Secrets, lies, horror, lust, and monsters from the time before time all collide in Fatale: Death Chases Me. In present day, a man meets a woman who he becomes instantly obsessed with, and in the 1950s, this same woman destroys the lives of all those who cross her path, on a quest for... what? Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' bestselling series will leave you craving more! The first arc of Image's surprise hit is collected just in time for new readers to jump on board with issue #6!
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
The top-notch team of Brubaker and Phillips (known for their collaborations on Criminal and Sleeper) launch another series that gives familiar tropes an entertaining tweak. In present time, Nicolas Lash, executor of author Dominic Raines’ estate, discovers an unpublished manuscript mere moments before shotgun-toting bad guys pull up out front. Then Jo, a woman he met at the funeral, appears out of nowhere to rescue him. Jump back to San Francisco, 1956, and we’re witnessing events from Raines’ book, starting with a young reporter trying to get a scoop from a beautiful woman about her corrupt-cop boyfriend. But any resemblance to standard detective fare ends there, as the creators mix in magic, cults, human sacrifice, and the possibility of eternal life to create a potent cocktail with any number of twists. Brubaker doesn’t write a word more than necessary, and Phillips’ scenery has all the right angles, evoking a film-noir feel without slavish imitation. If the words “last call” make you think of “The Call of Cthulu,” this is your kind of hard-boiled tale. --Keir Graff
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Femme Fatale, courtesy of one of the greatest creative teams in comics.
July 4, 2012
Format:Paperback
The character of the 'femme fatale' has been a trope of crime fiction and film noir since the genres began. She is the beautiful, irresistable woman that all of the protagonists fall for, kill for and die for. This as an idea is not new, and it's something that the creative team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have used before to great success in titles like SLEEPER and CRIMINAL, just to name a few. However, with the latest collaboration between the two, Image's FATALE, they have crafted a tale about a particualr femme fatale that is 60% pulp noir, 40% supernatural Lovecraftian horror, and 100% brilliant.
The tale in the present with one of our protagonists, Nicolas Lash, going to the funeral of his godfather Dominic Raines, a not-entirely-successful detective novelist. At the funeral, he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman named Josephine. He is immediately taken with her. He later goes to his godfather's old broken-down estate that was left to him and he finds an unpublished manuscript that puts his life in immediate danger. Lash is saved by the unexpected appearance of Josephine, but this is just the beginning of the danger for them. The unpublished manuscript is a hard-boiled crime novel that takes us back to the 1950's. It's about a crusading reporter, the two crooked cops he's trying to expose, bizarre and deadly cult murders, and a mysterious and beautiful woman that not only has a hold on one of the corrupt cops, but on the reporter as well.
Of course, the mysterious woman in the novel is Josephine, at the same age as she is in the present. She is presented as someone wounded and hounded, but who is predatory herself. She seems to avail herself to men with her own purposes and desires using not just her feminine wiles, but something not quite natural. And the men who love her will kill for her and will die for her.
One of the common complaints about FATALE is that people believe it isn't quite as advertised. A lot of people go into this book thinking that the horror aspects of the book are going to be there almost constantly, and this is a mistake. It was never promised to be a book that was going to be full-time horror noir. Is there horror? Absolutely, but it's not relentless, and that's one of the greatest things about this book. As the mystery of the comic unfolds, true horror seems always on the verge of being released, but is held back so that when it IS unleashed, it's unleashed for maximum impact, both on a visceral and emotional level, and that's something that all of the horror greats know how to do. What Brubaker and Phillips have given us with Josephine is truly the ultimate femme fatale; a woman that fits all of the attributes worthy of that title, but with a supernatural twist to it.
From a storytelling standpoint, it just doesn't get much better than this. Brubaker and Phillips have done some of the preeminent work in comics over the last decade or so. With titles like SLEEPER, CRIMINAL (in all its various story arcs), INCOGNITO, and now with FATALE, they prove that they devour crime and pulp tales and then twist them to make an original and utterly fantastic read. Artistically, Sean Phillips has always been the best art partner that Brubaker has ever had when it comes to the work that they do. It's moody, highly stylized, and extremely evocative. Also not to be left out is the magical work on colors by Dave Stewart. He's one of the best in the business, and it shows through and through on this book. As far as this volume is concerned, this collects the first five issues of FATALE and I'm deliriously happy that this will be a continuing series because when it comes to Brubaker, Phillips and great comics, it's never enough.
