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Criminal (2019)
Criminal (2019-) #2
“THE LONGEST WEEKEND” Archie Lewis was the artist’s artist in his heyday, although that’s not what he’s famous for. He’s famous for being a nightmare to work with—and dangerous. So when an old assistant is forced to chaperone his one-time mentor to receive his lifetime achievement award, well… let’s just say things don’t go well. As always, CRIMINAL contains back page art and articles only found in the single issues.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2019
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,749 books2,806 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 13, 2019
So if you read the first issue and you’re reading the second, you’re gonna be wondering what the fuuuuck is this? Because Ed Brubaker totally ignores the Lawless storyline set up in issue one and tells a completely new storyline in Criminal #2: Bad Weekend!
Instead, the protagonist is another recurring character, Jake, the cartoonist we last saw in Volume 4: Bad Night, who is tasked with chaperoning his former mentor, a sleazy old comics pro called Hal Crane, around a comics convention. Except old Hal is deep into some sordid fucked up shit and is dragging Jake along for the ride!
It’s another quality issue from Brubaker/Phillips - was there ever any doubt? The characters are sharply realised and compelling, the story is unpredictable and fun, the art is great. The only thing is that I’m fairly well versed in the unsavoury nature of the old comics business so I wasn’t as taken with, and a little weary of, a rehashing of stories about creators getting ripped off and becoming resentful and bitter in old age, etc.
Other than that though, Criminal #2 is another great issue in this brilliant new run of the series. I’m interested to see how this ties into the Lawless storyline - maybe Brubaker is going for a Pulp Fiction-style narrative structure, but more ambitious, set across years? - though, even if it doesn’t, it’s still a damn good time.
Instead, the protagonist is another recurring character, Jake, the cartoonist we last saw in Volume 4: Bad Night, who is tasked with chaperoning his former mentor, a sleazy old comics pro called Hal Crane, around a comics convention. Except old Hal is deep into some sordid fucked up shit and is dragging Jake along for the ride!
It’s another quality issue from Brubaker/Phillips - was there ever any doubt? The characters are sharply realised and compelling, the story is unpredictable and fun, the art is great. The only thing is that I’m fairly well versed in the unsavoury nature of the old comics business so I wasn’t as taken with, and a little weary of, a rehashing of stories about creators getting ripped off and becoming resentful and bitter in old age, etc.
Other than that though, Criminal #2 is another great issue in this brilliant new run of the series. I’m interested to see how this ties into the Lawless storyline - maybe Brubaker is going for a Pulp Fiction-style narrative structure, but more ambitious, set across years? - though, even if it doesn’t, it’s still a damn good time.
February 16, 2019
Issue #2 of the new Criminal series 2019 makes an abrupt turn to a new story without any notification from issue #1, no warning, no transition, and who cares, because it’s a great story. Criminal: Bad Weekend, focuses on Jake, a former cartoonist from Volume 4: Bad Night, who drives his former mentor, well known cartoonist Hal Crane to various events at a comics con.
This is a theme Brubaker likes to get into, comics stories about comics, and in this one, bad guy Crane drags us into his low-end life of gambling, theft, drunken bad behavior. The third issue finishes this arc, we are told, and it will be interesting to see how this story links to other characters and stories, because you just know it will. If you like crime comics, this is the best stuff around.
This is a theme Brubaker likes to get into, comics stories about comics, and in this one, bad guy Crane drags us into his low-end life of gambling, theft, drunken bad behavior. The third issue finishes this arc, we are told, and it will be interesting to see how this story links to other characters and stories, because you just know it will. If you like crime comics, this is the best stuff around.
February 17, 2019
Volume two of course completes the story arc which we began in volume one. Nope. Not happening. Like modern day novels with different points of view in different chapters, this chapter goes off in a whole different direction. Here we go into the comics world, the back stories of the comic creators, the gambling debts, the overwhelming paranoia of having your work stolen, pilfered, borrowed. And, the macabre lengths creative types go to when their dreams become mundane reality.
