15. Grim Leaper by Kurtis J. Wiebe

Grim Leaper: A Love Story to Die For by Kurtis J. Wiebe. Art by Aluisio C. Santos (US) - (Canada)


Pages: 120
Ages: 16+
Finished: Jan. 12, 2013
First Published: Nov. 27, 2012
Publisher: Image Comics
Genre: paranormal, fantasy, horror, humour, Canadian author
Rating:  5/5

First sentence: "Ever since my parents died when I was a kid, I've avoided funerals."

Publisher's Summary: "In death, he finally found something to live for. 

Lou Collins is caught in a cyclical curse of violent, gruesome deaths and new beginnings in the bodies of strangers. With no clue why, Lou desperately searches for a way to break the curse and cross over peacefully to the other side. Then equally doomed Ella comes along. It's a love story to die for.

Collects all four issues and features never before seen sketches, alternate covers and conceptual art by series illustrator ALUISIO C. SANTOS ."


Acquired: Received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley

Reason for Reading:  OK, I admit it. I like death stories and this sounded fun; plus I've read vol. 1 of the author's Peter Panzerfaust which I enjoyed so I looked forward to reading the author again.

I kind of feel embarrassed giving this five stars but honestly, I simply loved it!  With a sub-title of "A love story to die for" it sounds a little cheesy but I really enjoyed myself and love how the author turned a quite graphically violent story into one about redemption that had some real insight into the human condition.  As a believer I felt good about the final message and we can perhaps see death here as being substituted for "rebirth".  Profound ... whether the author meant to be or not.

On the other hand a rollicking good ride!  The leaping reminds one of "Quantum Leap" which is fun as we have the same characters in different bodies each issue but the similarity ends there.  This is extremely violent with heads being chopped off in the most amazing ways!  Lots of blood and gore and amongst it all a love story develops.  Something one would think quite hard to pull off and hence my hesitation in thinking it would be "cheesy" but I really got a Christopher Moore "Bloodsucking Fiends" vibe from this, different but on the same wavelength.  If you are prepared to take the story seriously in the end, you might just love it like I did.