Category: Crime

100 Bullets Coming to Showtime

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Earlier this afternoon it was announced at Deadline.com that SHOWTIME and David Goyer [writer/producer] are teaming to bring the adaption of 100 Bullets to television.   As most of you probably already know, 100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello [writer] and Eduardo Risso [artist] ran for 100 issues under the Vertigo imprint for DC Comics.    While it was running 100 Bullets was consistently one of my favorite comics being published.  If the tv series is half as good as the comic series, we’re in for a heck of a ride.

Looking Forward to a Near Death Experience

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Here’s a heads-up on a new crime comic that’s coming out this September from IMAGE Comics.  Near Death was created by Jay Faerber [author] and Simone Guglielmini [artist].  The series is based on the concept that…

  • …After getting a glimpse of his own disturbing life after death while clinically dead for two minutes, professional killer Markham vows to do whatever it takes to prevent his return to the hell he saw before he was revived. He vows to save as many lives as possible, in the hopes that he can somehow balance the scales of judgement.

You can find out more about the series at this CBR.com preview.

The Last of the Innocent

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Whenever Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips get together for a crime comic series they create magic.  Well, the boys are at it again with their latest arc Criminal: The Last of the Innocent.  Based on Brubaker & Phillips track record, I like many of you, pre-ordered it, sight unseen.  Well according to this five star review at CBR.com, we made an excellent decision in getting on board early.

If you haven’t ordered yours yet, it’s not to late to contact your local comic shop.  You’ll be glad you did.

Steranko’s Chandler is Back

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That’s the cover to Dark Horse Presents #3 and yep, that’s Steranko’s classic private eye, Chandler.  If you’re a fan of crime comics and haven’t read Steranko’s Chandler, you’re missing out.  The great news is that Dark Horse Presents #3 will feature a 13 page preview of the soon to be re-released graphic novel plus a new interview with Steranko.   The preview and interview alone are worth the price of admission.

[Via CBR.com]

Loose Ends: It’d Be a Crime to Miss Out

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Loose Ends by Jason LaTour [writer]. Chris Brunner [pencils & inks] and Rico Renzi [colors] is described as…

  • …a gritty, slow cooked, “southern crime romance”, that follows a winding trail down Tobacco Road, through the war torn streets of Baghdad, and into the bright lights and bloody gutters of South Florida…12-Gauge style.

It’s no secret that I love hardboiled crime stories and great art. Loose Ends is gonna have both.  It’s the one comic that I can’t wait to get my mits on. Loose Ends will be the first comic that I’ll read [Yep, Criminal and Walking Dead will have to wait] when it hits comic shops in July.

Jason has set up a great story and Chris’ art with Rico’s colors are amazing.  Truly.  I think that Loose Ends is going to break big and I’m encouraging everyone who might like it to give Loose Ends a try.

If you like what you see, please order up a couple of dozen copies from your local comic shop. [The copies will make great Christmas and birthday gifts.]  If you don’t like what you see, it’s time to get your eyes checked.

Want Some Real Cheap Yellow Medicine?

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I guess I’m old fashioned.  Or maybe just old.  You see, I like the books I read to be real… not some digital concoction that you read from a machine.  I love being able to read a great book and then place it in my collection on my bookshelf.  But that’s not what this post is about.

What this post is about is the fact that Anthony Neil Smith, the author of two excellent crime novels featuring bad cop Billy Lafitte is offering a super deal on the first, titled Yellow Medicine.  Starting May 1st at 2pm you will be able to get a copy of Yellow Medicine for just 99 cents.  The idea is to get everyone who wants a copy to jump on at the same time and get Yellow Medicine on the charts.

At 99 cents the novel is a steal.  Heck, I paid a lot more than that for my hardcover copy and the story was so good, I thought I got a bargain.  So if you read your novels from a screen, then give Yellow Medicine a try.  [And if you’re like me and want a “real” book then order up one here.]

