The King [Paperback]

Rich Koslowski (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2005

The King is an offbeat tale of one very enigmatic Elvis impersonator that's taking the Vegas strip, and the world, by storm. Shrouded in mystery with the shining gold helmet that covers his face, his performances are mesmerizing, and many fans are starting to believe that he really is Elvis. Through a series of thought-provoking interviews and investigative reporting, a journalist makes it his personal mission to find out who The King really is. And along the way he discovers a lot more than he bargained for.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Down-at-the-heels journalist Paul Erfurt is in Vegas again to jump-start a moribund career, unexpectedly on assignment from Time. Six months back, a portly guy opened at the Trident casino and began packing them in. He looks, sounds, moves like . . . Elvis. Not young Elvis, not black-leather comeback Elvis, but Elvis just before that day in August--white, rhinestone-studded jumpsuit and cape; humungous belt; silk scarves; and all. Of course, there's also the helmet covering his face down to his shades, and the fact that he calls himself, as the Second Memphis Mafia does, too, only "the King." And he'll talk only to Erfurt, which is why Time hired the former tabloid hotshot. Who or what is he, really? The interviews and, once Erfurt brings in his erstwhile legman, Dave, the investigating commence, and a very fine feat of Presleyana, indeed, gets under way. Koslowski marries a cartoon-noir mise-en-scene and superb Columbo/Rockford Files dialogue to produce a terrific, not-all-that-satiric (at least, of Elvis), novelistic graphic novel. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions (August 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891830651
• ISBN-13: 978-1891830655
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,149,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a funny book, August 24, 2005

By 

Matthew Simmons "McDuck2112" (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The King (Paperback)

Writer/Artist Rich Koslowski keeps raising the bar - and then jumping over it. Fresh from his incredible graphic novel 'Three Fingers' comes 'The King'.

The quirky humor of 'The Three Geeks' and his other early works is a bit muted here but it has been replaced with a richly matured skill at storytelling that tackles deeper topics like faith and belief in the absence (or in the face of) hard evidence.

The artwork is also worthy of note - rather than rely on garish coloring, the simple 3 tone artwork relies shading and shadow to emphasize the unfolding story.

Not just for comic book fans or Elvis junkies - this is a well crafted story that is well worth the time spent reading it. Again and Again.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique story of an enigmatic Elvis impersonator who's making his reputation in the Vegas strip and in the world, December 11, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King (Paperback)

Rick Koslowski's "The King" is a unique story of an enigmatic Elvis impersonator who's making his reputation in the Vegas strip and in the world. A mystery man who hides his face behind a golden helmet, his performances are mesmerizing, so much so that his fans start believing he really is Elvis Presley. When a former tabloid journalist makes it his personal mission to find out The King's true identity and debunk this strange performer's comeback as Elvis, he runs into more than he bargained for!