Tumor [Hardcover]

Joshua Hale Fialkov (Author), Stephen Christy (Editor), Noel Tuazon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2010

Introduction by Duane Swierczynski From the Harvey Award-nominated creative team of Elk's Run comes Tumor, the critically acclaimed sensation that was the first graphic novel to debut exclusively on the Kindle E-Book Reader! Tumor is the story of Frank Armstrong, a man at the boot heel of the world, barely scraping up a living as a private investigator in modern day Los Angeles. He finally lands a big case, finding the missing daughter of a drug kingpin, just as he's taken by the symptoms of a late-stage brain tumor. Memories blend with reality, as the missing girl case starts to seep into the memory of his own missing wife from 20 years prior. Now, with days, maybe even hours, left to live, he must save this girl, while the one thing he's relied on all of his life fails him - his mind!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first comic created for Amazon Kindle turns out to be more than just an experimental curiosity. When Frank Armstrong, an elderly failed PI, is hired to find a drug boss's daughter, he sees a chance to redeem himself for failing to prevent his own wife's murder decades ago. Unfortunately, Frank's inoperable brain tumor means that his senses betray him so that he doesn't always know what year he's living in or whether he's walking down the gritty L.A. streets or lying flat on his back in a hospital bed. He's obviously dying; the question is whether he can pull himself together long enough to win moral salvation. Fialkov's hard-boiled script shows Frank's desperate toughness, though it's somewhat unbelievable to discover that he's been walking around with a compound fracture of his left femur. Tuazon's crude-looking black and white art is also effective, switching from fine line and wash to scrappy brush work as Frank's consciousness fluctuates. There's nothing subtle about Tumor, but it's successful noir storytelling. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

Self-characterized “sad sack of shit” Frank Armstrong is an off-the-books PI, semi-retired. In his favored beanery one day, a strong-arm materializes in Frank’s booth with a job offer: find the boss’ daughter, who stole from him to elope with her boyfriend. Then Frank’s bad headache suddenly knocks extra hard, scaring even the muscle across from him. Soon enough, he’s in the hospital with a metastasizing brain tumor. But the daughter looks just like the wife he lost 20 years ago, blown away by her father as Frank fears this girl will be. With the girl’s help, he crashes out of the hospital and keeps her moving for her own safety while he figures out how to put her completely out of danger. Meanwhile, the tumor has Frank thinking the girl is his wife and scrambles his sense of past and present. Fialkov’s near-perfect noir script, brim-full of violence and pain, is superbly realized by Tuazon’s detailed yet sketchy black-and-white drawing, which depicts Frank’s seesawing between hard-ass gumshoe and whimpering old man so convincingly it’s scary. --Ray Olson

Product Details

• Hardcover: 225 pages
• Publisher: Archaia; First Edition edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932386823
• ISBN-13: 978-1932386820
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.3 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joshua Hale Fialkov is the Harvey, Eisner, and Emmy award nominated creator of graphic novels, video games, prose, and the occasional screenplay. Best known for his cult hit series I, VAMPIRE for DC Comics, as well as the Eisner Award nominated TUMOR and Harvey Award nominated ECHOES.

Joshua is the upcoming writer of ULTIMATE COMICS: THE ULTIMATES for Marvel.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, author Christina Rice, their daughter, and their cat, Smokey.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty and clever crime story September 6, 2011

By sketchboy01

Format:Hardcover

I had this book on my shelf for a while before reading it-- and now wish I had read it sooner.
The loose art style was not my usual faire, but I warmed up to it's expressiveness the more I got into the story. Especially some nice acid-dreamy washes in the flashback sequences. The facial expressions were well nuanced as well.
The author really captured the gritty crime genre updated for a contemporary setting and also offers a neat travelogue through LA.
I'm glad I read it as a whole, in full length fancy hardcover form-- some quality paper stock too~

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read Crime Noir Novel July 24, 2010

By TheWonderWoman

Format:Hardcover

Fialkov breathes life into the detective story, which has become trite and dull, and the reader is forced into the same mindset and handicap as the main character, a driven man looking for redemption, but must overcome his own physical inabilities in order to solve the mystery. /Tumor/ is a page turner that any crime noir fan will be happy he or she read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, gritty, and edgy! June 18, 2010

By qubit

Format:Hardcover

This is a gripping graphic novel with beautiful sketches. The story is gritty, and moves at a good pace. I loved the fact that the story is set in Los Angeles, and it was quite a delight to identify various L.A. spots in the sketches. I highly recommend this book!