Grimm #0


Review of a Free Comic Book Day issue

Plot: Jim Kouf & David Greenwalt
Script: Marc Gaffen & Kyle McVey
Art: José Malaga
Colors: Thiago Dal Bello

Letters: Marshall Dillon
Cover: Whilce Portacio
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

On Sale: May 4, 2013
Price: Free
Format: Full Color

Discover the characters, creatures and inspiration behind the storyline of NBC’s hit-series, Grimm!  From the producers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Grimm features Portland homicide detective Nick Buckhardt, as he discovers he’s descended from a long line of “Grimms,” who are charged with keeping balance between humanity and the creatures of myth.  With newly awoken abilities to detect the evil lurking among us, Nick struggles to keep his old life separate and safe as he becomes ever more entrenched in the ancient rivalries of the Grimm world.

One of the wonderful parts about Free Comic Book Day is the opportunity to check out some books you might not normally pick up.

Let me first confess to a guilty pleasure, I enjoy the show Grimm from NBC. And although the story in this issue did feel true to the television series, the art in this book did not suit my tastes. Some may enjoy it but for me it took away from the feel of the story. Everybody, even normal humans and the Wesen not in their Wesen form, looked a bit ugly. Add the strange decision to use the same color tones for many of the backgrounds in panels as for the characters in the panels and the art truely left me disappointed.

While the lettering for the verbal components were easy to read I found the font used for the ‘narrated’ portions very difficult to read. Not only was the font smaller but the style of font made it a struggle. I realize it was done to differentiate the two but as they were already placed on a different color background as well as shape, the font did not need to be quite so stylized in my opinion.

Overall, would I recommend this book to a friend? Sadly I would have to say that I wouldn’t, instead I would tell them to just watch the show. Sorry guys but the story alone is not enough to make up to me for the flaws I felt existed in the art and lettering.

Final Score: 5/10