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The Adventures of Gravedigger #1
The Adventures of Gravedigger Volume One
Her Life Began...The Day She Died. From Best Selling and Award Winning Author Barry Reese comes another fantastic creation from his action packed imagination! THE ADVENTURES OF GRAVEDIGGER VOLUME ONE from Reese Unlimited, Barry's very own Author Imprint at Pro Se Productions features the debut of a different take on the concept of Hero in Pro Se's Sovereign City Project! The Adventures of Gravedigger introduces the latest masked warrior to inherit the mantle of Gravedigger. A lost soul who has returned from the grave to take up a mission of justice and vengeance, Gravedigger stalks the streets of Sovereign City assisted by her faithful agents and surprising familiar allies! She is the last defense against the criminals, madmen, and bizarre creatures that prowl in the shadows! Featuring a stunning cover by award winning Pulp Artist George Sellas and mind blowing interiors by renowned artist Will Meugniot. THE ADVENTURES OF GRAVEDIGGER is a stunning, horrifying new addition to Pulp! From Author Barry Reese, Edited by David White, with Format and Design by Sean Ali! THE ADVENTURES OF GRAVEDIGGER VOLUME ONE from Reese Unlimited and Pro Se Productions!
164 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2013
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Barry Reese
129 books27 followersBarry Reese is one of the leading authors in the modern pulp revival. A former writer for Marvel Comics, Reese is the author of The Rook series and many other novels. His work has appeared in books published by Marvel Comics, West End Games, Wild Cat Books, Moonstone Books and Pulpwork Press. Reese's newest book, RABBIT HEART, was published in February 2010 and features his first foray into the horror genre.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 20, 2014
Ever since I read Reese's Rabbit Heart, I've been looking forward to seeing him tackle more female heroines. There are some similarities between Rabbit Heart's Fiona Chapman and Gravedigger's Charity Grace, but ultimately they are both very different characters.
The mythology behind the Gravediggers is so far what I find most fascinating about this new character. I think it was a mistake to include appearances from both the Rook and Lazarus Gray in this book as I was hoping this would be more for establishing Gravedigger as her own character. In the author's note, Reese does provide a legitimate reason for why he included them, but I still feel having those two appear took something away from Gravedigger's debut, and those appearances would have been best left for the next book.
That being said, this is still an enjoyable series of adventures and I hope we'll see more of her in the future.
The mythology behind the Gravediggers is so far what I find most fascinating about this new character. I think it was a mistake to include appearances from both the Rook and Lazarus Gray in this book as I was hoping this would be more for establishing Gravedigger as her own character. In the author's note, Reese does provide a legitimate reason for why he included them, but I still feel having those two appear took something away from Gravedigger's debut, and those appearances would have been best left for the next book.
That being said, this is still an enjoyable series of adventures and I hope we'll see more of her in the future.
January 19, 2025
A new character for Reese's Sovereign City storylines. Charity Grace, the illegitimate and cast off result of a liaison between Samantha Grace's father and a prostitute, is killed during a robbery attempt. She awakens in her grave to hear a Voice offer her a deal. Protect the innocent by killing those who would prey on them for three years. If her soul is cleaned by then, she will live on. If not, eternal damnation. She accepts and soon comes under the mentorship of the former Gravedigger (and the man who killed her), Josef Goldstein. She faces foes like Thanatos, trying to unleash the Old Ones, and the Headless Horseman of Irving fame. She works with The Peregrine, is warned off of wholesale killing by Lazarus Gray, and assembles her own team of aides: Mitchell, the massive black butler type complete with British accent, Li Yuchan, the utterly fearless and adventurous prostitute, and Cedric, heir to the Hendley fortune and ladies' man. Anxious to read more.
July 4, 2021
Barry Reece writes fun pulp fiction. After enjoying his Lazarus Gray stories for years I decided to expand into some of his other characters. Gravedigger is a lot of fun, with interesting characters, brisk pacing, and great action. I also really enjoy how Reece creates his larger universe and puts all of his characters inside to interact.
