I have been a fan of Guy Ritchie since I first saw Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels several years ago. Then came Snatch and my admiration for his work increased. Now, he has stepped into the world of Four Color and Fanboys to create for Virgin Comics, Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper. Generally, I tend to stay a bit away from Comics that are named for famous people not normally found outside of the Comics realm.
Sort of like reading Emily Dickenson's Superman books, you get the feeling it was just done for the name value, and the book will probably be crap.
And yes, I know that even in our universe the attachment of a 'name' well known in the Comics industry is not always enough to make a Comic well written or even enjoyable. Stan Lee's Just Imagine comes to mind. But generally, if someone knows about Comics and has been working at them for years and has a track record of creating and working on some pretty decent characters, the odds are they will be involved in a class act when they stick their name on a new book. You know it is going to be something -good-; for example, Frank Millers 300 or Sin City books are amazing, while so many other 'famous name' books are languishing in the quarter bin of your local shop.
In Gamekeeper we are introduced to Brock, a Chechen gamekeeper who currently works at a Scottish estate owned by Jonah Morgan, a wealthy man with a mysterious past. Almost as mysterious as that of Brock himself. In the first issue, we are given short clues that both Brock and Morgan are protecting something important, but we are not told what it is.
Morgan has the estate set up as both a game preserve and a home for runaway kids, designed to give them a second chance at a decent life. Brock finds a runaway trespassing and Morgan of course takes him in as a new worker.
That night, the stables catch fire and as everyone is working fire duty, a unit of paramilitary soldiers invades the estate, with Morgan and a safe the main target.
The problem is, Brock ain't exactly Dr. Phil. He is unwilling to just allow his mentor and employer to be taken without a fight or a strike-back.
All this said, the book at this point seems to be your general run of the mill "Revenge" story, with the only asset as Brock himself. The character has great potential, ala Rambo or the Punisher, and lets face it, it is always nice to see the bad guys hurt. And Brock seems to have no problem with hurting his enemies. He seems able to kill with efficiency, but at the same time is haunted by some event or events from his past. While little about him is told in this issue, he still seems sympathetic enough to keep your interest. And yes, it's not the most original idea you'll ever see in a Comic book, but it is a good read.
What really helps the story is the amazing art from Virgin Comics Mukesh Singh. His lines are loose, yet highly detailed, and his coloring makes this story really work. From the scenes in the woods at night, to his shadowy rooms, to the beautiful terrain of Scotland, it's all beautifully done. His work captures the essence and idea of nature and man together in fantastic style.
Andy Diggle as writer and artist Mukesh Singh have turned Ritchie's Gamekeeper from your standard 'kill everyone' story into a tight, and beautiful story that I am looking forward to finishing.
Well done, gentlemen. Thank you.