July 10, 2019
They've done it again! Despite opening issue 2 with a completely different story, I was hooked from the first panel. The writing is fantastic and the artwork is just perfect, completely on-point. I liked the theme of the hack /failed comic artist having to chaperone his ex-boss around, the character of Hal Crane resembled my ex-boss back in the eighties in an illustration agency in Glasgow. It was uncannily familiar, very believable. I know that in some ways, the disillusioned comic artist thing is a bit of a trope, but I enjoyed it all the same. In fact, the story was unputdownable. It read like a film. And...I loved the twist at the end...ah, I thought, ok, now it really begins to get it's hooks into me! I agree with the other reviewers here, this is some superb stuff, for me the best around. I will have to buy the whole darned series...
February 19, 2019
The king of crime strikes again. A crime comic about comics. So good!! Its definitely a 360 degree turn from issue #1 but I still loved it. Everyone needs to read the criminal series..its a must.
March 2, 2019
I was shaking my head as I was reading this.... pfft, comic book artist bad guy?... the last page straightened me out. Should be a fun ride...
May 18, 2019
Що взагалі відбувається? Запитаєте ви, якщо читали перший випуск. Річ у тім, що Брубейкер почав розповідати іншу історію. Не закінчивши попередню! Я все чекав якогось зв’язку чи натяку, але ні: це зовсім інша історія. Зокрема, йдеться про коміксиста Ріка, відомого ще із попередньої арки, та його старшого колеги Гела Крейна, вредного й зухвалого пенсіонера. Тобто це дуже локальна, специфічна історія, розказана для фанатів комікс індустрії і закулісних історій, що відбувалися в епоху Лі та Кірбі. Але дідько, як же це круто написано! Можна навіть зчитати зустріч двох епох у контексті взаємин двох героїв. Наприклад, показовим є епізод, коли Гел чіпляється до косплеєрки у костюмі а-ля Ксена, гадаючи, що це замаскована повія. Вже мовчу про те, як ретельно Брубейкер реконструює внутрішню кухню коміксів, конкуренцію між студіями й окремими художниками, додаючи до цього кримінального душку. Читати й любити обов`язково.
June 23, 2023
“Criminal – Bad Weekend”, Brubaker, Phillips
Criminal (2019)
Neat to see some of the backstory of Jacob (who has appeared in previous series). Set in July 1997 a cantankerous comic artist named Hal Crane needs to attend a comic fest, but has a burning grudge against the industry that ripped him off. Fun story.
#2 – “PLEASE .. it’s just for the weekend.. he asked for you SPECIFICALLY, Jacob.” – Mindy from the convention.
Criminal (2019)
Neat to see some of the backstory of Jacob (who has appeared in previous series). Set in July 1997 a cantankerous comic artist named Hal Crane needs to attend a comic fest, but has a burning grudge against the industry that ripped him off. Fun story.
#2 – “PLEASE .. it’s just for the weekend.. he asked for you SPECIFICALLY, Jacob.” – Mindy from the convention.
May 19, 2022
I have to assume this storyline plays into the Lawless one that was established in issue 1. In this issue we have another character from an earlier story appear and seemingly set up a new heist story with his comic book hero.
Im interested to see how this all ties together, I’ll be surprised if they aren’t linked.
Im interested to see how this all ties together, I’ll be surprised if they aren’t linked.
February 15, 2019
An exciting beginning to a two-part story! Takes place in the late '90s, with an old-timey comics artist making trouble during a convention. The references are really fun, I totally know most of the names dropped. Yep, I liked it!
April 18, 2019
Excellent.
October 24, 2019
The review of the Cagney movie at the back was good!
The drawing is unreal.
The drawing is unreal.
February 1, 2020
Top stuff from these guys. Just reads itself.
June 28, 2020
I'm fifty/fifty on liking comics set in the world of comics, they either get it wrong or right, this gets it so right AND also covers con culture to boot!
July 10, 2020
Brubaker rocks!
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March 4, 2019Promising start to a two-issue story arc. Will reserve judgment until after next issue.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews