Ed. Note: We discuss all manner of crime pop culture both past, present and future here at BFB. Here’s a nice look back at Frank Miller’s classic that refueled and reinvigorated the crime genre in comics.
I was first introduced to Sin City via Dark Horse Comics presents. It was showcased in increments of 8-12 pages each issue. The problem with reading Sin City in increments is that you had to wait for at least another month to read another chapter. With this Trade paperback/Graphic Novel you can read it all in one sitting if you so desire.
I was already a huge fan of Frank Miller’s work, so when I had heard he was doing a creator owned crime comic I was elated. Sin City is a beautifully written and drawn black and white tale of revenge of a Psychopathic brawler by the name of Marv. The police and politicians are all corrupt. There will be no justice, there will only be retribution.
The story starts when a down and out bum/brawler by the name of Marv meets a beautiful blond. Her name is Goldie. She is beautiful. She is everything any man can want in a woman. She’s also scared. For the first time in his life a woman is showing him kindness and affection. Not just any woman BUT a goddess. He is treated to a wild night of passionate lovemaking before falling asleep stone drunk next to his beautiful conquest.
When Marv awakens with a massive headache, He discovers Goldie is dead. Not a single mark left on her body… But Marv knows she was murdered. Killed by someone who is very good at evading detection and killing silently. A pro.
Marv has no idea who or why this was all happening but they made one mistake. They killed the one one woman who showed him something he never had before and now there was going to be hell to pay. As he tries to figure out what’s going on, the cops show up in full riot gear. It’s a set up. He pops his meds and goes to war. He cuts through the cops like a hot knife through butter. Steals a cop car and then drive it off of the docks during his getaway.
Marv is banged up, pissed off, needs medication, beer and bandages. A lot of bandages.
Lucille his parole officer lives close by. It’s obviously they have known each other for a very long time. Lucille helps to patch him up as he tells her what has happened. Marv knows he’s fucked… But he’s still going to kill his way to the truth before he gets killed or taken down by the cops. He owes Goldie that much.
This story is so pure and straight forward in its motivations and how it’s told. You can’t help but marvel at Miller’s genius.
Anyone that owns their own creation now owes Miller an incredible debt. This story just makes me appreciate what he did outside of the big two(Marvel and DC) Miller and Dark Horse took a chance and it paid off in spades.
Keep in mind this story originally came out in the early to mid 90′s. This was way before all of the numerous creator owned books out that are constantly being turned into movies. Going back and re-reading it after all of this time I’m amazed at how well written, drawn and paced this story was. On top of that, you have all of these incredibly cool and iconic characters that he created for the series.
This collection is a must read for the fans of the crime genre. Buy it. You can thanks me later.
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