Grim #18: Life and Death in a Saloon
Creative Team
writer: STEPHANIE PHILLIPS
artist: FLAVIANO ARMENTARO
colorist: RICO RENZI
letterer: TOM NAPOLITANO
publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Grim #18 cleverly combines commentary on ethics with western themes for an experience that unexpectedly gives readers a new character to root for.
Harold was once a morally gray gunslinger before “Life” took an interest in him. Hundreds of years later, Harold is cursed with long life in an experiment to see where the scales of morality end up.
Written by Stephanie Phillips, the script for this issue has magnificent pacing and cleverly weaves multiple plot threads together. As of the previous issue, Jessica Harrow (a reaper who ferries souls to the afterlife) has faced numerous challenges since Death was destroyed and reaper Annabelle released “Original Sin” into the world. In this latest arc, Phillips has maneuvered backstories of characters with the overarching plot development incredibly well and this issue is no exception.
While the story of Grim has been entertaining, Phillips creates such an exciting backstory to Harold in the first half of the issue that will likely leave readers enticed and wanted to know more about the pistol wielding invincible man.
The tough persona of Harold is lifted off of the page from illustrator Flaviano with the western flashback serving as some of the coolest moments in the issue. In addition to the excellent character and page designs, the colors from Rico Renzi add rich depth to the pages—especially in scenes where light floods in from bullet holes in a dusty saloon.
As mentioned in previous reviews, the narrative of Grim lately has focused on world building and filling in backstories of different characters. While this may not work for some series, Phillips’ gamble in having character driven issues pays off readers are given deep stories with interesting lore. While issue 18 may not have the same emotional punch as issue 17, this entry is definitely worth reading .
Final Verdict
This issue isn’t just an excellent entry, but its layers reward readers who take time to experience it multiple times. Regardless if readers are familiar with this series or brand new, this entry serves as an excellent jumping-on point. Not only is this issue a captivating read—it fluidly provides context on the story so far and explores one of the toughest members of the Grim universe.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.5 |
| Story/Plot | 9.5 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.5 |
| Colors | 9.5 |
| Final Score | 9.5/10 |