Sin City

Sin City: Booze, Broads, and Bullets

A collection of Frank Miller’s Sin City short stories.  Not as good as his longer arcs, these are mostly tone poems.  Fun, but not the best vehicles for conveying the emotion that elevates this series above other comic noirs.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Sin City: Family Values

Deadly little Miho is very deadly in this volume.  Miller sets her apart from the rest of the world by using zero spots of black on her.  She’s a stark contrast to everything around her, like an ethereal ghost that can’t be touched by her surroundings.  

I do have a major problem with how Miller writes the relationship between Dwight and Miho.  He treats her like a pet, an attack dog to sic on his enemies. Ordering her around and keeping her silent reinforces the comparison.  Miller even has her curled up and sleeping on Dwight’s lap. It’s a disturbing treatment of a character who’s ostensibly a kickass woman.  

And yet the relatively high rating and rebuyability (totally a word) remains.  Dunno what that says about me, but I still found it an enjoyable read. I’ve got nothing for you.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Sin City: That Yellow Bastard 1-6

My second favorite SIn City story. A self-sacrificing hero, repulsive villain, forbidden love, top-notch art...It’s only the sad ending that takes it down a notch.  I’m not knocking it from a plotting point of view, it’s just my personal preference for happy endings that’s in play here. Hartigan’s monologuing is wonderful here, his emotions clearly spilled out onto the page.  Miller uses it to great effect, here setting up a beautifully drawn silent page.

Miller’s just a flat out master of black and white.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Sin City: Hell and Back 1-9

Miller goes full out superhero in Sin City.  Wallace has Batman-level martial arts abilities, and his victory is never in doubt.  It’s a far cry from every other Sin City protagonist, who struggle and claw for every little win that they can get.  It creates a very different vibe, and if it weren’t for the art, wouldn’t feel like a Sin City story at all.  

Why does this seem familiar?

Oh right, Dame to Kill For

And that’s ignoring the full color psychedelic trip in issue seven…

Storywise, it’s Taken before Taken.  

Wallace also has a very particular set of skills.

Still fun.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good