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jennifermreads's review
4.0
“Stay a cop long enough, you go down one of three paths: you become a cynic, a reformer, or a drunk.”
Gideon returns from fighting on the frontlines of WWII and picks up a gun & a badge in Little Rock. He finds himself deep in a mire of segregation & racism and mob-rule. Calling on his FBI training, the mayor hopes Gideon can use his skills to bring order and peace to Little Rock while keeping an eye on the police department and schizophrenic Chief Bailey.
How many readers pick up this novel because of Nate Powell’s name on the cover? For sure, that is why it landed in my own TBR pile. Powell’s artwork continues to make my jaw drop. So much emotion and story ooze from his brushstrokes. This is a complicated story with so many facets: mobsters, racism, segregation, mental illness, PTSD, home life. The perspectives meld, the stories flow, and the ending will … well, you need to read it to see what the ending will be. For me, the ending Turns out there is a fourth path.
Gideon returns from fighting on the frontlines of WWII and picks up a gun & a badge in Little Rock. He finds himself deep in a mire of segregation & racism and mob-rule. Calling on his FBI training, the mayor hopes Gideon can use his skills to bring order and peace to Little Rock while keeping an eye on the police department and schizophrenic Chief Bailey.
How many readers pick up this novel because of Nate Powell’s name on the cover? For sure, that is why it landed in my own TBR pile. Powell’s artwork continues to make my jaw drop. So much emotion and story ooze from his brushstrokes. This is a complicated story with so many facets: mobsters, racism, segregation, mental illness, PTSD, home life. The perspectives meld, the stories flow, and the ending will … well, you need to read it to see what the ending will be. For me, the ending
Spoiler
was shocking. I expected one of them to die – but not both.ecote525's review
4.0
This was a hard book for me in many ways. It took me longer than usual to finish this graphic novel due to the heavy subject matter, my quarantine emotional rollercoaster, and how it all of a sudden had even more relevance with the protests currently going on. This story had many themes to wrap your head around - racism, PTSD, police corruption, mental illness...the fact that its based on a true story makes it pack an even more emotional punch. The drawings were a bit confusing at times in the action sequences, but overall I really enjoyed this when I was in the right mindset.
sbr's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
upward_not_northward's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A lot of heavy topics discussed in this graphic novel: war trauma, PTSD, guilt, racism, police brutality, syndicated crime, marital strife. It was succinct and very easily read in an afternoon. As others have said the artwork is something to be praised.
bluepigeon's review
4.0
Beautifully inked, dark and fast-paced, the story of a small town in the throes of organized crime and racial tension focuses on two cops: the older cop, Bailey, is hearing voices and is on a mission to eradicate the criminal elements, though he himself is a criminal in the way he abuses his power, and a younger, new cop, Kemp, who's suffering PTSD and is hired by the mayor to try to oust Bailey. Big Mike, the criminal boss in town, leaves a trail of bodies, employs the brother of the head of the black police (who eventually recruits all the black cops who are sick of the disrespect from the whites to work under him for Big Mike from under his brother...), and looks to collect canine teeth of his trophy jar. With corruption running deep, the good cops play as dirty as the bad, and though Kemp tries to keep above it all, he's not spared in the end. Recommended for those who like card games, car chases and changing diapers.
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