Customer Reviews

The Killer, Vol. 1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Matz has written an amazingly deep, amazingly gripping thriller that deals with the inner conflicts of a fascinating character. This really stretches what can be done with character depth in a graphic novel. I'd rank this on the level of Frank Miller's Dark Knight and Alan Moore's Watchmen. It's amazing how much empathy I had for the assassin.

I know there are several more volumes in the original French already published. I'm tempted to get them from Amazon.fr and push my bad French, so I don't have to wait for the English translations to continue the story.

A fantastic story! The reader is brought into the world of a contract hitman, one who is actually good at his job and does his homework. We see the world through his mind, his views on life, and the morale's that he lives by. A great addition to any graphic novel collection, and definitely one to be passed on through the ages.

Having to wait between volumes is gonna be a real "killer" (sorry, can never let the opportunity for a bad pun go to waste!). This is indeed a great,moody and dark graphic novel for the mature crowd,one that has me mighty glad i've "come back" to the world of comics.This is well written,with great illustrations. I'm already addicted,with this first volume...Makes me wonder what else i've missed the last dozen years or so! "French noir" comics?!? Sign me up!!

A contract hitman on a job sits around for days waiting for his target to appear. While he waits he tells the story of how he came to be a hitman - a normal chap, he was paid by someone to beat up another stranger which he did, although he accidentally killed him. The client paid him more money for this and he ended up doing it more and more until it became his profession. After years of this and following a botched job he decides to retire to his Venezualan paradise - except retirement for hitmen isn't easy as taking the money and walking away. Soon he finds himself the target and is betrayed by people he thought were friends.

"The Killer" is a hitman story that's familiar and has been told numerous times before, both in literature and in film. It's an easy read and Matz knows how to tell a story, mixing in action amidst a lot of exposition. Luc Jacamon's artwork though is what sets this book apart from other crime books. Usually noir/crime comic books have a grimy feel to the artwork, a grittiness that manifests itself in drab colours and lots of shadows but Jacamon flips this concept and the pages are filled with glorious colours, helped in part by the script which calls for scenes in the Venezualan jungles and the Alps.

The overall effect of the book though is one of underwhelming expectations. Having been told how brilliant the book was by a couple of rabid comics fans I thought this was going to be taking the familiar hitman story and turn it around somehow. Unfortunately though, despite the artwork, the story never reaches high levels of comic greatness. It's a good read and I'd read the next volume in the series but only if it was a library book rather than paying another tenner for it. Good, not great.

I decided to purchase this book when there was a plan for David Fincher to translate it to the big screen. Regardless of whether it will materialize or not, this book is a magnificent graphic novel that offers fresh take on hitman storyline. Our nameless protagonist's thoughts are provocative and sometimes downright relatable to the dark side that inhabits anyone of us. The artwork is superb, rendered in a clean lined style that makes you crave for more. A fresh offering for graphic novel enthusiasts.

Alexis "Matz" Nolent and Luc Jacamon did it really fine. The former has written thorough lines for the unnamed killer who is really amoral, a loner in every sense of the word ("I leave people alone. My only request is: Leave me alone too.") and the sentences which emphasize how he's losing it (remember the killing spree when he finally shoots down the target at the price of innocent men - witnesses cannot be stayed alive), is just great, there is no word for it. Jacamon illustrated this condition with great visuals and the allegory about the Orinoco Crocodile hits like hell. Starting as a gripping monodrama, a little crazy-cross between Blast of Silence and The Tenant, is the strongest part of Vol. 1., then The Killer becomes a fine "chiller" thriller with blasting twists and turns. Oh, and the suspense: if I only think about killing one of the traitors. Masterful introduction with words, with panels and bombastic conclusion with showing what happened. The French always were the Gods of hard boiled crime stories, they don't disappoint now either. Highly recommended.

A well written assassin drama with intriguing characters, good intelligent plot and decently rendered stylized artwork that fits the story well. Enjoyed it well enough to purchase the second volume and will get the third when it comes out later this month.

This story about the journey of a hitman will definitely become a movie. It shows you not only the inner workings of the french writers mind, but also a new and fresh view of an assassin's. This is one of my new favorites! Don't hesitate to buy this, even Blair Butler pushed it on Fresh Ink on g4tv, on oct 19 2007 episode of attack of the show.

One of the best new graphic novels that I have read in years. Definately a must read, must own.

El comic es bueno es menos de lo que yo esperaba pero por tratarse de ese tema le doy tres estrellas. El dibujo y el color del comic son buenos aunque me hubiera gustado que fueran un mas oscuros y en lo que respecta a la historia deja algo que desear, el plot lo deduces muy facilmente, en lo personal me hubiera gustado que fuera mas complejo. Para finalizar es un comic para los que le gusta el genero de hitman aunque los dejara con ganas de que fuera mejor.