Titles: The Hunter & The Outfit
Adapted & Illustrated by: Darwyn Cooke (Original novels by Richard Stark)
Series: Richard Stark’s Parker #1-2
Rating: ****
Publisher/Copyright: Idea & Design Works LLC, 2009/2010
Hello all, this is my first post so please excuse any rough edges it may have.
The first book I will review is a graphic novel (two of them, actually–I got them both since my library card will disappear with the schoolyear). Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke) is based on the novel The Hunter by, you guessed it, Richard Stark. The novel has also been made into a movie at least twice over, Point Blank in 1967 starring Lee Marvin, and Payback in 1999 starring Mel Gibson. (UPDATE: The 2012 film Parker starring Jason Statham was also based on this novel.) I will take this opportunity to say that this is NOT a comic book for kids–the novel was firmly intended for adults, and so is the graphic novel adaptation. There is brutal violence, some harsh language, and some sexual content (nothing too explicit, by nature of the artwork, but it’s still there). If you like film noir or other tales in that vein, this is something you might enjoy.
The plot: Parker has been betrayed and left for dead by those he trusted, and now he’s back to claim revenge and restitution no matter what it takes to claim it or who he has to cross. Mayhem ensues….
In the sequel, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit (Also adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke), The Outfit (whom Parker’s betrayer was working for when Parker caught up with him) tries to take out Parker for his action in the first book. They should have tried harder, because now he’s pissed…….This book isn’t quite as brutal as its predecessor, but it’s still Parker doing what he does best. There is a wonderful interlude in the middle with heist after heist going down in succession (the purpose, I will leave to the reader to discover) that is great fun. I’m looking forward to further installments of this in the future…..
Confessions of a Bibliomaniac.... 