Novel Ideas By Bill Love

Kickback
Dark Horse

Writer/Artist- David Lloyd
92 pgs HC $12.95
ISBN -13: 978-1-59307-659-7

Joe Canelli is a crooked cop working in a corrupt police force. Joe is haunted by nightmares of powerlessness. When his partner is brutally murdered and he's betrayed by his colleagues, it appears that Joe's nightmares are coming true. With his back against the wall there's only one thing he can do: turn against the criminal network that he once embraced.

Think of some of the better crime thriller movies you have seen. Writer/Artist David Lloyd will likely always be best known for his collaboration with Alan Moore, on the graphic novel V For Vendetta. Many (if not most) of the striking visuals of the film of the same name are directly taken from the haunting art and designs of David Lloyd. In Kickback David uses the same shadow-heavy graphics to bring his own story of corruption and salvation to life. Reading Kickback is like watching a classic film-noir movie in book form. The artwork may be black and white but the moral choices of the characters are awash in shades of grey. The action builds in cinematic style, but as in the best of film-noir it is the internal struggle of the protagonist that holds the most intriguing battle.

This book is also a great example of why some stories should be told in original graphic novel form rather than serialized in the comic book format first. The pacing of this story is essential to its telling. There are two parallel stories being told, one external, one internal. By presenting the story complete at one time Mr. Lloyd is in full control of the timing and reveals that are essential to the mood and atmosphere of the piece.

If you ever enjoyed a crime thriller, or just want to appreciate a master artist at his best, pick up Kickback.

Novel Ideas - Bill Love, Senior Editor of Graphic Novel Scene Magazine, looks at comics that never saw a staple. Many creators bypass the magazine format and publish original graphic novels. Novel Ideas spotlights the best, both old and new.