As regular Scoop readers know, during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus, we’ve featured reviews of individual back issues, runs, collected editions, and original graphic novels that captured and held our attention over the long haul. Now that “new comics Wednesday” has returned in some form for most around the country, we’ve decided to continue including great older comics among our features. Remember, once your store is open, checking out their back issue bins or bookshelves is a great way to #BackTheComeback.

The Fade Out #1
Image Comics; $3.50 (comic), $5.99 (magazine)

Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips have produced some stunning work together over the years, including Criminal and Incognito for Marvel’s Icon imprint and Fatale at Image. Their combined noir sensibilities have worked to both expand the boundaries of crime comics and to reach fans who might not otherwise have tried the genre.

Now they’ve got another home run on their hands.

With The Fade Out, they place themselves squarely in post-World War II Hollywood. It’s still the era of powerful studios and cover-ups, and of course being a Brubaker and Phillips production there is something to cover up, a murder. There’s plenty of action, intrigue and off-kilter characters.

This first issue is 40 pages and it’s a great read, one that left us immediately ready for the second installment. By the way, in addition to the standard comic book format, the first issue was offered in a magazine format with a faux movie magazine period cover. 

This series has been collected in hardcover (a glorious edition) and trade paperback, and it makes a superb read.

– J.C. Vaughn