COMIC BOOK REVIEW: The Goddamned #1

Jason Aaron and R.M. Guéra are once again reunited to deliver a potential, controversial and groundbreaking co-creation graphic masterpiece since their first collaborative and critically-acclaimed independent opus, Scalped. This time around, the setting is neither any known country nor place you are so familiar with, but somewhere else primal, raw, and brutal; so similar to virtually all of Aaron’s creator’s works like Southern Bastards, Men of Wrath, his Wolverine run, and once again, Scalped. I can assure that this new series, THE GODDAMNED, will possibly (or most likely, I predict) surpass the intensity and devastation Scalped once delivered. In terms of intense moments, the creative team makes sure that from the opening quotation up to the final page panel is a sure turn-paging reading experience. Knowing Aaron’s brand of narrative style quite a bit, his scripts are precise and straightforward. Gritty is also one of the literary and emotional ingredients the writer lathers on this premier chapter. It is to say that the suspense and the unexpected twists are nothing short of pleasantry around. As for the latter mention, once you are able to grasp the entire plot even in the middle of reading this no-holds barred graphic literature, you will probably know what direction both Aaron and Guerra want us to proceed. The surroundings alone are the true indicators of what things are to come, including some of the writer’s clever placements of expositions and foreshadowing as the story slowly moves along. Yes indeed, this premier chapter is a solid, whooping 32 page long. And here’s the best part, there are neither advertisement nor any interruption nonsense for this gripping inaugural tale. Let’s give praise be to these GODDAMNED creators and to Image Comics as well!

Even the story centers on two characters for the most part, the titular one shows the characteristics that many readers are familiarized with anything Jason Aaron. Is this a bad thing or a saturated typecast all over? I say the complete opposite because this protagonist shows the complexities and the contradictions that encapsulate what we humans really are, unlike many superhero and other asinine characters around. That what this American Southerner a GODDAMNED good, gritty, and hard-boiled comic scribe—he’s very honest in portraying his subjects to the extent that we, the readers and fans, can relate and even comprehend his characters’ flaws, motivations, backgrounds and their respective egos without being so pretentious and complicated at all (with the major exceptions on his superhero takes which obviously put some a bit of constraints in the depiction, portrayal, and imageries of corporate properties, like his mega-event comic Marvel’s Original Sin run). If we care his Earl Tubb and The Coach of the Southern Bastards, the Raths of Men of Wrath, and Bad Horse of Scalped, then undoubtedly his THE GODDAMNED narrative can exceed our lofty expectations.

What about R.M. Guéra’s interiors? If you are mesmerized by his artworks in the Scalped series, then once again you will not disappoint either ways. Many of the panels are either wordless or less dialogues, thus the burden on the illustrations and coloring that one can feel the same (or exceed) exact ambiance in the Scalped run. His paneling is improving a lot more than the Scalped actually. One can feel the confidence and dedication the artist puts-in, particularly the landscapes and the world-building outlook that may view as detailed and raw (yet aesthetically pleasing just the same). His angular perspectives are also significantly improved, making his THE GODDAMNED work flows effortlessly, and stunning as well. His facial portrayals are reflected to Aaron’s overall characterizations and he simply nails those expectations. Well indeed, Jason Aaron and his work is truly a magnificent from Elysium!

For obvious reasons, THE GODDAMNED is rightfully deserved a “MATURE” rating. Sensitive and politically correct types are advised to skip this one unless they want to either stoke or incinerate this potentially controversial piece of visual literature. In other words, consider yourselves warned. Nonetheless, THE GODDAMNED #1 is a great start of the creative team’s vision of the possibility in the most intense and gritty way possible (or exceeding our expectations). It’s time to rethink how we see things previously, and this long awaited artistic collaborative reunion gives us something to review what we should have done before, both intellectually and spiritually.

The Goddamned #1 will be released at November 11, 2015