Gravediggers Union #5 is just as sturdy an entry as ever. Craig and Cypress have their story down; this issue the Union is investigating the Tom Cruise stand-in (a celebrity in a cult who may or may not bring about the end times). Only the reader knows he’s not going to bring about the end times because it’s Morgan who is the dark prophet.

This issue juxtaposes Morgan having a vision with the Union going into the celebrity guy’s mind to figure out what’s going on. This mind meld happens after the Union has to take out the guy’s army of zombies. Because why not.

Basically it’s just a bunch of awesome Cypress art, doing magic, fighting, dark gods, whatever.

Gravediggers is a hard book to describe. Yes, the art drives it, but Craig’s plotting and pacing gives Cypress the opportunities to excel. Quite good comics.

Half the action in Gravediggers Union involves the Union members doing research at a library and arguing about what’s an appropriate use of union dues.

The other half of the action is Morgan, daughter of a Union member and prophet of the Black Temple, bargaining with some dead souls for their help in destroying humanity or something. Morgan’s half of the issue is where Cypress gets to go crazy on his art–the dead souls are part of a “ghost-storm,” basically a hurricane; the art’s gorgeous. Even when people are being eviscerated.

Craig’s comedic writing comes through on the other half, the Union half. It’s exposition but well-done. Cypress’s art is strong on it as well, it’s just not a ghost-storm. It’s a trip to the library, with some very pop culture references.

Gravediggers Union continues to be a strong book. Craig’s juxtapositioning of Morgan’s story and her father’s is working out a lot better than I thought it would.

Gravediggers continues on a nice pace. It’s a suspense comic (so hopefully a limited, or at least with definite arcs) and Craig’s better at building that suspense than anything else. The pacing of the reveals this issue, as he toggles between the Union tangling with a vampire and Black Temple Prophet (and former junior gravedigger) Morgan has a trippy experience getting ready for a presentation.

Great art by Cypress. As always. Though he gets less to do with the Union than Morgan. She goes all over the place, this universe and beyond. The Union goes into a haunted house. From a haunted graveyard. Or some such thing. Morgan’s storyline opens the book up a lot, because Craig isn’t really a comedy writer. He couldn’t keep it going with just the Union.

So another good issue of Gravediggers Union. Craig’s got the momentum on the book now, Cypress is always able to carry it. It’s in its stride.

Craig splits the issue in half, between Cole and his sidekicks talking to a witch about their situation and then something with the actual situation they don’t know about. Cole’s daughter isn’t being held prisoner, she’s the goddess of the Black Temple and she’s going to bring about the end of the… something. It’s unclear what. Probably not world. Though maybe.

And she’s not an all-powerful goddess. She’s still learning how to people manage. The 1% funds the Black Temple–though the daughter, Morgan, doesn’t let it stop her from taking appropriate measure.

Cole and company are meeting a witch named Morphea in the first half. Then daughter Morgan in the second. Too many M names.

The prologue has art from Craig. Presumably some kind of pre-history magic thing. It’s fine. So far it has zero connection to the comic itself.

Cypress’s art is phenomenal. Even when you know he’s doing way more work than the panel needs, it’s such good work.

The back matter of Gravediggers Union has writer and opening artist Wes Craig excited about having Toby Cypress drawing the comic. It is exciting to have Cypress drawing the comic and whatnot, but Craig’s too excited. Is Cypress drawing the book the only reason to read it?

I mean, is Cypress to that level of artist yet?

But I’m getting dreary early because Gravediggers is perfectly fine, writing-wise. It’s about union members (of the Gravediggers Union) having to fight zombies and evil supernatural forces. Like, it’s their job. It’s sort of funny. Funny enough.

Because the book does have some great Cypress art. He does the talking heads really well too, playing up the humor through exaggeration and implication. He’s a perfect fit for Craig’s script, because he can just as easily do the supernatural action.

So it’s off to a good start. Hopefully Cypress doesn’t end up keeping it afloat. It’d be nice for Craig to succeed too.