Grifter #1

May 1995

Writer: Steven T. Seagle
Illustrator: Ryan Benjamin
Inker: Tom McWeeney
Colorist: Wildstorm FX & Wendy Broome
Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Sarah Becker & Bill Kaplan
Executive Editor: Jim Lee

Synopsis: Cole/Grifter called Deathblow on a public telephone booth to inform him he's headed his way because the weird fossil Deathblow found is something aliens are looking for that is associated with their spaceship, and the world depends on them keeping it secured. Before he can finish his conversation, he was suddenly attacked and explosions happen all over him. He puts on his mask and a raging running battle ensued. All the while, Cole recalled his childhood, his stint in Burma with Team-7, his relationship with Zealot. He appeared to defeat his pursuers killing them. And he continued to make his way to Deathblow even though he was severely bleeding. Unbeknownst to him, it's what the aliens wanted as they tailed him so he can lead them to their objective... Deathblow.

Comments: Like the majority of Image comic books that were produced in the early to mid 90's the illustrations showcased a lot of splash pages and double splash pages. Muscles on the characters were overdone and we just get a basic minimal plot that could have been narrated in several pages instead of a whole issue. But it is good to see a mini-origin of who Cole Cash/Grifter is with his three page mini-origin in flashback sequence while in a battle. Even though it's eye-catching illustration, the story is like one whole extended scene