The Unstoppable Force that is Kurtis Wiebe: Grim Leaper #1

Grim Leaper #1: Written by Kurtis Wiebe and drawn by Aluisio Santos.

A few months ago, my life changed forever. No, I didn’t see God or win the lotto. Instead, I started reading independent comics. Comics like Locke and Key, Morning Glories and Green Wake changed the way I bought comic books. As we have mentioned several times before, you missed out on one of the best dark mystery books on the market, Green Wake.  Please, do not miss out on the writer of Green Wake, Kurtis Wiebe. Kurtis Wiebe is becoming an unstoppable force in the comic community. At the moment, he is writing Peter Panzerfaust. Next month, he delivers Grim Leaper to the stands. This summer, the band is getting back together and Kurtis is teaming up again with Green Wake’s artist, Riley Rossmo to bring you Debris. We have been given this gracious opportunity to read and review an early copy of Grim Leaper.

Do you enjoy romance books? Were you a fan of those awful Final Destination movies? We found a comic book for you. First off, this book does a great job balancing the book with really fascinating art and a fun story. I want to start off with the art. The coloring is not bright and doesn’t smack the reader in the face. Instead, it is very mellow and edgy and it fits the story perfectly.  The strongest parts of Santos’ art were the facial expressions when the characters escape death or the moment they are killed. In the first few pages, the main character, Lou is actually killed by a heavy duty tire. It was one of the most disgusting and beautifully drawn death scenes that I’ve ever read. As the head was sliced off, blood spewed everywhere and Lou’s fucking eye was dangling by a thread. Santos’ art is a winner!

Let’s get down to business. Kurtis concept for Grim Leaper is original and a lot of fun. Right away, we are introduced to the main character, Lou. He’s that sleazy, womanizing, sarcastic type of guy. By the end of the issue, that is no longer the case.  By the way, Lou throws up on the set of a game show about love and then he continues to mock the show, which might have been one of my favorite scenes in the book.

According to Lou, he is cursed and when he dies, his spirit is never given the chance to rest in peace. Instead of entering through those pearly white gates, he resurfaces in a new body in the same town, over and over again. No, wonder he can be a prick at times. Thankfully, Lou learns he is not the only one of his kind. Kurtis introduces us to Ella, who at the moment, is living in the body of a hardcore metal fan. It seems that future issues of Grim Leaper will be about Lou’s search for his lost love, Ella. Even though I am excited to see what path the story will be going down, I can't wait to read how Kurtis kills Lou over and over again. Does anyone want to see Lou fall from the sky and land in helicopter blades?

Score: 8.5 out of 10.

The Illumi-Nerdi Interview with Kurtis Wiebe

Kurtis Wiebe is the brilliant writer behind Intrepids and the uber fascinating Green Wake. Despite working on at least three new projects for 2012 (a retelling of the JM Barrie classic Peter Pan in Peter Panzerfaust, the post-apocalyptic Debris and Grim Leaper, "the Final Destination Rom-Com you’ve been waiting for") Mr. Wiebe was kind enough to answer a few questions for the Illumi-Nerdi. Check out Kurtis Wiebe's blog where he goes into awesome detail about the intriguing mythology of Green Wake.

1. We describe Green Wake to people as Lost meets Silent Hill. If you had to over-simplify it, how would you describe it?

KW: You know, I really wish I had an answer to that. It’s honestly one of the biggest struggles we’ve had with the series and the elevator pitch has been very elusive. So, I guess the short answer to what always ends up being a long answer is, if you can think of something better than Dark City meets Twin Peaks, I’m all ears.

2. Why frogs?

KW: Frogs are seen as symbols of fertility and rebirth in many cultures, and once you get to the final pages of Issue #10, you’ll understand in much better detail why I chose to use frogs in a symbolic way.

3. With Green Wake very unfortunately ending too soon, what more had you planned to do with the mythology?

KW: Quite a lot. Obviously I revealed as much as I possibly could but all those deep plotlines that I wove had to be fast tracked because of the early finale. I’ve actually posted a detailed essay on the mythology of Green Wake on my blog ( kurtiswiebe.wordpress.com ) so if you want to know, in detail, what Green Wake was and found the answers in the last issue too vague, you’ll get the answers you’re looking for.

4. With your ever growing (and deserving) popularity, do you think you could ever get back to Green Wake? Or the characters (that survive)?

KW: Thanks so much for the kind words. I’ll never say no to that question, but truthfully I’m very ready to move onto new things. Green Wake was intensely personal for me and it was written in a phase of my life that was very difficult. I’m in a much better place now and you’ll notice in my new projects a definite turn to lighter and definitely happier material.

I really do love Green Wake, but I’m not in a huge hurry to go back there.

