Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Book Review: I'm the Grim Reaper vol. 1


When Scarlet finds herself doomed to eternal punishment in Hell for a sinful life she can’t even remember, Satan himself offers her a deal: return to earth and kill one marked sinner per day…as his grim reaper!

Using the power of Hell, Scarlet quickly learns the ropes of being a reaper: bring in one sinner per day, regardless of their sins, and avoid the ninth circle herself. This work brings her into the path of Chase, a disgraced former detective trying to solve a high-level case that seems wrapped up in Scarlet’s former life. Scarlet decides to partner with Chase to find the answers to her locked memories—as long as Chase doesn't discover Scarlet’s bloodstained bargain with Satan first.

I'm the Grim Reaper vol. 1 by Graveweaver will be published September 10, 2024. VIZ Media provided an early galley for review.

This volume collects the first six chapters of this Webtoon along with additional bonus content. Once again, an striking cover and an interesting concept is often enough for me to check out a new collection of a manga.

First impressions, the use of color, or lack thereof in some places, really raises the level on the artwork (which I can easily envision as an anime series) and story-telling. I like too that the art style shifts a bit when we are given flashbacks on characters. This subtle nuance makes for a varied read.

The story itself, naturally, has a violent angle to it. After all, we are dealing with the work of a grim reaper. The author does infuse the story with a bit of mystery and intrigue revolving around Scarlet and Chase's pasts, which should be explored further in future volumes. The reader is also provided with some moral themes to consider. What constitutes a sin? When are these actions justifiable?

If you're looking for a comic read that is a bit out of the ordinary, this one might be for you.

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