When all is said and done, it would be a "fatal" mistake for lovers of great comics to not be getting FATALE.
The tale in the present with one of our protagonists, Nicolas Lash, going to the funeral of his godfather Dominic Raines, a not-entirely-successful detective novelist. At the funeral, he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman named Josephine. He is immediately taken with her. He later goes to his godfather's old broken-down estate that was left to him and he finds an unpublished manuscript that puts his life in immediate danger. Lash is saved by the unexpected appearance of Josephine, but this is just the beginning of the danger for them. The unpublished manuscript is a hard-boiled crime novel that takes us back to the 1950's. It's about a crusading reporter, the two crooked cops he's trying to expose, bizarre and deadly cult murders, and a mysterious and beautiful woman that not only has a hold on one of the corrupt cops, but on the reporter as well.
Of course, the mysterious woman in the novel is Josephine, at the same age as she is in the present. She is presented as someone wounded and hounded, but who is predatory herself. She seems to avail herself to men with her own purposes and desires using not just her feminine wiles, but something not quite natural. And the men who love her will kill for her and will die for her.
One of the common complaints about FATALE is that people believe it isn't quite as advertised. A lot of people go into this book thinking that the horror aspects of the book are going to be there almost constantly, and this is a mistake. It was never promised to be a book that was going to be full-time horror noir. Is there horror? Absolutely, but it's not relentless, and that's one of the greatest things about this book. As the mystery of the comic unfolds, true horror seems always on the verge of being released, but is held back so that when it IS unleashed, it's unleashed for maximum impact, both on a visceral and emotional level, and that's something that all of the horror greats know how to do. What Brubaker and Phillips have given us with Josephine is truly the ultimate femme fatale; a woman that fits all of the attributes worthy of that title, but with a supernatural twist to it.
From a storytelling standpoint, it just doesn't get much better than this. Brubaker and Phillips have done some of the preeminent work in comics over the last decade or so. With titles like SLEEPER, CRIMINAL (in all its various story arcs), INCOGNITO, and now with FATALE, they prove that they devour crime and pulp tales and then twist them to make an original and utterly fantastic read. Artistically, Sean Phillips has always been the best art partner that Brubaker has ever had when it comes to the work that they do. It's moody, highly stylized, and extremely evocative. Also not to be left out is the magical work on colors by Dave Stewart. He's one of the best in the business, and it shows through and through on this book. As far as this volume is concerned, this collects the first five issues of FATALE and I'm deliriously happy that this will be a continuing series because when it comes to Brubaker, Phillips and great comics, it's never enough.
When all is said and done, it would be a "fatal" mistake for lovers of great comics to not be getting FATALE.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Alt
Format:Paperback
An unpublished manuscript, a dead author, a mysterious woman. A corrupt cop, a cheating wife who manipulates a reporter, a cult. Self-mutilation, ritual sacrifices. The story Fatale tells is strange, intricate, perhaps convoluted, but never dull. It's sort of a dark mystery wrapped in a tale of the supernatural with a side dish of soap opera. You might have to read it a couple of times before it all comes together, and even then the story doesn't seem to know quite what it wants to be: a crime story, a horror story, a supernatural heroine story. Not that it matters -- the writing is sharp and there's enough action and intrigue to move events along at a brisk pace.
The artwork has a noir feel, nicely tinted in blues and purples except for the splashes of blood red when the story turns to gore. Characters are drawn realistically but they're stylized at the same time -- which is a pretty good trick. The art consistently held my attention even when the story seemed to be searching for an identity. Perhaps subsequent issues will bring the characters into sharper focus.
