• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Nov 16, 2009 Web Exclusive By Paul Bullock

Brian Azzarello’s Filthy Rich, one of the first two releases from the new hardcover, black-and-white, “sub-imprint” Vertigo Crime (along with Ian Rankin’s Dark Entries featuring John Constantine) is full of tough cookies, conniving broads, and just the right amount of violence and nudity to keep readers begging for more. The story revolves around Richard “Junk” Junkin, a former professional athlete, now North Jersey car salesman, and Victoria, the sexy, manipulative daughter of his mobbed up boss. When Junk takes on the role of bodyguard, he is lead down a swirling, inexorable path towards destruction.

Artist Victor Santos (Young Ronin, Los Reyes Elfos) expertly points to European pulp fiction, specifically the Italian post-WWII antihero, throughout the work. His exceptional use of shadow and varied texture maintains just the right mood for a noir. The book also features an awesomely smutty cover painting by Lee Bermejo.

Filthy Rich is a perfect choice for any fan of crime fiction, especially readers of the Hard Case Crime novels. Hopefully there will be many, many more releases like this from Vertigo. (www.vertigocomics.com)

Author rating: 7/10