Pipeline Guide to Sin City

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

It's done. I've compiled the seven SIN CITY reviews I've written so far this year, wrote a new intro and outro for new readers, and shipped it to CBR's Executive Producer type person. I excised a few hundred words from the reviews to get rid of some of the redundancy and real bits of comic geekiness, in a slight attempt to appeal to a wider range of readers.

And the damned thing still clocks in at just under 5,000 words.

The ultimate irony is that I don't know when I'm going to have the chance to see this movie. I might have to make a special trip for a Sunday matinee, when I should be writing Tuesday's column. We'll see.

-Augie

[DF2506]

Cool! I definitly gotta read that!

I've never read any Sin City before, but I'm VERY interested in the movie! The previews I've seen for it look AMAZING. Just..wow. The movie looks like it will be great.

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go see it at the threater. I'd like to, but I just don't see it happening. :(

That said, I will definitly check it out on dvd!

I've been thinking about checking out some of the Sin City tpbs when I get the chance...but I'm not sure yet.

I'll definitly give your Sin City guide a look when its posted!

Btw, for anyone interested, G4 (a video game tv channel) is going to run an episode of Icons tonight about Frank Miller. Its on at 9pm central time.

DF2506
" I got to admit: the only Frank Miller book I've read is Batman: Year One. I've never read Sin City or the Dark Knight Returns or any of Frank Miller's Daredevil (which I'd love to read, but haven't had the chance yet). Year One is, imo, one of the best Batman stories I've read. I definitly want to check out some more Miller stuff, especially Sin City."

[roach04]

" I got to admit: the only Frank Miller book I've read is Batman: Year One. I've never read Sin City or the Dark Knight Returns or any of Frank Miller's Daredevil (which I'd love to read, but haven't had the chance yet). Year One is, imo, one of the best Batman stories I've read. I definitly want to check out some more Miller stuff, especially Sin City."

Dude, are you in for a treat when you get to this stuff! Miller's career is a great thing to follow, b/c you can see him grow at each step along the way. Even the stuff that didn't strike critical acclaim at the time b/c it was so different (like Ronin) he used as a stepping stone to further his storytelling for future projects (without Ronin, he's not good enough to do DKR).

The coolest thing about the DD run -- when you read the Bullpen page the month that DD #158 shipped, Jim Shooter says something along the lines of "Everybody should buy Daredevil - we've got this new kid 'Lanky' Frank Miller doing the art and he's going to be something spectacular." The other thing that still strikes me as funny from that DD run was that when Miller took over as writer, there were letters every month complaining b/c readers felt the book was too much like Batman and that Miller had no idea how to write a character like Daredevil. And now his DD is considered the definitive version. Funny how time works eh?

[DF2506]

I read the Pipeline Guide to Sin City. It was good! Thanks for writing it Augie!

Vol. 6 of Sin City sounds like it might be the best one to start with. Its the anthology book. It sounds like it would give a good glimspe of the various types of stories that Frank Miller can tell with Sin City. Am I right about that? Does anybody else think I should start there if I get the chance to check these out?

Or should I start with the Hard Goodbye?

Hmm. I'm not even sure I will start reading these reallly. I mean, they sound really interesting, but I'm not sure when I'll have the chance (aka money) to check any of them out. Hmm. Well, I'll keep them in mind anyway! I definitly want to see the movie!

DF2506
" Is already having trouble keeping up with the regular stuff I'm collecting. lol."

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

DF2506 - Thanks for the kind words. While the anthology would give you a taste of the different styles of stories, I'd most likely recommend starting with volume 1, THE HARD GOODBYE. The great thing about this series is that it doesn't have the weak stories in the beginning until the creator gets the feel for the book. Miller started off strong. So it's not like the first volume is an off story or not truly representative of the rest. This isn't the pilot episode of a TV show, in other words.

I wish I had thought of this when I was writing today's column. This would have been a smart thing to point out.

Murray -- I'm ashamed to say it, but: I've never read Miller's DAREDEVIL run. I have all the trades, but I haven't started on them yet. =(

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I can't believe I'm reading this...

C'mon guys! Get with it! I'm not gonna waste my breath, er... fingers, typing about how cool the DD run is. Ya just need to get into it. Start and you won't be able to put it down.

And how about the ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN GN? RONIN? 300? ELEKTRA ASSASIN (my personal fav!)? The MARTHA WASHINGTON books? HARD BOILED? BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT? I'm currently slowly making my way through the Comics Journal Frank Miller collected interviews book, which is very interesting.

