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Posted on Aug 27, 2004 - 12:09 AM by Admin |
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This October, creator Joe Martino is set to unleash the personification of vengeance on Comic Fanatics in the form of an all new character named Ripperman! Torn between Heaven and Hell, the Ripperman is a unique character you won’t soon forget! This fall, strap yourself in and get ready for one rip-roaring good read with Ripperman!
I love discovering new comics! And I love discovering new characters! However, when you read as many comic books as I do in a month, it takes a special kind of new comic book and character to stand out in my mind, especially with my addled memory. The latest standout? Joe Martino’s Ripperman!
Ripperman is a character that Martino has been working on since 1987. At a time when my biggest concerns were the Junior Prom and where to find the new Dokken cassette, Martino was creating a character he would spend the next several years honing and perfecting. The result? A memorable character with a great look and an even better hook…or in the Ripperman’s case, hooks!
Dozens of comics end up on my desk each week. And surprisingly, I look the most forward to those independent releases. In most instances, those are the comics with the creators who are very enthusiastic about their work and aren’t afraid to let you know. Martino is one such creator.
When Martino originally asked me to take a look at Ripperman, he mentioned that one of my favorite artists and all around nice guy Ben Templesmith had illustrated one of the covers for this graphic novel. Being a huge fan of Templesmith’s work, I couldn’t pass up a chance to see something new. However, I soon discovered that there was much more to Ripperman than just a gorgeous cover. As incredible as the Templesmith cover is, I soon found myself forgetting about that artwork as I was pulled into the compelling story behind that cover!
Martino takes the classic “good vs. evil” battle and throws in an unexpected twist. The Ripperman is a fallen angel of sorts, a creation of Heaven and Hell. When God needs to punish killers on Earth, he gets together with the Devil to create a “killer of killers” - the Ripperman.
The Ripperman appears on a dark and stormy Christmas night on the steps of a church in Timeless, New York. With no memory of who he is or what he’s doing there, this naked stranger wanders into the church where he meets a man who will become a mentor and father figure, Father Thomas Jacob.
Father Thomas dubs the stranger “Joseph” and allows the stranger to work with him at the church. Some of the more snooty churchgoers aren’t too thrilled about the strange looking, shirtless man, and another priest named Father Manning is even less thrilled about Joseph’s stay at the church…although for some shockingly different reasons.
During his stay at the church, Joseph begins to hear about children who have been mysteriously disappearing, with only one body recovered. After a 14 year old girl is snatched up on her way to school, Joseph’s true mission becomes clear in a stunning way! And when the Ripperman finds his first target for vengeance, he unwittingly sets his life on an all new course that will leave him torn between Heaven and Hell!
Martino does a remarkable job of endearing this character to the reader. I was surprised by how much I cared about this character. I mean, look at him! Does this Ripperman look like someone that would induce feelings of sympathy in a reader? But from page one, I wanted to know who this character was, what his mission was, where he was going and how soon he would be putting on some clothes!
I don’t know what it is with me and characters of vengeance, but I love ’em! DC’s The Spectre?! Love him! Marvel’s Ghost Rider?! My all time favorite comic book character! Now, there’s a new “vengeance deliverer” to add to that list: the Ripperman!
I enjoy a good “good vs. evil” story, and Martino delivers one of the best in this graphic novel. Born of both Heaven and Hell, the Ripperman not only finds himself battling evil, but also battling within himself to decide which “father” to follow. Meanwhile, Martino gives you enough information about this character to hook you, but still leaves just enough mystery to bring you back for more. This is a character with unlimited potential, and Martino has so far only scratched the surface!
The Ripperman’s look will immediately rope you in. The Ripperman reminds me a lot of Lobo, without all of the face paint and biker gear. And this character has certain attributes of Wolverine. Instead of claws, the Ripperman launches tendrils of razor wire with hooks on the ends out of his forearm, reminding this horror movie fanatic a lot of those slick flying hooks in those Hellraiser movies.
In addition to delivering a great read, Martino is one incredibly talented artist. This graphic novel is comprised of different chapters for the main story, a backup tale and a pinup section featuring a few other artists. While these artists’ works are impressive and it’s interesting to see their takes on the Ripperman - especially the very first pinup, it’s the artwork of Martino and co-penciler Rick Buckler, Jr. that impressed me the most.
Ripperman is Martino’s character, and the passion for this character comes through in the artwork. The black and white format brings out just how much incredible detail goes into these artists’ work. Beads of sweat, the grain of wood and a stunning angel are all examples of some of the finest, most detailed work that I’ve seen in awhile. It’s rare to find such a strong independent debut in the industry, but Martino and his talented crew swing it - artistically and story wise! If this character isn’t given an ongoing series soon, vengeance should be served!
Ripperman is a $5.95 64 page graphic novel published by Chanting Monks Press, featuring painted covers by Ben Templesmith and Jeff Pittarelli. Ripperman is scheduled to hit comic book stores in October 2004. For more information, a sneak peek and preordering information, visit JGM Comics.Com.
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