Batman: Year One – Feature Length Animation

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One of my all-time favorite graphic novels is Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. I was pleased to read in The Hollywood Reporter today that a feature length animated adaptation is in the works with Bruce Timm on board to executive produce.  Timm indicates that the production will closely follow the graphic novels story and look when he says:

“The source material is surprisingly cinematic; it’s a pretty straight forward literal retelling… Mazzucchelli’s artwork is beautifully composed and we were able to refer to the comic for about 80 percent of the camera setups.”

Ben McKenzie will provide the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne and Bryan “Breaking Bad” Cranston will do the same for Liet. James Gordon.  You can read more about the production here and here.

Thomas Jane Joins Stallone in “Headshot”

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JoBlo broke the news today that Thomas Jane is set to join Sylvester Stallone in “Headshot.” Walter Hill is set to direct the adaptation of the crime comic published as “Bullet to the Head.” Stallone plays a hitman and Jane a NYC detective who are brought together after a series of murders.  According to Jane…

  • He’s a hitman, I’m a cop, and we’re just opposite in every ******* way, and we need each other to get this job done. And of course I’m like, ‘As soon as this job’s over, I’m going to take you to jail, you know, you’re a killer.’

Lee Marvin, Mel Gibson & Jason Statham

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Variety reported today that…

  • Jason Statham is in negotiations to star in the thriller “Parker” with Taylor Hackford directing… based on the book series by Donald Westlake [aka RIchard Stark], [and] revolves around a thief who, though at times is forced to be a killer, still lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it. His word is his bond, and if he is crossed he will strike back relentlessly.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Richard Stark’s Parker novels as well as the graphic adaptations by Darwyn Cooke.   I also enjoyed Lee [“Point Blank”] Marvin and Mel [“Payback”] Gibson in movies based on the Parker character.  I have little doubt that Taylor Hackford directing Jason Statham will be welcome additions to the Parker legacy.

Breaking Bad is So Good

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If you don’t watch Breaking Bad on AMC, you’re missing out on one of the best shows currently running.  Seriously.  I’m surprised I don’t hear more people talking Breaking Bad up.  It’s that good.  If you don’t know about it, don’t feel bad.  I only recently discovered Breaking Bad and now I’m hooked.   AMC is about to start running the series again from the start, so this would be a great time to jump on board or at least give it a try.

Saul Goodman [pictured above] is a sleazy lawyer on the show, but he’s  not the main character.  Saul is just one of the many great characters.  Saul’s card might make you think that Breaking Bad is a comedy, but it’s not.  Sure, there are some funny moments, but Breaking Bad ain’t no sitcom.  It is one of the best shows on currently on tv.

Cooke, Stark, Parker: A Better Martini

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Earlier today I posted about Hunter: The Martini Edition which will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material [344 total page count]  for a very reasonable $75.00 price tag.  At Wondercon, today, the cover of the edition [shown above] was previewed.  In addition, Scott Dunbier, the editor of the project said that Hunter: The Martini Edition will…

“contain both of the graphic novels that Darwyn did — both of them were pretty widely acclaimed. It’ll have a number of illustrations, sketchbook material, a lot of cool little extras. One of the best is, it’ll actually have an original eight-page story that will only be available in this Martini Edition.”

Now, more than ever I think that IDW should print up an edition of extras for those of us who have supported the books from the start.

[Via CBR.com]

Cooke, Stark, Parker & The Martini Edition

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If you missed out on Darwyn Cooke’s two best-selling, award-winning adaptations of Richard Parker’s Stark novels, you’re in luck.  This July, IDW is publishing them together in a deluxe format they’re calling Parker: The Martini Edition. The new edition will combine The Hunter and The Outfit into an oversized 9×13 package with 65 pages of additional material running the total page count to 344.  It is set to retail at $75.00.

While I’m happy that the books are doing well enough to warrant the special treatment, it bugs me that fans who bought the original editions from the start will miss out on the bonus materials.  I understand that in order to make the “special edition” special, bonus materials are needed.  I guess it’s a catch-22, but wouldn’t it be nice if IDW published a “bonus materials only” special for folks who had supported the books from the start?  They could even do it in the same format as The Man with the Getaway Face and I’d love it.  Plus it would be another revenue source to help support the production of the next Cooke/Stark Parker graphic novel.