8 Million Ways to Die
Written by Lawrence Block
Adapted by John K Snyder III
Illustrated by John K Snyder III
Publisher: IDW
If you like pulp detective novels you are almost assuredly aware of author Lawrence Block and his Matthew Scudder books.
Scudder debuted in 1976’s The Sins of the Fathers as an alcoholic ex-cop who had quit the NYPD and left his family after accidentally causing the death of a young girl. There are nearly 20 in the series featuring the detective, and as you might expect from the genre they have a difibite noir flavour.
A Walk Among the Tombstones, which was made into a movie with Liam Neeson as Scudder might be the best-known of Block’s books, although 8 Million Ways to Die was also made into a movie with Jeff Bridges in the lead role. Neeson’s rendition was a modest success, Bridge’s was not.
But as a graphic novel 8 Million Ways to Die works just fine.
Of course the story is a good one, Block knows how to write a pulp detective.
And the art by John K Snyder III fits the moodiness of the story.
If you are new to pulp detective tales and like graphic novels this is must read.
Scudder fans will likely have read the novel, but this reads quickly enough, with the added element of the art to make it worth checking out too.
It certainly has left me hoping for more Scudder stories to be given a graphic novel adaptation.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Calvin’s Commentaries: 8 Million Ways to Die
Written by Lawrence Block
Adapted by John K Snyder III
Illustrated by John K Snyder III
Publisher: IDW
If you like pulp detective novels you are almost assuredly aware of author Lawrence Block and his Matthew Scudder books.
Scudder debuted in 1976’s The Sins of the Fathers as an alcoholic ex-cop who had quit the NYPD and left his family after accidentally causing the death of a young girl. There are nearly 20 in the series featuring the detective, and as you might expect from the genre they have a difibite noir flavour.
A Walk Among the Tombstones, which was made into a movie with Liam Neeson as Scudder might be the best-known of Block’s books, although 8 Million Ways to Die was also made into a movie with Jeff Bridges in the lead role. Neeson’s rendition was a modest success, Bridge’s was not.
But as a graphic novel 8 Million Ways to Die works just fine.
Of course the story is a good one, Block knows how to write a pulp detective.
And the art by John K Snyder III fits the moodiness of the story.
If you are new to pulp detective tales and like graphic novels this is must read.
Scudder fans will likely have read the novel, but this reads quickly enough, with the added element of the art to make it worth checking out too.
It certainly has left me hoping for more Scudder stories to be given a graphic novel adaptation.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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