Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Peter Snejberg
Colorist: Grant Goleash, Digital Chameleon
Letterer: Clem Robins
Single issue
Published by DC Vertigo 1998
$4.95

Reviewed by Marc Bryant

As good as Garth Ennis's comics are, they're hell to review without risking a spoiler. All of his work is full of twists and turns, and ONE MAN'S WAR is no exception. The life-story of PREACHER antagonist and Grail All-Father Starr serves the same purpose as THE STORY OF YOU-KNOW-WHO and SAINT OF KILLERS. It fills in the blanks on an interesting character from the PREACHER storyline that couldn't be fully explored in the regular title, providing a rich backstory that contributes effectively to the overall excellence of the series.

As menacing a figure as Starr is, in PREACHER he is played for comedy as much as he is as a villain. But in ONE MAN'S WAR Herr Starr is no one's fool, as we follow the events of his life - from his recruitment into the Grail from a German anti-terrorist unit, to his meeting with his predecessor, the monstrous D'Aronique, and his eventual appointment as Sacred Executioner.

This take on Starr rings true throughout the story. Like all of Ennis's characters, Starr is a gray area, with goals and motivations known only to himself and his creators. Every move he makes, every word he speaks, is completely appropriate for him and whatever situation he finds himself in. Despite his hard-line philosophy, and complete disregard for human life, there were moments in the story where I truly felt for Starr and identified with him, an equally scary and thrilling experience.

"There were moments where I truly felt for Starr, an equally scary and thrilling experience"

Looking beyond Starr's character, the rest of ONE MAN'S WAR is also first-rate. Though packed with violence, like most of Ennis's work, not a drop of blood or bit of bone is gratuitous or stereotyped. The horror is integral, and the story would be poorer without it. The physical action in the book is sparse, but the narrative moves along at a quick pace. Short, pithy scenes are unhindered by the bloated expository captions that are too often the hallmark of many of today's writers.

Much of the story's economy and effectiveness is the result of artist Peter Snejberg's illustrations. Snejberg utilizes many of the strengths of regular PREACHER artist Steve Dillon. Detailed facial expressions, and plenty of changes in perspective within scenes, give the story the punch required to make a character study like this work in comic book form.

Colorists Grant Goleash and Digital Chameleon's hues contribute perfectly to the overall atmosphere of ONE MAN'S WAR, and editor Axel Alonso deserves a tip of the hat for putting together a top notch creative team for this project. Like a great movie poster, the painted cover by regular PREACHER cover artist Glenn Fabry sets the tone perfectly.

Starr is but one of the rich, interesting members of PREACHER's supporting cast. Even though the regular series is coming to a conclusion this spring, spin-offs like ONE MAN'S WAR give hope for a continuing series of tales set in the exciting world of the Reverend Jesse Custer and company.

Recommended

Marc Bryant is Features Editor of PopImage.

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