Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, Griff Gristle is back. He first appeared in last year’s Here Be Monsters, and now his adventures continue in The Siren’s Song. This isn’t so much a sequel as a continuation of what has gone before, yet it has an accessibility that any new readers will appreciate.
Kicking off with a music concert on board a cruise liner, this second issue puts us right in the middle of the action. In scenes worthy of blockbuster movies, Griff and his erstwhile sidekick Justine don’t so much save the day as reduce the damage. They’re a dynamic duo for the twenty-first century, in that their banter contains grudging respect and humour at each other’s expense, but it’s as a team that they flourish, bouncing off tentacled beasties with ready wit and barnacle-encrusted style.
Following this introductory battle, writers Mike Sambrook and Rob Jones don’t try to outdo themselves. Instead, they build on the world and characters that inhabit it, adding to Gristle’s mystique while simultaneously revealing more about him and the loss of his beloved wife. We’re introduced to the big bad, and the cult he leads, left with an image of their power on the final page of the main story. A shorter tale reveals this villain, and the rest of the issue is topped off with a collection of glorious pin ups of the fisherman hero, from an array of talented artists. Hats off once more to Rory Donald for the artwork; a special mention for his choice of colours, which add life and definition to every panel, allowing them to range from the cinematic to the subtle.
What’s been impressive about the Madius Comics over the last couple of years is their consistency, and this is no exception. The team have clearly taken their time to produce this, and as always their enthusiasm and talent has shone through. At the time of writing, the Kickstarter project is still live; fans of the first issue are sure to love this next instalment, and we hope Griff continues for many more issues to come.
GRIFF GRISTLE: THE SIREN’S SONG / WRITERS: ROBIN JONES, MIKE SAMBROOK / ARTISTS: RORY DONALD, BRAD HOLMAN (LOGO/DESIGN) / PUBLISHER: MADIUS / RELEASE DATE: CHECK NOW ON KICKSTARTER
