Created by Eric Skillman & Jhomar Soriano “I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing! I follow people around and take pictures for Christ’s sake! I’m no detective!" Private eye NICK ARCHER isn't much of a private eye, but he sure can be a dick in Liar's Kiss, a 2011 graphic novel by writer … Continue reading Nick Archer (Liar’s Kiss)
Tag: Noir
Art for Art’s Sake
Artists Inspired by Noir Noir is everywhere these days, used to flog everything from over-priced coffee and cheap lingerie to high-end make-up and mediocre crime films that mistake ill-fitting fedoras and second-hand cigarette smoke for style. But real fans know that noir is more than just a few visual effects and a cool marketing tool. … Continue reading Art for Art’s Sake
Mistress Christa’s Ten Rules to Write Noir
By Christa Faust "Seriously, are we still so terrified of pussy?” — see Rule #3 Before I start, let me make one thing clear. I love noir. I read it. I watch it. But I don't really write it. The majority of my crime fiction is more hardboiled than noir. I may not be a … Continue reading Mistress Christa’s Ten Rules to Write Noir
Edward Mercer (Venetian Bird)
Created by Victor Canning (1911-86) Private eye EDWARD MERCER, like most of prolific British thriller writer Victor Canning's other P.I. creations (such as James Helder and Rex Carver) leans more toward the international thriller than the mean streets, but that doesn't mean they're not worth checking out. In Bird of Prey (1950; aka “The Venetian Bird"), … Continue reading Edward Mercer (Venetian Bird)
Gus Slavin (Loophole)
Created by Dwight V. Babcock and George Bricker This time out, he's GUS SLAVIN, an LA-based investigator for a bonding service, who's putting the screws on war hero turned nice guy bank teller Mike Donovan (Barry Sullivan, the star of the show, playing the classic noir bonehead/doofus to perfection). Gus is convinced Donovan had something … Continue reading Gus Slavin (Loophole)
John Collins (Skip Tracer)
Created by Zale R. Dalen "He'll be sure you pay--one way or another!" -- tagline on the VHS edition Hey! Did I just dream this? JOHN COLLINS is the low-key, taciturn debt collector "hero" of Skip Tracer, a bleak, decidedly non-glamourous, low-budget Canadian character study released in 1977. Make no mistake--Collins is no goody two-shoes. … Continue reading John Collins (Skip Tracer)
Jake Blake
Created by Charles Willeford (1919-88) "So you're the private detective, Jake Blake-- " His voice was shaking with an anger that was barely under control. "Yes, sir," I said carefully, and I got up from the couch. "You must be Mr. Weintraub..." I stuck my hand out to shake hands, but he ignored it completely … Continue reading Jake Blake
Murder in the Library: The Best Anthologies of Hard-Boiled, Noir & Pulp Reprints
Until the eighties, I don't think anyone had ever thought of doing a collection of original private eye stories. Oh, there'd certainly been some amazing volumes of reprinted tales, full of hard-boiled cops and cabbies and reporters and other dicks and janes who made trouble their business. It took Robert Randisi and the crew at … Continue reading Murder in the Library: The Best Anthologies of Hard-Boiled, Noir & Pulp Reprints
Johnny Lane
Created by Dave Zeltserman Pseudonyms include Jacob Stone Seemingly just another down-and-out P.I., Denver's JOHNNY LANE displays some surprisingly dark depths (Gary Lovisi calls them "Jim Thompson-dark," although I remain unconvinced) in the well-received self-published debut, In His Shadow (2002). In a more original twist, Johnny also writes a monthly column, "Fast Lane," about his … Continue reading Johnny Lane
Frank Grissel
Created by Andersen Gabrych Art by Brad Rader "Whatever you want. You can find it here. Or die looking for it." -- Frank welcomes readers to San Francisco in the intro Few noir novels, let alone graphic novels, wander into the murky areas of sexual desire, never mind homosexual desire, as well or as audaciously … Continue reading Frank Grissel