Dark Entries/Filthy Rich

October 19, 2009 | Graphic novels

Vertigo is pulling out a pair of big guns to get the lead flying on its provocative new crime imprint.

Dark Entries (Vertigo Crime, $19.99 U.S., 216 pages), a supernatural mystery set against the twisted world of reality TV, featuring Vertigo mainstay John Constantine, is penned by Scottish noir master Ian Rankin. The gritty black-and-white art by Werther Dell’Edera, best known for his work on Vertigo’s Western, Loveless, fits the mood set by the author of the Edgar Award-winning Resurrection Men to a T.

Brian Azzarello, who established himself as one of the best writers in comics with his Eisner Award-winning Vertigo series, 100 Bullets, pens Filthy Rich (Vertigo Crime, $19.99 U.S., 200 pages), a noir that follows a former football star’s descent into a seedy world of sex, drugs and violence after becoming personal bodyguard for his rich boss’s daughter. Spanish star Victor Santos provides the lush, inky Frank Miller-esque art.

Vertigo Crime promises to keep rolling out the heavy artillery as well, with upcoming releases from Denise Mina, Scottish author of the popular “Paddy Meehan” novels; Waterloo native Jon Evans, award-winning writer of Dark Place; and American Jason Starr, an award winner for Twisted City — all of whom are sure to keep this new brand on the forefront of readers’ minds.

(This review first appeared in the Toronto Star)

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