by Ed Brubaker (Author), Sean Phillips (Artist)
Publisher: Image Comics
(December 10, 2019)
Hardcover, 72 pages
Here we go with another
round in the Criminal series by the noir masters of the comic art. This is
their element where no one else has quite measured up to their work - with the
possible exception of James Hudnal's Shut
Up and Die, but that lasted only three issues. This book is listed as a new
series, but is really a continuation of the Criminal universe - though I
suppose Kill or Be Killed and The Fade Out could be considered part of
it as well.
Though
it isn't apparent at first, we see the actual attraction and action through the
eyes of a femme fatale, which is a juxtaposition rarely seen in many comics.
The main character tells us all along she is poison, but as we see it from her
point of view and all her problems we don't actually believe her - until the
end when it's all too apparent. Her fascination with junkies comes from the
fact that most artists, comedians, and musicians do their most inspired work
while on something. Her obsession with old junkies is what leads her to commit
such a horrible betrayal.
Part
of what makes this team so interesting is how they are able to take old
material and present it in a new and fascinating way. Good: The art is
superb. The story is well balanced, and
even with the twist, it works in a lot of ways. The hero of this story might be
the villain but there's a lot of gray in this title so it works on a few
levels. Bad: The characters are a little thin, mostly due to the short length.
It’s a good short story, but not a great one.
For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.
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