April 11, 2013
Overall: 5 stars (Highly Recommend)
Gravedigger is another addition to Barry Reese’s growing stable of old-school nostalgia pulp creations and, as usual, doesn’t disappoint. The Gravedigger leans more to the horror side of the nostalgia-driven dark avenger theme with a bit more gore and darkness than before, while bringing the Sovereign City world closer together with several crossovers and some more historical background to the city. All while providing a read that won’t trouble first time readers to the Sovereign City world. It’s good quality epulp that’s a definite read for those who like their vigilantes up to their neck in the supernatural and don’t mind some gibbs and gore along the way.
Pacing and Action: 4 stars.
The pacing is good with three short stories that introduce us to this new character and plunge us into the supernatural shenanigans that plague Sovereign City. There’s plenty of action, crazy situations and cross-city conspiracy that ensures the book earns its pulpy status. Not to mention a good helping of supernatural bad guys that need to be dispatched by our new hero. It’s all well detailed and fast.
About the only problem with the pacing – and I’m using the word ‘problem’ loosely – is that the book does tend to timeline jump a bit in order to fill in the historical backstory. By any other standard the pace is fine but on a pulpy scale it does tend to haul things up and complicate the read more than usual. It won’t spoil the read but it is less than pulp-ideal.
Pulp Concept: 5 stars.
Very pulpy. If you’ve ever read an old-school dark avenger vigilante story then this is familiar territory but with a few very unique twists. It creates a character with an interesting quandary and plenty of momentum for further adventures, all steeped in the supernatural and dark. The only shortcoming might be for people who like their reading gore free as the book does have a touch of the exploitation film about it – not in a big way but it’s there – and if so you may want to knock a star off the final score, but for everyone else this is as pulpy as you like.
Character Development: 4 stars.
The protagonists’ dilemma and motivation is written well and there’s plenty of supporting characters with their own personalities and motivations. There’s an interesting group dynamic with some really interesting cross-overs with already established characters for readers familiar with them. As pulp goes these are very well rounded characters with a proper internal life that should draw the reader in and get them invested in the story if you’re in it for the action and nothing but.
However, the supporting cast can fade into two-dimensional characters that are more ideas than full blown people. Their behaviour can seem a little inconsequential at times, the risks they take having no ramifications or consequences to the point that they’re untouchable and above what happens to them. It can also cheapen the Gravedigger’s abilities when supporting characters every now and then manifest their own amazing abilities (I’m talking about a certain briefcase throwing incident) and are relatively unfazed by anything around them (they’re awfully chipper and loyal considering some of the things they see). But, considering this is the first story it may be all about establishing a status quo than delving into their own faults and insecurities.
Production: 5 stars.
A gorgeous cover and good price make this 5 stars even though there were a few editorial misses in the third book. Unfortunately the cover hasn’t been posted here on GoodReads (I read the ebook version as well, but that’s not up in time for this review either) but in colour it really is amazing, perfectly capturing the mood and pulpy ‘tude the book has. Very nice.
Series Potential: 5 stars.
Definitive. There’s plenty more action to be had following The Gravedigger and all the pieces are in place for further adventures. Sovereign City is also becoming a more textured and detailed location for all things pulpy so it would be a crying shame if there weren’t more stories in the pipeline.
Wrap Up.
Another quality piece of writing from a trustworthy name in nostalgia pulp. Even though it has its faults I’m still giving this 5 stars as it is as good as anything else out there in epulp land, nostalgia or otherwise, with plenty more story to check out if you want to read more. For those who like their pulp reading gore free you may want to knock a star off but for those who like their vigilantes embroiled in the supernatural this is a must read. I definitely recommend.
Interested in more epulp? Check out the rest of my reviews.
Gravedigger is another addition to Barry Reese’s growing stable of old-school nostalgia pulp creations and, as usual, doesn’t disappoint. The Gravedigger leans more to the horror side of the nostalgia-driven dark avenger theme with a bit more gore and darkness than before, while bringing the Sovereign City world closer together with several crossovers and some more historical background to the city. All while providing a read that won’t trouble first time readers to the Sovereign City world. It’s good quality epulp that’s a definite read for those who like their vigilantes up to their neck in the supernatural and don’t mind some gibbs and gore along the way.
