GRIM #7: Is Immortality a Good Thing?

Grim #7 is an introspective issue that takes a pause from the overarching story in one of the most terrifying ways. This well-crafted issue takes a unique approach in answering the question: what if everyone stopped dying?

When Stephanie Phillips, the writer and creator of the Grim series, was promoting this series, it was described as being “horror, with a splash of humor.” Issue #7 focuses purely on the horror theme of this comic and is not for the faint of heart. 

Minor spoilers/trigger warning
This issue begins in a hospital overlooking a patient and a priest can be seen giving the last rites. The patient is expected to die only for the doctors to be stunned when the monitor keeps beeping. Unaware of the change in hierarchy of the afterworld, the hospital staff are confused about what is happening. As the priest walks around the hospital, dozens of patients who have been catastrophically injured are now experiencing life despite their bodies being uninhabitable. It’s an intense issue and takes up almost two-thirds of the 24 pages.

While this issue was unsettling, I appreciated how the focus was less on the primary characters and more of the impact happening from the afterworld no longer being led by the formal “Death.” One of my criticisms of this series so far was that I felt the pacing was a bit too quick. The world Phillips has created is fascinating and this issue taking time to show the magnitude of what is at stake brought me back to the core of this comic. Additionally, I thought the way the hospital scene connected back to protagonist Jessica Harrow was clever in that it allowed a moment to pause while pushing the reader back into the elemental players involved in this story.

The writing is tight and the art and colors by Flaviano and Rico Renzi lend themselves well to the theme of this issue. Throughout the series, there has been a focus on colors and the intensity in which they shine. All of this is flipped on its head for a dark issue that is terrifying. Adding to the art is the lettering by Tom Napolitano. The almost bone-like design keeps the reader in the tone of this series.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the cover of this issue. Flaviano’s work stands out here both in creativity and connection to the comic itself. The cover art for this issue consists of the reapers as stained glass images in what appears to be a church. It is on theme enough to fit well with the content inside the issue while also matching the overall tone of the series. A top cover of the series so far in my vote. 

As mentioned in the recap, powerful beings have started to make themselves known and by the end of the issue readers are made aware of much they are getting more and more involved in Jessica’s situation. The ending gives more questions than answers, but it has me excited for issue #8.