GrimJack

Superherobox|

caption=GrimJack #1
Art by Timothy Truman
comic_color=background:#c0c0c
character_name=GrimJack
real_name=John Gaunt / James Twilley
publisher=First Comics / IDW Publishing
debut=Starslayer #10
creators=John Ostrander
Timothy Truman
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
status=active
alliances=
previous_alliances=Cadre, TDP, Lawkillers
aliases=Grinner
relatives=
powers=Sensitivity to magic |

GrimJack is the main character of a comic book published by First Comics. John Ostrander and Timothy Truman are credited as co-creators of the character, although Ostrander had been developing Grimjack with artist Lenin Delsol before Truman's arrival on the project (according to Ostrander's own text piece in "GJ" #75; in that same essay, the writer also revealed having initially conceived the character to be the star of a series of prose stories, set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago).

GrimJack is the street name of John Gaunt, a sword-for-hire, ex-paramilitary, war veteran and ex-child gladiator. He operates from Munden's Bar in the Pit, a slum area of Cynosure, a pan-dimensional city to which all dimensions connect.

The character

John Gaunt

John Gaunt, alias GrimJack, was born in The Pit, a slum area of the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure, where both magic and technology, humans and aliens intermingle. Sentenced to fight in the Arena of Cynosure at age eight, he joined one of the gangs of child warriors called "Wolfpacs." Gaunt went on to fight in the arena for thirteen years. During that time, Gaunt went by the name of "Grinner" and was known as the second-best fighter in the arena, behind the flashier Dancer.

Gaunt escaped the Arena and found peace for a time when he found refuge in the dimension of Pdwyr, where he met the love of his life, a woman named Rhian. His inner demons got the better of him when he met Major Lash, who convinced him to come back to Cynosure and fight off the invasion of the city by Hell itself. Gaunt went on to fight in the Demon Wars, and was thus unable to prevent the invasion of Pdwyr by Hell, and the death of all those he loved, including Rhian. Following the end of the War, Gaunt joined the Major's group of temporal bounty hunters, the Lawkillers.

GrimJack later left the Lawkillers and joined the Trans-Dimensional Police, Cynosure's police department. Upon quitting the TDP, he was enlisted as the first member of Cadre, a spy agency of the Cynosure government. After the events detailed in the "GrimJack: Killer Instinct" storyline, he abandoned Cadre and set himself up as a mercenary and private investigator in Cynosure. At some point he purchased the bar known as Munden's, apparently named after bartender Gordon Munden.

The GrimJack clone

During a bloody conflict with the Lawkillers, John Gaunt managed to kill two of Major Lash's men, Preacher and Grunt, but turned his back on Lash, disgusted with the senseless bloodshed and murder, including the revelation that the enemy he had killed months ago was his biological son. Lash seized this opportunity and killed GrimJack. Gaunt was shocked to find himself in Heaven, where he was reunited with his former love, Rhian. He was informed that for all his faults, he always stood by his friends, and for that he was judged worthy. But he soon discovers that Dancer has reanimated Gaunt's corpse in order to murder his friend Blackjacmac. Gaunt is horrified at this, as Blackjacmac would go to Hell if he were to die at this point in his life. Forfeiting a peaceful Afterlife, but continuing to act for the benefit of those he called friends, Gaunt animated a clone body of himself, returning to Cynosure as a younger clone of himself, although without legal rights.

James Twilley

Having willingly abandoned Heaven to save the soul of a friend, Gaunt found himself barred both from Heaven and from Hell. Upon the undisclosed death of his clone, he discovers that he is now condemned to cycle of deaths and rebirths until the city of Cynosure itself ceases to exist.