Oh, and DF2506 - Augie is right on the Sin City Vol. 1. You'll devour that in around an hour and then go back for more. Guaranteed. It's soooooooo worth it!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I also have HARD BOILED sitting on a shelf on my computer desk. I'll get to that one of these days, too. MARTHA WASHINGTON (the first one) is sitting on my bookcase, beckoning to be read. Have the ELEKTRA stuff, but won't read it until I've read DD.

I did read RONIN a year or two ago and like it. I don't remember if I reviewed it in Pipeline, though.

300 is one of my favorite comics of all time. That's an amazing book. That hardcover occupies a place of honor on the bookshelf. That one's never getting boxed up and moved to storage.

-Augie

[roach04]

Murray -- I'm ashamed to say it, but: I've never read Miller's DAREDEVIL run. I have all the trades, but I haven't started on them yet. =(

Eh, I wouldn't be ashamed - there's always lots of comics that need reading! Buying that whole run was a project I started in 12th grade when I went insane and spent $40 on DD #158 from Robert Cresthohl (remember him? I think Chuck Rozanski eventually bought him out). In those pre-eBay days, it took me nearly 3 years to get every issue. Thank god Marvel has collected them though, but that means anybody who wants to read them only has to buy three books! (I bought the Graffiti HCs b/c I'm a sucker and they had the Elektra Bizarre Adventures story that I hadn't read!)

[roach04]

ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN GN

Grand stuff - but be careful when you buy it! That was one of Marvel's first HC original GNs and the first 2 copies I bought had all kinds of printing errors and pages out of order!

300

This actually may be my favourite of Miller's work as well. Utter genuis. The hardcover is a thing of beauty.

ELEKTRA ASSASIN

You know, as good as this was, (and I loved it too) I liked DD: Love and War better for the Miller/Sienkiewicz team. Marvel should reprint that GN, b/c the final splash of of Sienkiewicz Kingpin ruled.

The MARTHA WASHINGTON

Don't crucify me, but...I love Frank Miller. I love Dave Gibbons. I never really liked either Martha Washington LS. Maybe I should re-read them, but they were bought, read, and never looked at again. Just never grabbed me.

HARD BOILED

Oh yeah. These ruled. I actually saw a "Damn Big Hard Boiled" (or something) super over-sized HC collection that I really have to buy. I've just got the magazines and seeing Darrow even bigger would rule. Anybody have this giant HC?

BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT

And I'm embarassed to say that this is probably the only Frank Miller thing I haven't read! I suck.

[pmpknface]

The "Big Damn Hard Boiled" books are, as the name implies, bigger. They are also in black and white and they don't have the lettering. They are pretty much a shocase for Geoff's artwork, which coming from someone who has seen his original art from that book, is amazing! Link:
http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=47-455

A friend of mine bought a splash of Nixon (the lead character). Geoff actually draws on onion-thin paper (think old-school typing paper) and then actually inks vellum that's layed on top of his pencils. Kind of how you make animation cels. That's why his inks are often the same thickness and so darn clean.

There is a "Big Damn" book for Rusty too. While this isn't my fav of Frank's, it does hold a special place for me. I still have a talking Rusty that was from the toy line when the cartoon was out on Fox. :D

The 1st Martha Washington collection (Give Me Liberty) is by far the best of the bunch. I reread it after I recently reread all the Sin City stuff.

Augie is right about 300. Hell, I even have a 300 zippo. ;)

I reread Ronin every summer. I've probablly read that more times that I've read any of his Batman stuff.

I'd wait to read the Elektra stuff until I read the DD's, but as an FYI - Elektra Assassin chronologiclly takes place before her first appearrace in DD 158. So if you felt like just reading that you'd be safe.

Hey roack04 - Isn't that Bizarre Adventures story cool? I tracked down a copy of it on ebay nice and cheap. Another random Frank book - Tales to Offend from Dark Horse (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=96-805) .

And if you're a nut about his stuff, I give you: The Complete works of Frank Miller (http://www.moebiusgraphics.com/index.php)

[BronteJD]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2115999/

SO excited. Going tonight. Have tickets.

::bouncing::

[pmpknface]

That's a great review!

This one ain't bad either....

