The DC reboot is upon us, comic book sniffers! Welcome to the new DC universe! In an effort to help bring new readers into the world of comics, the Fanboy Comics staff has decided to review at least five new #1 issues each week of September, DC’s reboot launch month.

Alright, so… another Wednesday, another cache of new DCnU comics.  Among others, look for those reviews later, I purchased Grifter, written by Nathan Edmonson and penciled by the uni-monikered Cafu.  A few spoilers to follow, but don’t worry, I won’t actually ruin anything that isn’t ruined by the cover.

Who the hell is Grifter?
In the beginning (read: 1980), there was DC’s antihero, Slade Wilson, code name: Deathstroke, a mercenary physically enhanced by secret army experiments.  Then, in 1992 came the Marvel antihero and physically enhanced, but also deranged, mercenary, Wade Wilson (no relation), code name: Deadpool.  One year later came the Jim Lee-created DC anti-hero, Grifter.  Grifter, like his two predecessors, possesses super powers, in his case psi powers, after being the subject of secret army experiments while in a black ops team.  His code name?  Deadeye.  

What about the reboot?
Issue #1 appears to be a straight-up origin story, including the iconic donning-of-the-mask cliffhanger.  What his special powers are hasn’t been entirely explained yet, but we do know he was part of a Delta Force team a decade earlier.  Though I knew nothing about this character before reading this comic, enough was explained that I never felt lost and I had a good sense of the history and relationships.  

How’s the story?
The story itself is compelling.  There is plenty of action and, though the guy at Earth 2 said it felt like an Indiana Jones story, to me it feels more like a supernatural and less comedic Crocodile Dundee story… well, to a point.  There is a lot going on in this book: various side plots, characters that seem important yet who are never explained, and a main character with a mysterious past.  The structure includes some flash back, and if I were to try to explain the plot, it would feel very convoluted.  Edmonson and Cafu, however, do a fantastic job of guiding us through this story and making it a digestible and, above all, fun read.

Should I pick it up?
Though I enjoyed it, I didn’t get as much of a thrill from this #1 as I did some of the others.  If you want to take a chance, you won’t be disappointed, but, if you have to be picky, this may not be the comic for you.