GHOST IN
THE SHELL

		Review by Christos N. Gage
WILL YOU? TIP JAR FIGHT CENSORSHIP SUPPORT CBLDF GRENDEL: DEVIL'S LEGACY - 2002 by Matt Wagner and the Pander Bros. Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse continues its Grendel series with this re-issue of GRENDEL: DEVIL'S LEGACY. Written by Matt Wagner (GRENDEL, MAGE I & II), the creator of Grendel character, the twelve-part "Devil's Legacy" tells the story of Christina Spar, the "granddaughter" of the original Grendel, Hunter Rose.

Spar is actually the daughter of Hunter's adopted daughter, who gave birth to Christina while she was institutionalized in a mental asylum after being sexually abused by her doctor. In a sense, this results in a sort of trilogy of the Grendel storyline, though Christina's mother never actually takes up the Grendel persona.

In this story, Christina is a well-known author who penned a book about her grandfather. After she and her son attend a kabuki performance by Tujiro XIV, her son is suddenly abducted. She soon learns Tojiro and his men are behind the abduction, and she fears the strange Tojiro is actually some kind of vampire.

Hmmm... Didn't we see something similar to this 2 years later in the SPIDER-MAN movie?

Christina steals the legendary mask and trademark electrified fork Hunter Rose used and travels to Canada, the site of Tujiro's next performance. Unfortuantely she makes some grave discoveries, and knows there is only one way to put a stop to Tujiro's abductions for good.

Meanwhile, Hunter Rose's ancient enemy, Argent the Wolf, learns of this reappearance of Grendel. He involves himself in the case in Canada as the body count stacks up, and brings in Christina's friends Ginny and Brian Li Sung (who serves as the love interest in the story).

The story moves along at a fair clip as Christina must not only justify her actions to both herself and Brian, but she first must battle through the nuisances of the police and the frustrations of Tujiro's powers before she can learn to defeat him. Ultimately she confronts Argent in the climax, serving as a wrap-up to the trilogy and the Grendel legacy itself (at least of the original Grendel line - the rest of the Grendel series take place further in the future).

Wagner could probably have trimmed the series by a few issues, with some pointless back-and-forth stuff that didn't need to happen, but there are some great sequences and scenes. The standout issue for me is number 9, in which Christina hunts down Detective Dominic Riley due to his poor treatment of Brian and his possible corruption and involvement with Argent. The entire issue is told in silent form, and we follow Dominic and his panicked flight as she stalks him through the city. Great stuff.

The series is illustrated by the Pander Brothers (XXX, ACCELERATE), whose artwork I am not terribly fond of (I am! They kick ass! -feo).

They've got a good style as far as figures and bodies, but their faces, particularly the more intense expressions like pain and anger, are too cartoony and goofy for my tastes. Some of their action sequences leave something to desire, as we often see characters in more or less impossible contortions as they're fighting one another (Yes! YES! The Panders ROCK! -feo). The laws of physics also don't appear to apply, as often we see characters locked up, then suddenly apart from one another. This isn't the superhero stuff where we've got teleporters and rubber men zipping around, guys.

Overall though it's a decent work. Wagner's solid storytelling comes through, and his painted covers are very cool.

I give the series three rabid fanboys.

This review copyright 2001 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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