Beyond Black and White: Noir Graphic Novels
Recently a customer asked me where the library kept its noir graphic novels. Although I love film noir and have read my share of noir fiction, I was unaware that the genre existed in graphic novels.
It makes sense. Graphic novels are the perfect place to capture the smoke, shadows and betrayal that are typical of the genre.
These are a few of the noir graphic novels in the library system:
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100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello, writer; Eduardo Risso, artist; Grant Goleash, colorist; Clem Robins, letterer
Individuals who have been wronged are offered a chance for revenge in this anthology series.
Blacksad written by Juan Díaz Canales; illustrated by Juanjo Guarnido; lettering by Studio Cutie
Cynical private eye John Blacksad is the toughest cat in town in this hardboiled series set in 1950s America.
Dark Entries by Ian Rankin, art by Werther Dell'Edera, letters by Clem Robbins
Occult detective John Constantine investigates when supernatural events occur on the set of a reality show.
Dark Rain: a New Orleans Story by Mat Johnson, writer; Simon Gane, artist; Lee Loughridge, grey tones & colour; Pat Brousseau, letterer
Two ex-cons attempt to rob a New Orleans bank as the city struggles to survive Hurricane Katrina.
Fatale: Death Chases Me by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Nicholas Lash meets and falls in love with a beautiful, mysterious woman with a secret in a book that will appeal to fans of HP Lovecraft and Raymond Chandler.
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A History of Violence by John Wagner; art by Vince Locke; lettering by Bob Lappan
A small town diner owner finds his carefully constructed identity threatened after he thwarts a robbery and becomes a media celebrity.
Noche Roja by Simon Oliver, writer; Jason Latour, art; Clem Robins, letterer
Nothing is as it appears in this tale of an ex-cop who is hired to track down a missing young woman near the Mexico/US border.
Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke
Professional thief Parker is set on revenge in this adaptation of a classic novel written by Donald Westlake using the name Richard Stark.
Scarlet by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev; Chris Eliopoulous, letterer
Scarlet's innocence is shattered when corrupt police officers kill her boyfriend. Fueled by grief, she begins a violent mission to avenge his death.
West Coast Blues adapted by Jacques Tardi from the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette
A man is pursued by assassins after he helps a man who has been injured in a car accident.
Ask staff for additional selections.
One thought on “Beyond Black and White: Noir Graphic Novels”
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