Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “I read this. It was pretty good, and beautifully drawn. Frank Miller is the best, never takes himself too seriously and offers the fun you can't get in a normal book. Yeah! You kill Charlie Brown, Marv! I would not normally approve, but he HAS been killing ladies...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“I read this. It was pretty good, and beautifully drawn. Frank Miller is the best, never takes himself too seriously and offers the fun you can't get in a normal book. Yeah! You kill Charlie Brown, Marv! I would not normally approve, but he HAS been killing ladies...”
Alex F wrote this review Sunday, September 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Even though I am not a fan of graphic novels, this series is good. Read the books and then watch the movie. The scenes are right out of the book. ”
Diane wrote this review Monday, June 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I think enough has been said about this story's style, it's visceral appeal, and it's enjoyability.
Evan S wrote this review Thursday, May 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
What sets this book apart from it's ilk in the category of aesthetic violence is what it says about it's target audience: men.
Marv is a perplexing and tragic superman. The power he wields, both physical and mental, are unmatched. He is perfect in his microcosm. A focused, unstoppable mountain of testosterone. Everything about him exudes the male ideal. He's strong and forceful, attractive to men's ideal of themselves, yet so physically unappealing that he's the antithesis of homosexual arousal. He's capable, cocky, confident (on the surface), protector, immortal. He even gets to shirk the label of violent, inhuman monster, cause he loves his mommy.
But throughout the book each of these aspects of the male identity are undermined and exalted side by side. He's not actually confident. He sees himself as out of control without medication. He's clever in his own mind, he's a fool. Most importantly, his unstoppable force is just an illusion.
The surefire way to cut through each and every one of Marv's strengths, to undo all his power, is to provide him with his idyllic negative: woman. For a book which repeatedly seems so misogynistic to ultimately give femininity power over all says a lot for the futility of manhood. Marv cannot save women, cannot love women, cannot control women. He has all the power of any man, and cannot achieve the most fundamental goal of men.
The story and images manage to straddle gracefully the line between passionate and gratuitous, sexy and pornographic. There's just enough depth for the superficiality to seem pointed. It justifies and debunks the male gender identity simultaneously. ”
“dark writings from a dark mind what a joy illustrated doom all will fall”
NESSY wrote this review Sunday, July 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“This was surprisingly good. I was surprised by how closely the movie followed everything - even the words. They usually change a lot, but not this time. Breathtaking. I can't wait to get the rest... -kmr”
La fille a la folie. wrote this review Sunday, June 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Hyperviolent, semi-cliched story, but a bizarre and intriguing protagonist.”
Paul wrote this review Monday, May 19 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is an example of crime noir. Marv, a man rather large, ugly man of dubious repute wakes up with a beautiful young woman in his bed. The problem is, the woman, Goldie, is dead. Marv makes it his mission to find the killer of the one person who blessed him with a night of love and compassion. Although a thrilling story with equally amazing black and white images, Miller’s frank dialogue and depictions of sex and violence limit the readability of this graphic novel. It would certainly be appropriate for a junior or senior in high school, as well as college students and above.”
B-Nasty wrote this review Tuesday, April 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The style and direction of Miller's work is really good. The Hard Goodbye is the only one I've read, though I've seen the Sin City movie. It is much better in comic book form though because you can take more time to appreciate each image and let it sink in. I might have gotten more into Miller's work but he's too obsessed with guys getting their junk blown off.
Gregory wrote this review Friday, March 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
But I still had fun reading this at the time as it was something completely new and refreshing to me. ”