5. What can you tell us about your future works, specifically Grim Leaper and Debris?

KW: Well, Debris is a long way off yet so I’m not really releasing too much information about it at this stage, but it’s a new project that Riley Rossmo and I are teaming up for. It’s like nothing you’ve seen from him before and I promise it’s deservedly going to turn some eyes to his work. I’m very excited for it.

Grim Leaper is a project coming out with the immensely talented Aluisio Santos on May 30^th. It’s a gory love story, the Final Destination Rom-Com you’ve been waiting for. It follows the lives and deaths of Lou Collins, a man stuck with a curse that sees him continually dying in horrific ways only to wake up in the body of a complete stranger. At the beginning we learn that he’s been suffering from this curse for quite some time already but very soon he meets a woman named Ella who has the exact same curse.

They date.

6. Why did you decide to write comics as opposed to another media?

KW: Well, I’ve written a novel that’s been published and while it’s a rewarding experience it’s a very different experience. With prose you’re alone in your project, locked away writing for months on end with little feedback from the outside world.

The opposite is true with comics and that’s why I love the medium. You create a setting and characters and another creative mind makes them come to life. It’s the sort of storytelling, that joint venture, that cannot be replicated in any other medium.

7. In Peter Panzerfaust, what made you decide to do a retelling of Peter Pan as opposed to another classic?

KW: It’s a childhood favourite of mine and a lot of the themes fit into the story we’re telling with the series. Peter Pan was about embellishing our youth and refusing to let go. What happens when you are thrust into a situation where that just isn’t possible? What if you are forced to grow up before you’re ready and that childhood innocence is caught in the middle of it all?

I think it allows us to really delve into some powerful themes as well as tell one hell of an adventure yarn.

8. Why do you believe in comic books?

KW: Because it allows me to create and share stories with the world and I want to do it for as long as I’m able.

That’s a powerful testament to why they are so important.

Don't forget to vote on the Writers Deathmatch!

It's Official: Fanboys are Hooked on Peter Panzerfaust

Remember that time you decided not to read Green Wake? Well, we are given you an opportunity to make up for that. Peter Panzerfaust, an Image Comics/ Shadowline Series is an adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Peter Pan. It's written by Kurtis Wiebe and art by Tyler Jenkins. 

Peter Panzerfaust #2 is in stores March 14th. By the way, it's already sold out. The second printing will arrive in stores on  April 11, the exact day Peter Panzerfaust #3 can be found in your local comic shop. 

Breaking News: Peter Panzerfaust was supposed to be an miniseries that ended with issue 5. We have exciting news for you.....Peter Panzerfaust is officially an ongoing series. Issue 6 arrives in September. 

In Memoriam: Green Wake

Good job, assholes. You missed one of the best comic series since Y: The Last Man: Green Wake. Writer Kurtis Wiebe (The Intrepids, Peter Panzerfaust) and artist Riley Rossmo (Proof, Cowboy Ninja Viking) brought us one of the most strangely original series in recent memory, and you idiots didn't buy it. For those of you who don't know (and based on its unfortunately poor sales, there is a depressingly large number of you), Green Wake is about a detective and his partner in a strange and mysterious town, Green Wake, who is as much a character as any person in the comic. It was meant to be a 25 issue series but was cut down to a measly 10 issues because of poor sales. And without sales, you're without a comic. Green Wake combined all the annoying confusion of Lost with the satisfying answers of any good detective story. This brilliant comic left devoted fans begging for more (if for nothing else but the agonizingly fascinating strangeness of the story). The story exhibited so much promise with its unique and disturbing premise and especially its very different style of art. Much of it's clever mythos is left unexamined because of the briefness of the comic. But it did a really awesome job delving into Ancient Egypt, Brutus, Ancient Greek gods, a heartbroken monster, love, loss, guilt and the most infuriatingly interesting element: frogs (yes, frogs).
      I for one was so disappointed to find out it was ending. I actually had no idea it wasn't continuing until I picked up Issue 9. So for me to find out there was only one issue left in this incredible series was absolutely devastating. It would be like finding out Locke & Key was over in 9 issues (oh wait, it is :-/). However, there is an upside. We can still get our Green Wake fix over the next year. Kurtis Wiebe is doing at least three series this year (Peter Panzerfaust [a retelling of Peter Pan], Debris [a post-apocalyptic story] and Grim Leaper [what I see as a romantic version of Deadman]) and artist Riley Rossmo is doing a completely new take on a zombie story with Rebel Blood. So, since you guys already missed out on Green Wake, make sure to pick up these new tales of mystery and intrigue from these brilliant storytellers.


And for the love of God, buy Green Wake: on Amazon.
Or Midtown Comics