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050331/REVIEWS/50322001/1023

[DF2506]

DF2506 - Thanks for the kind words. While the anthology would give you a taste of the different styles of stories, I'd most likely recommend starting with volume 1, THE HARD GOODBYE. The great thing about this series is that it doesn't have the weak stories in the beginning until the creator gets the feel for the book. Miller started off strong. So it's not like the first volume is an off story or not truly representative of the rest. This isn't the pilot episode of a TV show, in other words.

Oh, and DF2506 - Augie is right on the Sin City Vol. 1. You'll devour that in around an hour and then go back for more. Guaranteed. It's soooooooo worth it!<

Check. Thanks for the advice. I'll try to read The Hard Goodbye first whenever I decide to read these. They look really cool and I am into Noir (I read The Big Goodbye by Raymound Chandler a couple of years ago, VERY cool book imo. Also like movies with the noir aspect, even though I haven't seen too many of them).

Though, for a fan of anthology books, Vol. 6 is pretty tempting. :)

But yes, I'll start with Vol. 1! :)

DF2506
" Wonders when he'll have the money to check these out. Hmm."

[roach04]

Though, for a fan of anthology books, Vol. 6 is pretty tempting. :)


I don't have any of the trades, just the issues -- but "The Babe Wore Red" is my favourite Sin City single issues story and to whet your appetite, if you could find it for cover price or less, buy it solo. Otherwise, save up for the trade, b/c they're all good. BTW, are Sin City back issues expensive? I don't know - I can't imagine they are, but check it out.

Best line from "The Babe Wore Red", just because of the context, the pacing, and how Miller has it delivered: "He's forgiven worse..." Damn that was awesome (and spoiler free! b/c it doesn't ruin anything for you! ;-) )

[De Carabas]

Hi, everyone. My name's Eric and I'm a Frank Miller addict.

pmpknface==>
I have the 300 Zippo too! Drives all my friends nuts that a non-drinker/non-smoker has so many Zippos and shot glasses. :o

DF2506==>
Go with Volume one, all the way. The anthology has some great stories in it, but like all anthologies (IMO), it can be just the slightest bit uneven. I think once you have a good feel for the series, then you should read the anthology. Also, the short stories in the anthology assume you have read the various series and don't even properly introduce the characters.

roach04==>
Marvel reprinted DD: Love & War in the oversized HC that collects Elektra: Assassin.

Augie==>
Elektra: Assassin can be read without reading Daredevil first, but I wouldn't recommend it. Not for continuity reasons, but for character development reasons.

Confession time:
I weeded Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot and Hard Boiled from my collection when moving last month. To me, they aren't Frank Miller books. They are squarely Geoff Darrow books and I do not like Darrow's art. Pure 100% subjective preference.

EM

[Scott Beeler]

I'd also support the recommendation of starting "Sin City" with the first volume (now called "The Hard Goodbye"). That's great stuff. The short story volume is good as well, but I think a little slight compared with "The Hard Goodbye", "A Dame to Kill For", etc.

I went to see the "Sin City" film Friday and it really lived up to the hype. Excellent stuff. Very bloody/gory/grotesque in places, chock full of Miller's boiled-down noir narration from the books, loads of action, tough guys and gals. Cute little cameo of Miller in it. The touches of color I think work really well, and the look as a whole is fabulous. I liked virtually all the actors, except Jessica Alba I thought seemed a little wooden.

One thing I might have preferred is if they had included "A Dame to Kill For" instead of "That Yellow Bastard"; I never really bought into TYB as much as the others. But that would mean two Dwight stories instead of one Marv, one Dwight, one Hartigan, which would kind of throw the balance off. So I'm not really complaining.

As for other Miller works, I've never read his "Daredevil", though I do want to someday. "300" and "Ronin" are both excellent, along with his more well known "Dark Knight Returns" etc.

[dancj]

I really didn't like Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot. Hard Boiled on the other hand is fantastic. There's no point putting it off either because it's a very quick read - unless you pore over the art, which would be understandable!

I never quite managed to like Elektra Lives again. Fantastic art, but there wasn't a whole lot of story to it.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Read HARD BOILED this weekend. Craziness. Utter insanity. And terribly beautiful, artwise. When the art is that unbelievable, you don't mind a lighter story. It's another example of a European graphic novel being done in America, really. (Or was Darrow living in France at that point?)

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I'm pretty sure he was living in France by then. Ya know he lives in a castle? :o And Hard Boiled was 1st released in 3 issues by Dark Horse. The covers were very cool, except they wrapped around the opposite way. That was kinda annoying... but DAMN if it still wasn't cool! :)

You can spend hours looking at those pages...