GrimJack was reborn as James Edgar Twilley, the son of a rich Cynosure family. Initially unaware of his past life, Twilley began remembering it when he witnessed a thug murdering a jock who bullied him in high school. As his past life returned to him, Twilley murdered the thug, and marked himself with the trademark GrimJack scar of his previous life. Twiley went underground, disappearing from his family and friends as he set about re-learning his past skills. When he was ready, Twilley showed up at Munden's, and using a clause written into the ownership contract of the bar, claimed his identity as well as the bar. Sometime later, his family, distraught over the changes that their son has undergone, kidnapped him and forced him into a personality restructuring therapy to erase the troubling memories, but when presented with a copy of John Gaunt as supposed proof that Twilley's memories were false, he flew in a frenzy and ripped out the Gaunt copy's throat with his teeth.

Discovering his family's manipulations, James Edgar Twilley left his family, assumed once again the street name of GrimJack with Munden's Bar as his base of operations.

James Twilley died in issue #81 of "GrimJack", concluding First Comics' run.

Other incarnations

A few other incarnations of GrimJack have been hinted at by the series creators, including FutureJack, a GrimJack incarnation from the far future who tries to murder Gaunt before the curse of rebirth can befall him. Although these have never seen print, Ostrander hinted at a "GrimJack in Hell" story, as well as the possibility of one incarnation featuring GrimJack as a twin brother.

There are currently no plans for stories featuring other incarnations of GrimJack, although Ostrander and Truman have not denied the interest.

upporting characters

:"See List of GrimJack supporting characters"

Influence of GrimJack in other published works

Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Roger Zelazny was a GrimJack fan and paid homage to the character in his series The Chronicles of Amber:
* In the fourth chapter of his 1986 Amber novel "Blood of Amber", Zelazny introduced a character named "Old John" who is remarkably similar in appearance to John Gaunt. In the letters column of "GrimJack" issue #35 (June, 1987) a letter from Chuck Wilson describes "Old John," and John Ostrander replies by complimenting Zelazny and inviting him to write in. Zelazny did, and his response stating that he had been a GJ fan since #1 was published in "GrimJack" #39 (October, 1987) along with Ostrander's uncharacteristically but understandably giddy response.
* Zelazny later contributed the introduction to the GJ graphic novel "Demon Knight".
* In the short story "The Shroudling and the Guisel", published after Zelazny died of lung cancer in June of 1995, in "Amberzine" #8, November 1995, Zelazny refers to GJ by name: "I stood among the grave markers of unknown mortals — Dennis Colt, Remo Williams, John Gaunt — and swore to be her champion if ever she needed one." (This story was later reprinted in the Zelazny anthology, "Manna from Heaven".)

Publication History

"Starslayer"

"GrimJack" began as a back-up feature in issue 10 of the comic book "Starslayer". The character of GrimJack was created by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman, but the setting, in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure, predates the character.

The "GrimJack" backup story was very popular with the readers of "Starslayer", and First Comics decided to give the character his own title. The GrimJack back-up story ran from issue 10 to 17. GrimJack guest-starred in the main "Starslayer" story in issue 18, in July 1984.

"GrimJack"

Issue #1 of "GrimJack" was published by First Comics in August 1984, and ran until issue #81, in April 1991. Artists who worked on the series included Timothy Truman, Sam Grainger, Tom Mandrake, Jim McDermott, Steve Pugh, Tom Sutton and Flint Henry.

Throughout its run, with the exception of a few full-length issues (as well as #60 with its expanded letter column), "GrimJack" featured a back-up story in the manner of other First Comics series. From issue 2 to 69, the backstory was titled "Munden's Bar", a comical, episodic retelling of the events at the eponymous bar, owned by GrimJack. The story brought a small amount of fame to the series for its occasional guest stars, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Starting with issue 70 a new back-up feature began, as John Ostrander felt that "Munden's Bar" was getting too far away from his original intent and he suspended it for reworking. In its place was his own serial entitled "Youngblood", drawn by Steve Pugh. Not to be confused with the Image comic of the same name, this told the story of John Gaunt's troubled childhood, via flashbacks from a point in Gaunt's life prior to his first published appearance in "Starslayer", but after the Demon Wars (told in the lead feature in issues 66-69). It concluded in issue #81.

Although one of First Comics' most popular titles, after the company declared bankruptcy, it did not make it into print again before 2005.

