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Andrew Vachss

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Hard Looks: Adapted Stories (Book market edition) Paperback – November 20, 2002

by Andrew Vachss (Author), Various (Author)

16

Part of: Hard Looks

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Andrew Vachss' writing has been described as "red-hot and serious as a punctured lung" (Playboy), "hypnotically violent ... made up of equal part broken concrete block and razor wire" (Chicago Sun-Times), and "short and choppy, like the ticking of a time bomb" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).

This brand new book contains fifteen of Vachss' most compelling, life-at-ground-zero stories, brought to life by an outstanding line-up of comics' most talented writers and artists. This exciting book also contains Half-Breed, a never-before-published story by Vachss, with illustrations and a new cover by Geof Darrow, conceptual designer for the motion pictures The Matrix I, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions.

Part of Series

Hard Looks
Print length

208 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dark Horse
Publication date

November 20, 2002
Dimensions

6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1569718296
ISBN-13

978-1569718292
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Andrew H. Vachss
97
Hardcover
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This well-crafted collection of comics adaptations of stories by Vachss, creator of the popular Burke mystery series and a former federal investigator, is an unlikely artistic triumph. Vachss, who wrote an authorized novel based on Batman in 1995, is not shy about moralizing; he operates in an ethical gray area, where traditional lines between good and bad, cop and criminal, are constantly blurred and broken. While highlighting the law's ambiguities, Vachss also teases out lessons and consequences for his characters, usually in the form of unexpected endings. No matter how hard the characters try, they can't escape brutal victimization. An unbalanced hostage negotiator, having successfully freed a captive, shoots the unarmed kidnapper at the end of "Hostage," and in "Replay," an over-eager phone sex operator realizes the man whose pedophilic fantasies she's entertaining is her own father, and she was his first victim. A young gang member, bragging of his successful (and bloody) initiation rite, is killed by associates of his victims; and so on. Left alone, a few of these stark, graphic stories go a long way, but enhanced by artwork contributed by a group of superb cartoonists, they come alive in new and unexpected ways. The artists include David Lloyd, Bruce Jones and Warren Pleece, who share a shadowy pen and ink style particularly well suited to these pieces' mood and the subject matter. George Pratt's expressionistic work illuminates the despair at the heart of these stories, while Gary Gianni's accurate line work superbly depicts the urban landscape. Such a diverse group of art styles keeps the anthology from groaning under its own weight and provides different interpretations of Vachss's otherwise fairly similar stories.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Andrew Vachss is the author of the Burke series of novels, the 14th of which, Only Child, will be released Fall 2002 by Alfred A. Knopf. His books have been translated into twenty languages and have won The Gran Prix de Litterature Policiere (France), The Falcon Award (Japan), The Deutschen Krimi Preis (Germany), and The Raymond Chandler Award (Italy). His work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, The New York Times, Playboy, and numerous other forums.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dark Horse (November 20, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1569718296
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1569718292
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,738,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,144 in Dark Horse Comics & Graphic Novels
- #81,034 in Graphic Novels (Books)

Customer Reviews:
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Andrew Vachss

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Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for "aggressive-violent" youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youth exclusively, and is a founding member of the Legislative Drafting Institute for Child Protection. He is the author of numerous novels, including the Burke series, three collections of short stories, and a wide variety of other material including song lyrics, graphic novels, essays, and a "children's book for adults." He is most currently engaged in the work of the Legislative Drafting Institute for Child Protection (ldicp.org). His books have been translated into twenty languages, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, The New York Times, and many other forums. His books have been awarded the Grand Prix de Littérature Policiére, the Falcon Award, Deutschen Krimi Preis, Die Jury des Bochumer Krimi Archivs and the Raymond Chandler Award (per Giurìa a Noir in Festival, Courmayeur, Italy). Andrew Vachss' latest books are Mortal Lock (Vintage, May 2013), SignWave (Pantheon, June 2015), and Carbon (Haverhill House, 2019). The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is vachss.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

16 global ratings

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Tyr Shadowblade (TM)

A true Vachss graphic novel

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2022

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My wife and stepson are huge fans of Andrew Vachss. Got him the original comic series and she got the graphic novel version. Everything was perfect.

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sob

" And that's a very good thing. He made me think

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2017

Verified Purchase

I've recently been introduced to the writings of Andrew Vachss. This is my THIRD copy of this book (somewhat for collectors value to me). It's really hard for me to explain who and what or even WHY Andrew is a big deal. The first few books left me with a sense of 'Wha?" And that's a very good thing. He made me think, he left me speechless, he makes me feel small and insignificant! HOW does a man like this think of some of his subject matter? DO the research and see WHO he is. It will start to click. To me there's nothing better than someone that can write an entire story in a few pages, and NOT leave you wanting to know more details - they are/were there. You don't have to fill in much as he's provided the framework. I can remember only one other writer that made me feel a sense of wonder like Mr. Vachss does. He's in great company, but this is HIS review. Buy ANY Vachss book, and you won't be disappointed, I guarantee that.

