This one has a great atmosphere, sort of an Eyes Wide Shut mixed with the drearier work of David Goodis. But this one proves itself to be middle-of-thThis one has a great atmosphere, sort of an Eyes Wide Shut mixed with the drearier work of David Goodis. But this one proves itself to be middle-of-the-road when compared to other Brubaker and Sean Philips work, really petering out at the end into a bit of an anticlimax. Still better than a lot of material out there though and I feel like a re-read might be warranted soon....more
Catwoman is one of my favorite comic book characters and although I haven't read everything, I would be pretty confident in calling this the best CatwCatwoman is one of my favorite comic book characters and although I haven't read everything, I would be pretty confident in calling this the best Catwoman run of all time. Brubaker and Darwin Cooke lend their superhuman writing talent here, presenting Selina Kyle as a multi-faceted, hard-boiled anti-heroine in Gotham’s East End.
My more expanded reviews of the material included in this omnibus are here:
This is a great Noirvember read and my favorite volume of the consistently great Reckless series of hard-boiled graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and SeanThis is a great Noirvember read and my favorite volume of the consistently great Reckless series of hard-boiled graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips about a pulp "detective" named Ethan Reckless, that's a cross between Travis McGee, Jack Reacher, and Matthew Scudder. It's a companion piece of sorts with the last book, The Ghost In You, which focused solely on Ethan's best buddy Anna with only a small hint as to what was going on with Ethan. Here, we get the whole dramatic tale of what happened to him when he takes a missing wife case in post-earthquake San Francisco.
I really enjoyed the story and the way it developed, its focus on abuse, and the cycle of violence that abuse can foster. The book is the best one at building and illustrating Ethan's character since the very first novel, and it does so in small but effective ways. And I was totally surprised by how hopeful and bittersweet the ending is. I'm used to stories in this genre ending with nihilism and negativity, but it was actually refreshing to see somewhat of a happy ending. It's not all sunshine and roses mind you, but it feels perfectly cathartic. Bravo Brubaker and Phillips, you outdid yourselves with this one. ...more
In this book, the series takes a little break from following Ethan. And this time, his friend, projectionist, and fan-favorite, Anna Keller, takes cenIn this book, the series takes a little break from following Ethan. And this time, his friend, projectionist, and fan-favorite, Anna Keller, takes center stage as she takes on a strange case while Ethan is on a job in Frisco. And the series feels fresher for it!
A B-movie scream-queen from Anna’s childhood hires Anna to investigate whether or not her newly inherited Hollywood mansion is haunted. I love the mystery and mythology of older Hollywood and this book, even more so than previous Reckless books, is an homage to that time and culture. I love the break from Ethan as the main character and the further deepening of Anna's backstory. The quirkiness of the mystery fits Anna well. A great resolution and final scene helps make this another great installment, and one of the series' best!...more
This third volume of Reckless happens to be a mystery involving a war between shady real estate moguls. But that mystery totally plays second fiddle tThis third volume of Reckless happens to be a mystery involving a war between shady real estate moguls. But that mystery totally plays second fiddle to what the story is really about, and that’s a focus on Ethan’s relationship with his partner/projectionist Anna, which really serves as the story’s backbone. We also get a backstory about Anna and ultimately it’s pretty touching. Also, the way that Brubaker has been playing with time in these books is proving to add another layer to this overarching tale!...more
Brubaker and Phillips continue telling the tales of the haunted 1980’s problem solver Ethan Reckless in his second graphic novel. This one is noticeabBrubaker and Phillips continue telling the tales of the haunted 1980’s problem solver Ethan Reckless in his second graphic novel. This one is noticeably better than the first book, with a missing girl mystery filled with Vietnam refugees, z-grade exploitation flicks, Satanic cults, and Nazi skinheads. This book has great characters and a real sense of time and place. And in Ethan Reckless, the creators continue to flesh out an enduring, memorable anti-hero character in the same vein of Travis McGee and Jack Reacher.
When you do what I do, a lot of the job is just about staying on the path as it starts to get twisted… or knowing which way to go when it splits in two.
One of the best teams in comics is back at it again, and this time with a series of pulp graphic novels following a problem-solver/trouble-maker-for-hOne of the best teams in comics is back at it again, and this time with a series of pulp graphic novels following a problem-solver/trouble-maker-for-hire in the same vein of Travis McGee, Parker, or Jack Reacher. In the 1980’s, Ethan Reckless gets a visit from an old flame that not only brings back ghosts of the past, but plunges him into a plot of graphic revenge.
