Graphic Novel Review: Sin City #1 – The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller

31/03/2014, CelineNyx, Updates , 0

Summary: Marv lives in Sin City, a city that is run by murderers, rapists and the corrupt. He has one amazing night with a woman called Goldie, but when he wakes up she is dead. He swears revenge and goes after her killer.

What I liked:
– This graphic novel is incredibly atmospheric; the erratic black and white pen-like drawings set the scene perfectly
– The stark contrast of black and white without even the aid of greys makes the already harsh environment seem even more harsh
– Though I wasn’t expecting it, I found myself caring for Marv. And I really, really didn’t see that coming – he is NOT a good guy
– Interesting cast of characters, especially the hookers play a role in the story that I enjoyed

What I didn’t like:
– The gratious violence was too much to stomach. I can usually take violence in word form, but the torture that happens in the pages of The Hard Goodbye crossed my boundries
– It got so much that I was glad when they were just breaking bones/hitting each other in the face with guns
– The solution to the main story line was a bit weird. It seemed to come a bit out of the middle of nowhere
– Overall I’m just very conflicted about this book. On one hand, it made me feel things (huge accomplishment) but on the other hand it’s so incredibly bleak

Verdict: Extremely bleak and heart-wrenching. Only read it if you don’t mind visual violence.

The first volume of the crime-comic megahit that introduced the now-infamous character Marv and spawned a blockbuster film returns in a newly redesigned edition, with a brand-new cover by Frank Miller – some of his first comics art in years! It’s a lousy room in a lousy part of a lousy town. But Marv doesn’t care. There’s an angel in the room. She says her name is Goldie. A few hours later, Goldie’s dead without a mark on her perfect body, and the cops are coming before anyone but Marv could know she’s been killed. Somebody paid good money for this frame . . .

3 stars, action, bleak, book review, comic, crime, criminal, dark horse, frank miller, graphic novel review, sin city, the hard goodbye

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