1. 100 Bullets
Why I recommend it: 100 Bullets is a book that has everything in a crime story flawed characters, conspiracy and a suitcase that carriers a gun with a 100 rounds of untraceable bullets. 100 Bullets isn’t your standard mobster book its a crime book that ding deep in each person psyche either your a street level thug, homeless man, a bartender or a employee that only makes five dollars an hour, everything changes when each average person gets a hold of Agent Grave’s suitcase and a gun of 100 untraceable bullets. When the individual Agent Graves chooses to hold such a gun they are able fulfill their deepest desires of vengeance.
Synopsis: Agent Graves is a mysterious man who holds a suitcase of untraceable bullets and is a advocate to full fill desires of people that were wronged by a murdered loved one, rape, fraud or lies. Once Agent Graves gives a individual a chance of revenge he gives he/she a gun of 100 untraceable bullets. A gun where they can kill anyone they desire and the law itself will not move forward with any investigation of their selective murders.
Media: There are many 100 Bullets adaptions been planned sense the end of the comic book series but none of them were successfully completed. There was a planned 100 Bullets videogame adaptation which was later debunked by the gaming studio. 100 Bullets was also planned to become a Showtime TV series but screenwriter David S. Goyer announced even though production was close from being done, the show itself was later cancelled due to various shooting locations in many areas in the United States. Only recent news of an adaptation 100 Bullets will be among the slate of DC films Warner Bros. has plans to release in the future.
Number of Collections: 13 Collected Softcover editions including 5 Deluxe editions.
Artist/Writer: Writer Brain Azzarello and Artist Eduardo Risso
Publishing Company: DC Comics Vertigo
2. Criminal
Why recommend it: If your a reader that loves classic noir or neo-noir elements than the graphic novel series Criminal is up in your alley. Criminal shows what we love about the cliched noir crime genre of giving us hardened characters, sex and acts of lustful revenge. In the world of Criminal there isn’t good guys or bad guys just men and women trying to survive in a world of crime.
Synopsis: Criminal is a series of separate stories of criminals of the crimes they commit and the mistakes they have to make up in the long run. There are many different characters in the story but they still involve in the same gritty world. Some of the characters starts off as criminals some of them are average people that become criminals after doing one unintentionally hideous crime. The stories revolve each individual trying to make up for there crimes or trying to get away with it, well if they are able to do so that is.
Media: unknown
Artist/Writer: Writer Ed Brubaker and Artist Sean Phillips
Number of Collected Volumes: Six volumes
Publishing Company: Icon Comics
3. The Sin City Series
Why I recommend it: Sin City is one of my fav Frank Miller crime driven graphic novels and one of my personal favorite crime graphic novels period. Sin City is a blend of standard neo-noir genre wrapped around with a superhero chaotic twist its absolutely perfect! Sin City is for everyone that love satirize insane violence and deep classic hard boiled noir monologue.
Synopsis: Sin City is a story of seven sordid characters Marv, Dwight McCarthy, Nancy Callahan, Gail, Miho, John Hartigan and Wallace that all live in Basin City where is graveled in corruption. Each character has a separate story but sometimes become intertwined which involves them fighting the same foe and having the same sort problematic situations.
Media: The acclaimed Sin City movie directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino as the guess director. Sin City was first released April 1st 2005 and was critical acclaimed for its black & white artistic comic book style and its pulp neo-noir influence. Sin City had a positive reaction with critics and currently holds a 78% percent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the sequel Sin City a Dame to Kill For that was released in August of 2014 had a mixed reaction to critics and became one of the lowest grossing movies in the box office. Many speculate the reason a Dame to Kill For did so poorly was because of the poor marketing, the amount of poor critic reviews and a long gap between the first film.
Artist/Writer: Frank Miller is both the writer and the artist of Sin City
Number of Collected Volumes: Seven Volumes
Publishing Company: Dark Horse
4. Scalped
Why recommend it: Scalped isn’t just a story about crime its a story of knowing about your culture and trying to accept where you came from even though it doesn’t look all that great. Scalped is a inspired story by real life events of what happened at a Indian Reservation involving a Native American activist Leonard Peltier who was arrested for murdering two FBI agents in 1975.
Synopsis: Protagonist Dashiell “Bad Horse” returns to Indian Reservation or simply referred to the “Rez” after fifteen years of abandonment. Bad Horse begins to work as the Sheriff for Lincoln Red Crow who was a radicalized Native American activist turned corrupted crime boss/casino owner. In Bad Horse’s personal life he tries to deal with his complicated relationship with his estranged mother Gina who is also is viewed as a radicalized Native American activist and a enemy of Red Crow. Bad Horse also gets in a shuffle with two bullheaded FBI Agents trying to use Bad Horse to gain evidence that both Red Crow and Gina were responsible of killing two FBI agents in the Rez during the 1970s.
Media: WGN America announced they are planning a Scalped TV adaptation and Dong Jung is writing the script and being the executive producer for the series.
Artist/Writer: Writer Jason Aaron and Artist R.M Guera
Number of Collected Volumes: Ten Volumes
Publishing Company: DC Comics Vertigo
5. Thief of Thieves
Why I recommend it: Looking for a clever, witty, and fast paced heist book than your should most diffidently rob Thief of Thieves from your nearest bookstore or comic book store (Not really).
Synopsis: The story centers around Redmond a skillful and cunning thief that decide to retire one day from his life of thievery after he accomplishes the biggest heist of a lifetime. As a determine FBI agent chasing his tail and allies turning his back on him Redmond manipulates and makes a fortune of stealing from other crooked thieves.
Media: Robert Kirkman who is famous for his work on the critical acclaimed Walking Dead comics announced that AMC is developing adaptation of Thief of Thieves. In recent reports Chic Eglee will be the show runner of the series if the series will ever be picked up by AMC. However, during San Diego Comic Con 2013 Robert Kirkman stated that a Thief of Thieves TV adaptation is still under development but any recent release date of the project is not yet known.
Artist/Writer: The following writers are Robert Kirkman, Nick Spencer, Jamers Asmus, and Andy Diggla. Shawn Martinbrough is also the artist.
Number of Collected Volumes: Three Volumes
Publishing Company: Image Comics
These are my Top 5 Crime Graphic Novels that I enjoy reading and recommend for you to read also. I would like to know what’s your favorite crime Graphic Novels in the comment section. And please follow me on Taboo on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.
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