Batman: Ego, and Other Tails, by Darwyn Cooke, with Paul Grist, Bill Wray and Tim Sale (DC Comics, 2007)

Bruce Wayne and The Bat struggle over whose identity is dominant. A smart, quick chamber piece that both covers a great deal of Bat-history and delivers in immediate story terms. Packaged together with other Batman work from Cooke, including the stand-alone Catwoman adventure Selina’s Big Score.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England

 

Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score, by Darwyn Cooke with Matt Hollingsworth (DC Comics, 2002)

Desperate to earn, Selina Kyle takes on a risky big heist opportunity. Pacy graphic novel in Cooke’s typically confident noir-inflected style, operating also as a precursor to his Richard Stark/Parker adaptations. Explosive and with an emotional heart, this is lots of fun.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England

 

Richard Stark’s Parker: Slayground, by Darwyn Cooke, adapted from the novel by Richard Stark (IDW Publishing, 2018)

An armoured car job goes awry; Parker hides out in an out-of-season funfair. The fourth and final volume in this series of adaptations maintains the high series standard. Sleek, visual and retro, and effortlessly lean. Comes with an additional short story, The Seventh.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score, by Darwyn Cooke, adapted from the novel by Richard Stark (IDW Publishing, 2017)

Parker is talked into an audacious series of heists across the same town on the same night. The blend as before in this third excellent adaptation: sleek modernist visuals, terse dialogue, brutal action. A fourth volume – Slayground – soon followed.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit, by Darwyn Cooke, adapted from the novel by Richard Stark (IDW Publishing, 2016)

A criminal hits back at an organised crime syndicate, via a series of heists. As with its predecessor, this is a smart, dark adaptation of its source material, splendidly capturing the original while being strong enough to remain impressive in its own right. Recommended.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, by Darwyn Cooke, adapted from the novel by Richard Stark (IDW Publishing, 2012)

New York 1962: a left-for-dead heist operator seeks revenge and the money he’s owed. Fantastic graphic novel adaptation of the Stark/Donald E Westlake thriller. Cooke’s swift dark style and his monochrome renderings capture the prose well, giving the tale a brutal cinematic sweep. Recommended.

My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England