The artwork has a noir feel, nicely tinted in blues and purples except for the splashes of blood red when the story turns to gore. Characters are drawn realistically but they're stylized at the same time -- which is a pretty good trick. The art consistently held my attention even when the story seemed to be searching for an identity. Perhaps subsequent issues will bring the characters into sharper focus.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story begins simply enough. A man attends the funeral of his reclusive godfather. After the funeral, he meets a beautiful mysterious woman named Jo. Jo saves his life, and he finds himself enmeshed in a decades long conflict that is clearly out of his league.
Brubaker uses flashbacks to tease out the backstory on Jo, Hank (the godfather), and this conflict. Slowly as the story progresses, we discover that the noir story becomes one of Lovecraftian horror instead.
Brubaker is widely acknowledged as a writer who is very skilled in the tropes of noir. That all comes to play here. The storyline is a classic, on par with James M Cain et al. What is perhaps surprising is his deft touch at the horror elements. While in this first installment the horror tropes are secondary to the noir, he works the horrific elements into the solid foundation of his everyday world.
Likewise Sean Phillips does an excellent job handling the art duties. The preponderance of the book look & feel appropriate for a hardboiled tale, yet he handles the creepy Lovecraftian horrors protruding into this world easily. The contrast makes the emerging horrific elements even more striking.
Since the overall story is as yet unfinished, it's impossible to fully judge the plotting or storytelling. However, this first installment is compelling & leaves me eagerly awaiting the next volume.
Brubaker uses flashbacks to tease out the backstory on Jo, Hank (the godfather), and this conflict. Slowly as the story progresses, we discover that the noir story becomes one of Lovecraftian horror instead.
Brubaker is widely acknowledged as a writer who is very skilled in the tropes of noir. That all comes to play here. The storyline is a classic, on par with James M Cain et al. What is perhaps surprising is his deft touch at the horror elements. While in this first installment the horror tropes are secondary to the noir, he works the horrific elements into the solid foundation of his everyday world.
Likewise Sean Phillips does an excellent job handling the art duties. The preponderance of the book look & feel appropriate for a hardboiled tale, yet he handles the creepy Lovecraftian horrors protruding into this world easily. The contrast makes the emerging horrific elements even more striking.
Since the overall story is as yet unfinished, it's impossible to fully judge the plotting or storytelling. However, this first installment is compelling & leaves me eagerly awaiting the next volume.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Left me a bit confused but worth the read
A delightful blend of Noir and the occult. Didn't know what to expect but being a fan of Brubaker I wasn't too worried.
Published 17 days ago by Arturo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Phenomenal!
This 1st trade reminded me a lot of the HBO series Carnivale. It takes its time setting up a dreary atmosphere and a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Thomas H. Busch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Comic Noir
Dark and mysterious. Well worth reading with great artwork. I read this, then listed it for sale, and it was gone right away.
Published 2 months ago by Terry Mulcahy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brubaker does it again!
Fatale caught me completely off guard. I expected an engaging noir tale spanning the decades (I read the first issue months ago), but what developed over the course of this first... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Logan B.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Great artwork, meandering plot
Just couldn't get into this. Some kind of cult, Old God, police drama. NOTHING ever really gets explained in this graphic novel. Read more
Published 5 months ago by James D. Crabtree
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who is Josephine?
I really loved this comic book. Unlike most comic books, this one has me guessing nonstop and even it ended with a cliffhanger. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Morgan Floyd
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Flaw of Noir
As a noir, horror and mystery book, Fatale succeeds...greatly. However, as a stand-alone collection, this volume left me unsatisfied. Read more
Published 6 months ago by I Built a Mountain of Thunder
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Team in Graphic Novels
Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips have done it again. I love horror fiction and I love crime fiction, but I seldom like them mixed together. Read more
Published 6 months ago by dana kabel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!
This book is amazing! The story's structure and pace are incredible. A book that can actually convey mystery. Can't wait for the second volume!
Published 7 months ago by Gamaliel Valle Rosa
5.0 out of 5 stars
M.R. Gott's Cutis Anserina Reviews Fatal
Previously Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips teamed up to bring comic readers the noir infused crime tales of Sleeper, Criminal and Incognito. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Horror Fan
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