Fatale - di Ed Brubaker e Sean Phillips

[spidergiakimo]

Phillips è se possibile ancora più bravo 

[Clint Eastwood]

questa coppia mi fa impazzire!

[Doktor Sleepless]

Ma quindi The Last of the Innocent sarà l'ultima miniserie di Criminal o è previsto un suo proseguimento all'Image? 

[Azrael]

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips join forces for another crime-noir masterpiece
The Good
The occult meets crime-noir in a book by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips that will leave you with more questions than answers. Who was Dominic Raines? Why did he die, and what does that death have to do with Nicolas Lash? More importantly though, who is this mysterious woman Josephine and how does she know to be at the right place at the right time? What is her connection to both Lash and Raines?

These are only some of the questions you will be left with following the first issue of FATALE. If there was ever a comic book that merited a perfect score, that served as a perfect example of what it means to deliver a "perfect issue," this would be it.

Immediately, the reader is thrown into a world where crime-noir, mystery and the occult converge into this perfect recipe of delicious disaster -- at least, as far as the characters are concerned. You get the impression that Brubaker has no sympathy for the characters he has created and no problem putting them through the ringer to see exactly where they end up. The result is an absolute masterpiece.

The first issue is organized into two parts; the prologue and the first chapter. We are initially introduced to the two characters and given a brief background of their relationship to one another. Within the very first pages the reader will be taken almost completely by surprise. The level of action and mystery sucks the reader into the story and does not let you go. Brilliant storytelling, breathtaking art.

The Bad
Nothing bad here. Brilliant issue, exciting story, gorgeous art.

The Verdict
This edge of your seat thriller combines aspects of mystery, crime and drama eloquently and beautifully tied together with Sean Phillips' breathtaking art. From every panel depicting Josephina's sexy and alluring nature, to the creepy, graphic crime scenes we find at the end of the issue -- Phillips does it all, and he does it brilliantly well.

5 Stelle su 5

Da CVine

[Selina Kyle]

Ma quindi The Last of the Innocent sarà l'ultima miniserie di Criminal o è previsto un suo proseguimento all'Image? 

Credo (e spero) che Criminal continui alla Icon.. queste sono tematiche/atmosfere molto simili ma è un progetto diverso, non c'è legame con quei personaggi. Spero ci potremmo godere entrambi, anche se secondo me Bru adesso ricomincerà Incognito. Almeno, aveva detto che avrebbe fatto così a suo tempo.

[Doktor Sleepless]

Ma quindi The Last of the Innocent sarà l'ultima miniserie di Criminal o è previsto un suo proseguimento all'Image?  

Credo (e spero) che Criminal continui alla Icon.. queste sono tematiche/atmosfere molto simili ma è un progetto diverso, non c'è legame con quei personaggi. Spero ci potremmo godere entrambi, anche se secondo me Bru adesso ricomincerà Incognito. Almeno, aveva detto che avrebbe fatto così a suo tempo.

Io personalmente spero che chiuda la sua run su Capitan America (subentri al suo posto Greg Rucka in modo da continuare con le medesime atmosfere) e si concentri solo sulle sue tre serie indipendenti (il problema è che mi sembra di aver capito che la Icon pian piano stia venendo smantellata). Credo farebbe anche la tua di felicità.  

[Selina Kyle]

Eh eh, se tiri in ballo Rucka mi scombini tutto..
Magari, cioè, sarei contentissima, il cinghialone ha vinto anche un Eisner per la storia che ha scritto su Cap, l'anno scorso.. 
Sarebbe un passaggio di testimone ideale, per il resto, tolto Greg, mi auguro sempre di leggere Bru ovunque e il più possibile alla Marvel, nonostante per Criminal abbia un (enorme) debole. 

[Guardiano della Notte]

Potrebbe piacermi 

[Selina Kyle]

Potrebbe piacermi 

Ma infatti secondo me adoreresti anche Criminal.

[Guardiano della Notte]

Ti ho appena mandato un PM a riguardo 

[Clint Eastwood]

guardiano prendi criminal ad occhi chiusi!!!

[Azrael]

Since "Fatale" is a crime story (of sorts) I have a confession (of sorts): I've never read any of the famous, critically acclaimed Ed Brubaker-Sean Phillips crime comics. Not a single one. My comic book budget tends to be reserved for superheroes, with dinosaurs on the side. Sure, there are exceptions, but I always talked myself out of getting hooked on another series or on more creators.

The cover image of the demon toting a tommy gun, however, was much too much for me to ignore, just absurd and surreal enough to make me want to know more. Then, I saw a preview of the book and I was hooked. I professed I'd give this a go and see what the hubbub was all about with these Brubaker-Phillips collaborations. It is worth noting at this point that the cover is printed on nearly the same stock as the comic itself, giving it a feel and heft different from anything else in the new comic stack this week.

In the text piece at the end of this issue, however, Brubaker reveals "Fatale" is "a new kind of book" for him, unlike his and Phillips' other collaborations. That said, the team's previous projects have certainly shaped how this book came to be, what it is and what the reader can expect.

The story, opening with a prologue set in the present day before spinning into a flashback in 1956 San Francisco, is a tale of the settling of affairs. Following the death of famous author Dominic H. Raines, his estate being wrapped up by his godson, Nicolas Lash. Lash encounters a stunning lady named Jo at his godfather's funeral, and from there, things hit the fan. Gangsters pop up. There's a car chase that involves a propeller airplane. We get explosions, gunfire and amputations, and Jo claims to know of Haines through her grandmother. Through the magic of the flashback, we see Jo's "grandmother," Josephine, meeting with Raines. And it's at this point that the story gets mysterious, electric and terrifying.

Phillips does a great job drawing very photo-influenced figures, including Jo, who bears no small resemblance to Jane Russell. Jo has a classic beauty the type of which triggers second glances and longer stares from men and women alike. Likewise, Lash and Raines are portrayed as handsome, strong men who would definitely steal the scene if they were to appear on the big screen. A great deal of the scenery is shadowy and murky, adding to the mystery and uneasiness of this story. The parts of the story that are more brightly lit are packed with detail and dinginess. Dave Stewart's colors sweep in, shifting the story from stark and cold to moody and cryptic. The look fits the book quite keenly.

There are clues as to what's going on, but mind you, this is a first issue. Brubaker gives readers just enough to encourage them to jump to conclusions, make presumptions about the story and want to return for more, if for no other reason than to see if their theories match the unfolding plot. Undoubtedly, Brubaker has different plans, and his story is going to deliver things we don't see coming. Just as long as we get the story of the demon with the tommy gun, I'll be back for more. Until then, I'm going to give this issue another read then share it with a pal.

5 Stelle su 5

Da CBR

[mistake89]

Criminal mi ha deluso infondo; una buona lettura e nulla più, mi sa che recupero altro, prima di buttarmi su questo!

[Akanith Wan]

Queste serie sono praticamente il punto d'incontro tra i miei gusti e quelli della Gatta, Brubaker e Phillips lavorano in una sinergia pressoché perfetta!

[Selina Kyle]

Queste serie sono praticamente il punto d'incontro tra i miei gusti e quelli della Gatta, Brubaker e Phillips lavorano in una sinergia pressoché perfetta!

Vero, a volte succede.