This first book in the series actually turned out to be pretty middle-of-the-road work for Brubaker and Philips. It proved to be a little forgettable and the climax seemed to just fizzle out in a lazy way. But middle-of-the-road from these guys is still better than half the work out there, and with its cracking first half, this book is still a promising beginning to what could be a good series. ...more
While all the previous stories in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s long-running Criminal series were shorter 4-issue runs and one shots, this latest isWhile all the previous stories in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s long-running Criminal series were shorter 4-issue runs and one shots, this latest is the longest tale, an epic graphic novel that proves to be an integral piece to the tapestry that’s been weaved about the tragic Lawless family through all of the books. It functions as the bridge between the period stories told of Teeg Lawless and the modern day ones focusing on his sons.
Here, the large cast of characters converge around a daring heist in a story of generational tragedy and violence. The structure is awesome, each issue focusing on the point of view of a different character, providing emotional surprises and clever context as the story moves forward. There are references calling back to almost every Criminal story and we finally get to witness events that we’ve only previously heard about and it’s pretty satisfying. If this is the final Criminal tale (and I hope it isn’t), what a great way to bow out!
This new deluxe collection of Criminal collects shorter stories from both the original run and the lastest 2019 run. As usual the stories are top-notcThis new deluxe collection of Criminal collects shorter stories from both the original run and the lastest 2019 run. As usual the stories are top-notch crime stories that interconnect for a big noir tapestry about the Lawless family. We get early stories focusing on a young Tracy Lawless, his tragic criminal father, and we also finally feature Tracy’s brother Ricky Lawless, who’s been a constant spectral influence in the Criminal stories, unseen until now. If you’re a Criminal fan, you already know this stuff is going to be great!
This short graphic novella loosely fits into Brubaker/Phillips’s Criminal series but it tells a very different story than the other Criminal tales. ItThis short graphic novella loosely fits into Brubaker/Phillips’s Criminal series but it tells a very different story than the other Criminal tales. It’s more of a sad love/hate letter to the comic book publishing business, as it tells the story of failed comic artist forced to accompany his famous, world-weary mentor on a weekend at a comic-con. There’s the tiniest bit of crime here, because it’s really a look at the price of fame and how failure and success can look similar on the surface. And it was a treat seeing the main character from my favorite Criminal story at the forefront again!...more
The second stunning collection of the amazingly consistent Criminal stories! This book starts off with one of my favorite comic book stories of all tiThe second stunning collection of the amazingly consistent Criminal stories! This book starts off with one of my favorite comic book stories of all time and stays on a high from there! This work is must-read stuff!
This is just another notch in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips's sizable belt of great books! This short graphic novella about an aging former outlaw-turThis is just another notch in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips's sizable belt of great books! This short graphic novella about an aging former outlaw-turned-pulp writer who decides on one last hoorah is a tale of nostalgia and melancholy and works so well because of Brubaker’s sensitive and efficient writing and Phillips’s deceptively simple, iconic art, both of which are already legendary in the industry.
After the heavy emotional toll taken in the previous volume, Matt’s friends finally get him out of his violent funk and back into the world. He startsAfter the heavy emotional toll taken in the previous volume, Matt’s friends finally get him out of his violent funk and back into the world. He starts out with a case defending a supervillain convict who is lying about committing a heinous double murder. It’s a great little legal drama that’s well-written and seems like it might provide a reset in Matt’s tumultuous life.
But then it all goes to shit when the ninja-cult The Hand decides to make another play for the control of New York City, heralding the arrival of a surprising new foe and the return of an old one. Brubaker has a great handle of the characters and it makes for standout reading. And the action and suspense gets turned up to 11 here as the story barrels toward the end of Brubaker’s run, while the surprising climax sets the stage for the next creative team to take the ball and run with it!...more
Brubaker’s dramatic follow-up to Bendis’s game-changing run on Daredevil begins here. It opens with a bang, picking up right where the last run ended,Brubaker’s dramatic follow-up to Bendis’s game-changing run on Daredevil begins here. It opens with a bang, picking up right where the last run ended, with a badass story arc called “The Devil in Cell Block D,” featuring Matt Murdock stuck in prison. There’s constant tension here as there is ever-present danger to Matt’s life all while he’s emotionally being chipped away. There are also fantastic cameos here, and it’s not only the best story arc in the book but also one of the best Daredevil stories I’ve read.
While it doesn’t quite always match the creative urgency that Bendis’s run had, Brubaker holds his own here, dropping big twists with beloved characters, taking Matt on a country-hopping, swashbuckling, international adventure, and then reinventing some of Daredevil’s silliest villains and telling a suspenseful crime tale that might change Matt’s life forever, although I’ve seen similar plot lines in the Batman world.
Brubaker has real skill with plot, especially in crime stories. The legal drama here is engaging and the way he keeps Matt’s secret identity drama compelling is impressive, still keeping it intact even though most of the world pretty much knows that Matt is Daredevil.
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