"Demon Knight"

Published by First Comics in 1990, "Demon Knight" is a stand-alone graphic novel featuring the James Twilley incarnation of GrimJack, going back in time to the Demon Wars to try and change his fate. Although a stand-alone, the story ties in thematically with the "Demon Wars" flashback storyline taking place in issues 66-69.

"GrimJack Casefiles"

Running from November 1990 to March 1991, "GrimJack Casefiles" reprints the "Starslayer" back-up story, as well as the first issues of the "GrimJack" series. It ran a total of 5 issues.

"GrimJack: Killer Instinct"

Following the original creators of GrimJack getting back the rights to the character out of legal limbo, John Ostrander and Timothy Truman teamed up again to publish "GrimJack: Killer Instinct", a 6-issues miniseries published by IDW Publishing. The miniseries, since then reprinted in graphic novel form, serves as a prequel to the First Comics' "GrimJack" series, and shows John Gaunt's life leading up to his first appearance in "Starslayer" #10. The series met with critical acclaim for its art, storyline and original setting.

The series is written by John Ostrander, drawn by Timothy Truman, lettered by John Workman and edited by Mike Gold, all of whom worked on the original "GrimJack" comic.

"Legend of GrimJack"

On the heels of "GrimJack: Killer Instinct", IDW Publishing also re-issued First Comics' "GrimJack" run in a series of trade paperbacks. As of October 2007, 8 collections have been released, covering the "Starslayer" back-up story, as well as the first issues of the series. [ [http://www.comics.org/series.lasso?SeriesID=26077 "Legend of GrimJack" at the Grand Comic-Book Database] ]

Other appearances

In addition to the aforementioned series and specials, GrimJack made appearances in two "Munden's Bar" specials, as well as a few First Comics crossover specials such as "The Gift" and "Crossroads". In a text piece in the special issue #75, Ostrander revealed that a character glimpsed in the shadows of Munden's in the first panel of the back-up story he wrote for First's "Warp" #5, August 1983 was actually Gaunt, making his initial publication appearance. Away from First, Gaunt's corpse made a one-panel appearance as a sight gag in the DC Comics horror anthology title "Wasteland".

The character is currently being serialised on the internet at COMICMIX.com with a brand new story done exclusively online, "The Manx Cat".

Legal history

Following the bankruptcy of First Comics in 1991, the legal rights to "GrimJack" became tied up with First Comics' other assets. Ken F. Levin, co-founder of First Comics, and Mike Gold, "GrimJacks original editor, set out to free the rights to the character from legal limbo. (There were several reports over the years that the problem wasn't the rights to GrimJack, invariably stated in these accounts to be owned outright by Ostrander, but those to its setting, the "pan-dimensional" city of Cynosure, which were the property of First Comics. The unique nature of the place was"' crucial to many of Ostrander's storylines, and some observers even considered it to be a "character" in its own right.)

After 12 years of efforts, all rights to "GrimJack" were released, and a new company was founded, the NightSky GrimJack Rights and Production Vehicle (Four Wheel Drive Model), LLC, with legal ownership to the character. John Ostrander and Timothy Truman are said to have "substantial equity positions" in the venture.

Film

J. Michael Straczynski had reportedly planned to write a film adaptation of "GrimJack" during his time on Babylon 5. He initially planned to produce the script during the summer of 1996, but timing conflicts prevented him from doing it. As a result, the project was put on hold, and has not been resurrected since. According to J. Michael Straczynski, the film was budgeted for $30 million dollars, and as scriptwriter, Straczynski intended to remain as faithful as possible to the source material.

The freeing of the legal rights to GrimJack make the production of a "GrimJack" film a possibility again, but there has been no word from the series' creator as of yet.

References

External links and sources

* [http://www.grimjack.com/ GrimJack Official Site]
* [http://www.idwpublishing.com/?path=news&view=article&id=57 IDW Publishing GrimJack Press Release]
*http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/cynosure.htm
*http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/j/jgaunt.htm
*http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_ostrander_demonknight.html