One person found this helpful

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Jenn RW

Vachss is a fantastic and descriptive writer. His Burke novels are wonderful, engaging and thrilling. I hope they keep on coming

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2014

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Vachss is a fantastic and descriptive writer. His Burke novels are wonderful, engaging and thrilling. I hope they keep on coming forever!!

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

Each story was OK, but just OK. Vachss has written much better stories, such as Blue Bell. Any of the Burke series would have been much better

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David Wirth

A Handsomely-Produced Collection of Brilliant Short Stories

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2003

HARD LOOKS is an outstanding collection of 17 short stories by attorney/author Andrew Vachss, which makes an unflinching examination of all manner of human depravity while at the same time providing the reader with heroes and hope. The stories (titles include: DRIVE BY; DATE RAPE; LYNCH LAW; HEAD CASE; BORN BAD; CRIPPLE; DUMPING GROUND; and MAN TO MAN) have been adapted to graphic novel format by Joe R. Lansdale, Charles de Lint, Chet Williamson, Jim Colbert, Rose Dawn Scott, and Neal Barrett, Jr. and feature the splendid artwork of Geoff Darrow, David Lloyd, Gary Gianni, Warren Pleece, Jack Pollack, and others. The skillful adaptations and the beautifully-done artwork serve to greatly amplify the power of these hard-edged tales.
For years I have admired the power and strength of Mr. Vachss' novels (FLOOD, STREGA, BLUE BELLE, SHELLA, ONLY CHILD, et al.). This collection, with the freedom allowed by the short story form and its wide range of subject matter, equals or surpasses the intensity of those books.
This edition of HARD LOOKS is available in two versions, one with a photo cover and one with a masterfully-drawn cover by Geof Darrow. I would highly recommend the book featuring Mr. Darrow's artwork. Mr. Darrow's richly-detailed, colorful illustration tells a story (actually, many stories) all its own and is well worth the cover price....
HARD LOOKS ... masterfully adapted, wonderfully illustrated versions of 17 provacative, disturbing, and important short stories from Andrew Vachss.

11 people found this helpful

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D W

Hard Looks Rules! (where is the Darrow cover?)

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2003

I learned about this new edition from the Andrew Vachss website. But Amazon, for *whatever* reason, doesn't have the ultra-hype Geof ("The Matrix") Darrow cover! Hey, Amazon, why can't we have a CHOICE? I mean, this photo cover is very good, but not everyone is so high-art -- some of us Vachss fans WANT the graphics cover!
I got my Darrow cover edition at my local comics shop, and paid full price, which totally [was bad]. Get a move on, Amazon!

11 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Great Book - Why not both covers?

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2003

This is a really nice graphic novel, and I'd expect no less from Vachss and his team of talented artists and writers. But how come we can't get the comics cover by Geof Darrow? I think Amazon should be offering both covers as a special "buy with" option (instead of the old Predator stuff!).
Anyway, the book is great, the story HALF BREED is tight and tense and the drawings by Darrow just suck you into it. The differing styles in the artwork add a nice touch and seem to match the individual stories perfectly.
And there really is something for everyone in this book!

6 people found this helpful

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naharnahekim

Trite, moralistic tales with no concept of reality

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2005

I seem to be the one voice of dissent when it comes to this collection of short grphic peices. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I found Vachss stories to be completely lacking in any redeaming volue what so ever. The stories them selves are less than surface level involving no depth of charater, or exploration of ideas. How to best explain it? Ah, got it! Do you remember sitcoms from the early 90's, were at the end everyone has learned a very important lesson about drugs, or gangs, or sneaking out to parties? Mix that with the sort of "poetic justice" you would find in "Tales from the crypt" and you have "Hard Looks". Except there is no kitchy irony involved, no chuckles at how silly and ridiculus this sort of stroy telling is, Vachss is dead serious. After reading the book I was ahgast to find out that Vachss was at one point a fedral investigator, AND a social worker. This book is apparently how he thinks the world works, or should work. I would suggest not buying this garbage. If you really must read it, I'm sure your public or a local college library will have a copy. Head over one day and flip through it, you'll see what I mean.

P.S. Vachss actually uses the "escaped hook-handed crazy man" ([...]) legend in one story, only he throws in a rape at gun point to make it all "Hard" and "Edgy". I mean come on! Why do people like this tripe!

7 people found this helpful

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PB

They read like storyboards for a 'Morality Tales of the Unexpected'

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2016

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Dark, very dark, but insightful, interesting and entertaining. They read like storyboards for a 'Morality Tales of the Unexpected', they could do with being filmed.

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Hard Looks: Adapted Stories (Book market edition) Paperback – November 20, 2002

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Hard Looks: Adapted Stories (Book market edition) Paperback – November 20, 2002

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About the author

Andrew Vachss

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