Editor: James Paraha. Friday 22nd October 2004.
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Editor: James Paraha. Friday 22nd October 2004.
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by Stephen Kok If you have been following my past reviews they would have been : Each of the above reviews follow the general 'superhero' comic genre. This review will be a slight departure from the usual superhero review to the more gritty crime noir of Frank Miller's Sin City. Please note that this is definitely NOT a kid's comic. Story / Art by Frank Miller
Winner: 1995 Eisner Award Best Limited Series [Spoiler Notice : Although this review will contain plot references, it does not have any spoiler information] Basic Story Synopsis Is Ava really the damsel in distress? Analysis The contrast of black and white helps to personify the world. The arbitrary change of swapping the black and white from foreground to background places emphasis on the chaos in the Sin City. The ironic thing I found, is that Miller's writing steps into so many grey areas of people's attitude and psyche, that the stark black and white occasionally feels rigid in places. The character art is a very interesting point. Miller makes the "beautiful" extraordinarily so and the ugly, very repulsive. This once again plays with the themes of black and white as some sort of fixed distinction. However, as the story develops you find the character who is deemed the most outwardly beautiful is probably the most twisted inside. Miller is famous for his line art and inking and I think some of his best work is done on the Sin City series. The inking is superb and a brilliant complement to his already outstanding work. You just have to read it to really understand the effort that must go into creating this work.
The world of Sin City which Miller envisions is dark and sweaty one in which secrets hide. His art encapsulates that perfectly; from the smoke filled taverns to the filthy hotels. The world seems almost irredeemable and at first glance so do the characters. One aspect of Miller's work which I really enjoy is his character development. Most characters have a hidden depth to them and Miller goes to lengths to ensure the reader sees the characters as an individual entities rather than a plot device. This is not only with the main characters but a lot of the smaller characters. The attachment to the main character, Dwight is important. Dwight is not purely good or bad. Miller does well to show reflections of ourselves in Dwight and his hopes, ambitions and failings. While you may not agree with his actions [I'll leave that to you to decide] you do sympathise and understand why he chooses the course of action he does. Ava, the protagonist and Dwight's love interest is probably the most complex. At times you feel her innocence and you wonder about her motives. At other times you feel a calculating mind that's willing to take advantage of the situation. Throughout the story you will find yourself second guessing and changing your impression of her. It brings the idea of actions and consequences. As the title suggests "You may be ready to kill for a dame but are you ready to die for one?" Dwight is put through a situation where he must decide on what to do and live with the aftermath of his actions.
On a personal note, the ending was a little disappointing. It was too convenient and too easy for my liking however it does conclude the story adequately. I would have preferred something a little more dramatic than what was portrayed. In saying that, it was still a very good finish to a great series. In 1995, it won Will Eisner's Best Limited Series Award and rightly so. Collectible Note The easiest way to go if you just want read the story is to purchase the trade paperback which collects all six issues. Recommendations Frank Miller's (whose fame includes the screenplay for Robocop 2 & 3) other work of note is DC Comics - The Dark Knight Returns. If you enjoy his style of artwork and writing, this is well worth your reading. It's a personal favourite of mine. |
