Jon Sable makes a triumphant return to the racks under the IDW Publishing banner. And bad guys and city dwelling slime balls everywhere beware! Sable's back, sporting his trademark faux tribal mask and he's got his mojo working early and often in this first of six issues. This marks Jon Sable's first outing in the 21st Century and IDW is celebrating by offering both soft cover and hard cover volumes of his previous First Comics incarnation in a fine line of trade paperbacks.

Along for the ride, indeed helping to steer the very ship, is ex-First and DC Comics Editor Supreme Mike Gold. Gold outlines the creative process he and Grell endure to produce the "ripped from the headlines" stories that are a Sable/Grell trademark (see any of the gritty arcs they produced on Green Lantern pre the Kevin Smith revamp). The editorial is two pages and manages to be both funny and moving in its reflection on the impact of the tragic events of 9/11 on Gold's beloved New York City.

The artwork is pure Grell. Grell's familiar, distinct sketchy style is complemented nicely with colors by Lovern Kindzierski. Grell's style is all his own and instantly recognizable whether you love it or loathe it (much like his contemporaries Bryne and Chaykin), count me in the former camp. The story is reader-friendly if you've never read a Sable yarn before, but rewards longtime fans with glimpses of mentor Sonny, the beautiful Myke, and Sable's old running mate Jacob Inyati who's now an African statesman. They even manage a nod old Sable continuity when a young girl he rescues asks, "Are you Batman?"

This book should appeal to longtime fans and attract new readers. If you're a fan of The Punisher or realistic espionage/action thrillers you'd might wanna check out what Grell, IDW and company have cooking.