GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: The Fade Out Vol. 1, An epic noir in the Golden Era of Hollywood

In the ongoing tradition of releasing compilations right after an arc or story ended, Image Comics proudly presents one of its highly acclaimed titles, THE FADE OUT Vol. 1. This volume comprises issue one to four of the critically smash hit of the comic industry’s best crime-and-suspense partners-in-crime ever, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. The story revolves on the crime investigation in Hollywood of the 1950s, the tail-end of the Golden Age of American cinema. True to form, this volume caters to all Brubaker-Phillips readers, noir fans, and sophisticated-intelligent lovers of serious visual literatures. If new readers want to experience this mystery-whodunit-time warp, I personally welcome you to join the ride and be amazed on how the dynamic duo really tops the current competition and exceeds our expectations further.

I will illustrate the strengths of this new book, as well of its downsides. The story is just a great taster for a huge narrative Brubaker is trying to cook up. So good the smell, readers need to re-read this volume not twice but thrice or more to achieve the desired results. Well, such repetitive readings is nothing to be frowned with for the artistic team literally sprinkled with so many easter eggs and subtle minutely details that casual readers may overlook but still are nevertheless paramount to the succeeding chapters onwards. Even the number of characters involved is increasing as succeeding chapters tell the multi-layered tales of believable and plausible proportions that again, readers should pace or even digest their reading pleasures to achieve the desire reading results. Is there a conspiracy or two around the case? YOU DECIDE for yourselves! The colors are simply breathtaking and highly appropriate to the times involved. Even the language used in dialogues and thought balloons are spot-on! We must be aware that racial bigotry and stereotypes were still prevalent (and Brubaker is a history-nut-lover, and he really researches well in preparations for his works. Thus, researching is his jam!). The texture, ambiance and the environs of the 1950s Hollywood and the movie industry in general are faithfully and beautifully recaptured by Phillips. Speaking of history, readers should be aware that the abovementioned decade is the era of McCarthyism and Cold War paranoia that being labeled or suspected as “reds” or anything associated with radical thoughts and groups (i.e. Marxism, communism, socialism, or Soviet sympathizers, etc.) were searched, publicly humiliated, ostracized, and lost their only means of livelihood(s). Brubaker explored these as a serious backdrop and perhaps, his critique as well.

Yet understandably, this volume has neither the interesting historical articles written by Brubaker’s popular history experts like Jess Nivens nor the team’s column entitled “The Secret Ingredient”. And as forewarned, this is a very “mature” reading that has plenty of disturbing imageries, contents, and lots of nudities. Perhaps, we must be patient for the deluxe hardcover edition later than sooner. But nonetheless, this first volume is worth buying, reading and keeping. Enjoy! GO IMAGE!!!
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