by Victoria Irwin
Contributing Writer
Grimm focuses on the life of Detective Nick Burkhardt of the Portland Police Bureau. His life is made suddenly more interesting when he discovers he is a “Grimm”; a guardian in charge of keeping the balance between humanity and the Wesen (the German word for creature). To add to the shock of his new existence, Nick also discovers that his dead mother, Kelly, is still very much alive and also a Grimm. He is joined in his mission to keep the balance by his partner, Detective Hank Griffin, and Monroe, a Wesen who has chosen to help humanity. Dynamite Press and NBC have teamed up to bring the show from the small screen to a comic book series.
In the first issue of this new series, Nick Burkhardt gives the reader his backstory; this makes the uninitiated to the television show, like myself, able to catch up quickly and understand the story in progress. Kelly Burkhardt, Nick’s mother, has gone missing while attempting to protect the whereabouts of three coins of power. Those who hold the coins,(such as Adolph Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte and Alexander the Great) find themselves with immense power and control. Kelly must make sure that the coins do not fall into the hands of the Royal families of the Wesen who are desperate to reclaim their power. Nick must find his mother as well as embrace his new life.
Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt have created a plot that is both interesting and easy to follow. Marc Gaffen and Kyle McVey successfully manage to take a popular television show and navigate the feel and structure into a comic without making it too heavy handed or over explaining every detail; far too often, comics based on television shows spend too much time explaining the essence of the show and not enough time creating a story that holds up in printed form.
Jose Malaga’s art is dark enough to fit the mood of Grimm, but detailed enough to keep the reader’s interest. Comic fans will of course recognize Alex Ross’s signature style watercolors on the cover art of this issue. .
The first issue of Grimm is dark and enjoyable. For those who have seen Grimm and can’t get enough, this is a fantastic companion. For those who have never experienced the show, it provides a quick introduction and leaves you wanting to discover the rest of the secrets of the Grimm.