Pacing and Action: 4 stars.
The pacing is good with three short stories that introduce us to this new character and plunge us into the supernatural shenanigans that plague Sovereign City. There’s plenty of action, crazy situations and cross-city conspiracy that ensures the book earns its pulpy status. Not to mention a good helping of supernatural bad guys that need to be dispatched by our new hero. It’s all well detailed and fast.
About the only problem with the pacing – and I’m using the word ‘problem’ loosely – is that the book does tend to timeline jump a bit in order to fill in the historical backstory. By any other standard the pace is fine but on a pulpy scale it does tend to haul things up and complicate the read more than usual. It won’t spoil the read but it is less than pulp-ideal.
Pulp Concept: 5 stars.
Very pulpy. If you’ve ever read an old-school dark avenger vigilante story then this is familiar territory but with a few very unique twists. It creates a character with an interesting quandary and plenty of momentum for further adventures, all steeped in the supernatural and dark. The only shortcoming might be for people who like their reading gore free as the book does have a touch of the exploitation film about it – not in a big way but it’s there – and if so you may want to knock a star off the final score, but for everyone else this is as pulpy as you like.
Character Development: 4 stars.
The protagonists’ dilemma and motivation is written well and there’s plenty of supporting characters with their own personalities and motivations. There’s an interesting group dynamic with some really interesting cross-overs with already established characters for readers familiar with them. As pulp goes these are very well rounded characters with a proper internal life that should draw the reader in and get them invested in the story if you’re in it for the action and nothing but.
However, the supporting cast can fade into two-dimensional characters that are more ideas than full blown people. Their behaviour can seem a little inconsequential at times, the risks they take having no ramifications or consequences to the point that they’re untouchable and above what happens to them. It can also cheapen the Gravedigger’s abilities when supporting characters every now and then manifest their own amazing abilities (I’m talking about a certain briefcase throwing incident) and are relatively unfazed by anything around them (they’re awfully chipper and loyal considering some of the things they see). But, considering this is the first story it may be all about establishing a status quo than delving into their own faults and insecurities.
Production: 5 stars.
A gorgeous cover and good price make this 5 stars even though there were a few editorial misses in the third book. Unfortunately the cover hasn’t been posted here on GoodReads (I read the ebook version as well, but that’s not up in time for this review either) but in colour it really is amazing, perfectly capturing the mood and pulpy ‘tude the book has. Very nice.
Series Potential: 5 stars.
Definitive. There’s plenty more action to be had following The Gravedigger and all the pieces are in place for further adventures. Sovereign City is also becoming a more textured and detailed location for all things pulpy so it would be a crying shame if there weren’t more stories in the pipeline.
Wrap Up.
Another quality piece of writing from a trustworthy name in nostalgia pulp. Even though it has its faults I’m still giving this 5 stars as it is as good as anything else out there in epulp land, nostalgia or otherwise, with plenty more story to check out if you want to read more. For those who like their pulp reading gore free you may want to knock a star off but for those who like their vigilantes embroiled in the supernatural this is a must read. I definitely recommend.
Interested in more epulp? Check out the rest of my reviews.
March 16, 2014
This has all the lurid prose of classic pulp fiction and the masterfully drawn illustrations of Will Meugniot serve to enhance one's overall experience. This is an origin story of a young woman on the wrong side of the law who catches a bullet during an attempted robbery and is visited in her grave by *the voice* offering her the opportunity for redemption if she chooses the life of a vigilante. The story is set in the 1930s, but incorporates tales from 18th century Americana and conspiracies of the occult.
June 7, 2013
An outstanding book with as much creativity of it's own as it has nods to pulp as a genre. I've read some of Barry Reese's other books and it was a pleasant surprise to see some characters from those books show up here. I really liked this and want to see where this goes...particularly with the impending arrival of "The Opposite"
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews