The Marquis: Intermezzo

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Sinister
Review: If you read the first TPB of The Marquis then you probably have a relatively good idea as to what you are in for. This is hands down the most evil (for lack of a better word) comic book that I have thus far encountered. Its set in 18th century Paris, during the colder months of year (wonderful, snowy atmosphere), and tells the story of a man chosen by the devil to return some demons that have escaped back to hell, via a mask which allows him to see into the souls of people, and a sword and two revolvers used to slay them. The comic is completely devoid of humor, and there really isn't any one character who you can sympathize with as being the hero. Everyone is corrupt in their own way, yet in human ways which simply making them three dimensional, and almost depressingly realistic.

However, for me, what makes the comic so successful are the demons which Guy Davis so masterfully fills his pages with. Had he followed the tried and true tradition of drawing little red men with horns, he would still have a good comic on his hands, but it wouldn't be The Marquis. For Guy has truly provided us with a world unlike any other, with demons that run somewhere between Hellraiser Cenobites, Joel Peter Witkin photographs, and the most unsettling nightmare that Freud could imagine. The fact that the writing is on par with that of Neil Gaiman or Alan Moore, only makes the comic all the more thrilling to read. It's exciting yet patient; accessible yet eclectic; gritty yet refined.

The only possible problem one could have with the comic is that the artwork does tend to appear at a glance jumbled and disorganized. Think of it in terms of your reaction to Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns - it's simply not your typical comic book art - there's something different about it, perhaps a little cartoony even, but after reading a few pages it ceases to be any sort of a problem.

That said, I really can't reccomend this book enough (as well as the previous TPB in the series which is just as good.) So if you're into comics like Hellboy or Sin City, and have perhaps told yourself that you'd like to read something just a little bit more dark... more grim... more evil... than pick this up. It will be well worth your time.