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joseperth's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Rape, Murder, Alcohol, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism
geekwayne's review
5.0
'The Fade Out Volume 1' is a brilliant start to a new series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. It's set in the golden age of Hollywood and it hits all the right notes to make it pretty close to perfect.
Charlie Parish is a screenwriter trying to forget the war by drinking it out of his system. The book opens with him lying in a bathtub with no memory of the night before and a corpse in the next room. The corpse is the leading lady of another picture on his lot. Charlie decides to try to figure out what happened, but whoever did it doesn't want to be found out as Charlie is about to find out. Add in Charlie's drunk, blacklisted friend Gil, and Dottie, the studio assistant that has a crush that everyone but Charlie can see, and you've got a story full of interesting characters and a dark, brooding mystery about to boil over.
It doesn't complete in this volume, but it's still worth the ride. Ed Brubaker writes great stories, and this is no exception. There is a rather large cast of characters, but it's handled well. This is not your clean, friendly Hollywood, but a dark, dangerous one and Sean Phillips art and the colors used give the book a gritty look that I really liked.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this gritty graphic novel.
Charlie Parish is a screenwriter trying to forget the war by drinking it out of his system. The book opens with him lying in a bathtub with no memory of the night before and a corpse in the next room. The corpse is the leading lady of another picture on his lot. Charlie decides to try to figure out what happened, but whoever did it doesn't want to be found out as Charlie is about to find out. Add in Charlie's drunk, blacklisted friend Gil, and Dottie, the studio assistant that has a crush that everyone but Charlie can see, and you've got a story full of interesting characters and a dark, brooding mystery about to boil over.
It doesn't complete in this volume, but it's still worth the ride. Ed Brubaker writes great stories, and this is no exception. There is a rather large cast of characters, but it's handled well. This is not your clean, friendly Hollywood, but a dark, dangerous one and Sean Phillips art and the colors used give the book a gritty look that I really liked.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this gritty graphic novel.
lsparrow's review
1.0
not a huge fan of noir and i could not get interested in the characters or the story.
cornhub's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marsnielson's review
5.0
One of the best comics and old school crime stories I've read in a long time
sarahfonseca's review
4.0
When a beloved blonde bombshell dies curiously during a Hollywood film shoot, life begins to imitate art and an anti-heroic screenwriter finds himself at the forefront of the inquiry. This one is a film fiend's delight, regardless of whether or not they possess an affinity for the 1940s film noir milieu in which the story is set; smug references and thrilling plot-points are motivated by the Un-American Activities Committee, studio system anti-trust legislation, nitrate film's flammability, and even Ronald Reagan's pre-political purity. 'The Fade Out' certainly puts the 'graphic' in graphic novel, yet this feels vital to telling a story about a bygone era that is against nostalgia and alluring. The film industry's most unforgiving qualities - its debauchery run amuck, racism, treatment of women as cattle, and fixation on the almighty dollar - began with the studio system's unchecked power. Eager to read volume two.
arf88's review
4.0
I think my favourite part of this series is the colouring, followed by the art. There were more than a few panels that took my breath away and that I wished I could frame.
As for the story, the plot is gripping, but really it's the atmosphere that sells this. The slick glamour of Hollywood, contrasted with the seedy underbelly of reality. There's a danger of the characters falling into arch-type moulds, but Brubaker manages to give everyone dimension.
As for the story, the plot is gripping, but really it's the atmosphere that sells this. The slick glamour of Hollywood, contrasted with the seedy underbelly of reality. There's a danger of the characters falling into arch-type moulds, but Brubaker manages to give everyone dimension.
duparker's review
4.0
I'm not sure it is possible to not like something this team has done in the noir style. The writing is so well conceived and the art is just as communicative as the writing. The story is a slow burn, which was appreciated. I liked the nuances and details that are thrown in to make the period seem all the more real. I can see how Criminal and Fatale have influenced this book, and yet it is its own piece.
jessethereader's review
3.0
For the most part I really enjoyed this! It was dark, intriguing, and mysterious. All things that I love in a story. I just found this story to be a bit busy and I almost wonder if that was the creator's way of distracting you from solving the mystery at hand. I loved the old hollywood setting, but the illustrations didn't really wow me. I do think I'll probably check out the next volume, because I'd like to know what happens next, I'm just not entirely sold on this series just yet.