80's Art Day: Mike Grell's JON SABLE, FREELANCE

[Nexus]

One of my favorite series from the 80's was Mike Grell's JON SABLE, FREELANCE. I'm so happy to add these two covers to my collection:

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=253700&GSub=23865

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=253699&GSub=23865

 

From issues #17 and #18, the two-part "Deadly Games" arc. #17 was also used as a promo poster as well as a t-shirt (which, yes, I still have and NO, I will not be wearing any time soon!).

 

I really want to thank Roger Clark for remembering my want list and letting me know when these became available. Excellent, excellent service...thanks Roger!

[CW]

The broom handle is great! Grell makes it look just like the real thing! Beautiful! (If you ever need to sell drop me a line)

[dem1138]

I'll admit - those are VERY COOL! I never read Jon Sable, but certainly remember that series and that T-Shirt.

 

Nice pickup!

[Hart1000]

Jon Sable ROCKS!!! Congrats Felix!

 

-hart

[Bonds25]

Awesome covers - congrats!! I just read the first 20 issues and really enjoyed the series.

[Nexus]

Thanks for the nice words!

 

I definitely consider this to be Mike Grell's best work. Grell sort of went into auto-pilot near the end of the run (or maybe he was just burnt out), but the first 30 issues or so were great reading. You can get the entire run pretty cheaply off Ebay. IDW is also publishing reprints in tpb format. Enjoy!

[delekkerste]

VERY cool stuff, Felix! I remember the series fondly; definitely one of the highlights of the '80s as far as I'm concerned.

[Nexus]

Thanks Gene!

 

Obviously, I'm a fan as well. This book WAS a big deal in the 80's. Besides being a key title in the creator-owned, independent movement, it spawned its own (awful) short-lived tv series on ABC (8pm on Saturday nights, a time slot where network Standards and Practices would not allow gunplay). It was optioned for a movie (by Gene Simmons!). And there was a Batman/Sable crossover that was announced (but never published ).

 

OK, so maybe not everything turned up roses. But I'd love to see Grell conclude the saga in a meaningful way on his own terms. Barring that, I would hope that he allows the stories to continue under another creator's stewardship...the character is too cool to fade into obscurity.