged. Is it engines burning out, a soul or animating spirit escaping (hey, we know magic exists, why not), or are they just so old they were about to crumble anyway.
Page 25 - Gaunt's cape has seen some action, as there's at least one patch sewed onto it near the end (see panel 1). Again with limited force, as he takes out the two attacking droids with one hit each, and leaves the other one (which hadn't attacked) alone.
Page 26 - Is Gaunt imagining the shadows we see in panels 3-7, or are they really there? Either way, shadows don't bother him.
Page 27 - Lil sleeps with the Cat, and with a sword next to her bed. She's not sleeping well, and Gaunt recognizes that kind of sleep, and knows why he has nights like that. Again, trying to be restrained with force, not going for revenge on Lil for all this trouble. Just grab the Cat and leave quietly.
Learned a bit more about GrimJack this time, though it's not really in any order, and a lot of the specifics are absent.
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