If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known recently for his excellent Sin City series and, previously, for his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the supreme contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. In his introduction the great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argues that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.

Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, streetgangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Frank Miller's Sin City is visually quite astonishing. A brutal adult noir set in the fictional Basin City, Miller's black and white artwork realises the atmosphere of some weird Depression-era-style future superbly well. Our principal character, Marv, is a giant, as large as he is ugly, who has found some peace, some kindness, some shelter in the arms of a prostitute called Goldie. Goldie, running from someone, scared as hell, needs protection as much as Marv needs a little human kindness. Hauling himself out of the depths of a huge hangover Marv wakes to find Goldie murdered. And revenge is one of the things Marv does best. While the artwork is undeniably fine the story is rather thin in places, and the sound effects come a little too thick and fast. Although not a great comic it is a very good one and, as the first part of the classic Sin City series, the beginning chapter in what has become an essential addition to the adult graphic novel collector's list. --Mark Thwaite

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Classic start to a classic series....a must have!, 24 Apr 2008
This is one of my favourite graphic novels. Utterly fantastic and visually stunning. Even if you are not a reader of graphic novels, any traditional crime fan would be pulled into Frank Millers world of hard cases, hitmen, dames and hookers. The men are big and burly, the women are so hot and curvy, and its all conveyed perfectly in harsh black and white artwork. Its like traditional film noir on the page.

This is the first in the series of Sin city, and the protagonist is the incredible Marv, hulking street fighter and tough guy with a "condition." He can't believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman called Goldie...But it's not to last, and she ends up murdered. Then Marv is hot on the trail of her killers, and blood splattered vengeance will be his!! Kevin is truly one of the creepiest baddies I've seen, and Marv makes sure he gets what he deserves. Some of the characters are just amazing and recur throughout the Sin City series, like Gail, the fiery hooker, and Nancy, the angelic strip club dancer. This is a great crime story, as well a thrilling personal drama. I found it kind of romantic too, in a tragic way.

A welcome change from traditional superhero comics. Frank Miller is a genius! Read the rest of series now, and have a look at the art book! A great adult read indeed!

Impressive crime story, 06 Aug 2007
This is a great story and incredibly well drawn. Marv is a brute with justice on his side in this dark tale of violence, prostitution and corruption. Highly recommended if you're fond of noir and incredibly well designed drawings. Some of Miller's art is astounding and this is well worth a look.

Grimy "Goodbye", 26 Mar 2007
With a name like "The Hard Goodbye," it isn't surprising that the first volume of the Sin City series is pure, gritty noir. After practically reinventing the superhero comic, Frank Miller created a series that can definitely be called his opus -- gritty, dark, sexy and heady. Think of it as "The Big Sleep" meets "Kill Bill."

"The night is hot as hell. Everything sticks." With those words, tough, scarred Marv encounters and beds a beautiful, alluring "goddess" named Goldie. No sooner have they made love than she is found dead beside him, and unsurprisingly the police believe that Marv is the killer. Case closed? Not really.

Being blamed for the murder of the woman he loved, Marv devotes himself to finding who killed her and framed him. He rampages through the depths of Sin City, unearthing the twisted power structure that holds it up -- and in his homicidal quest, destroying his hidden enemies for the murder of Goldie... and in the process, dooming himself.

The noir atmosphere starts from the first panel -- toughguyspeak, a silhouette and a beautiful woman. That dark, dirty feel sets the mood for the book, and in fact for the entire series. Imagine one of those old Humphrey Bogart noir movies, with the smoky atmosphere and black-and-white film... but darker, more violent, openly sexual, and often gruesome in tone.

Miller's drawing style is all in black and white, and in "Hard Goodbye" the style is simple, but effective. He uses stark swashes of dark and light to illustrate the characters' faces and bodies, never overburdening the reader with too many unnecessary details. Although later volumes have more visual detail, Miller strips it down here to the bare bones, and it fits the spare narrative beautifully.

"Sin City" itself is a seedy underbelly, full of crime, revenge and corruption; Marv isn't the guy who's going to clean it up, a la Dashiell Hammett, but the guy who will get revenge, no matter what the consequences are. The characters are just as dark: a corrupted Cardinal, psychopathic cannibal Kevin, and moderately crooked cops. Lots of death ensues.

Frank Miller's "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye" is a hard book to read. However, the Chander-by-way-of-Tarantino comic book is an electrifying read, dark and bloody and vivid.

Five Star Sin, 29 Jun 2006
This has to be the perfect place to start from if you want to enter the world of Sin City. Frank Miller brings what has to be one of the best graphic novels ever to the public. If you have already seen the film and want to follow up your interest in Sin City, this is one of the 3 main books used. The others being That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill, there is also a small section of Booze, Broads and Bullets used.

The second Sin City film will be based around the book To Hell and Back, which is the seventh book of the Sin City Empire.

Hartigan saves little Nancy Callahan in Miller's comic noir, 07 Jun 2005
Although I still have a preference for Marv and narrative of "The Hard Goodbye," the first of Frank Miller's "Sin City" graphic novels, I think that artistically he hits full stride in the fourth, "That Yellow Bastard." It is just mildly ironic that this becomes the first volume in the series to add any color to Miller's black and white world. But whereas "The Hard Goodbye" had an almost kitchen sink approach with Miller pretty much trying everything he could come up with for black & white (or white & black) illustrations, I find there is much more of a coherent artistic vision and a rhythm to way in which Miller goes from predominantly black to predominantly white pages, and back again.

"That Yellow Bastard" begins with tough cop John Hartigan, whose good heart is going bad on him, trying to stay alive long enough to do one last case before he dies. Somebody has been raping and murdering little girls for some time and now they have taken 11-year-old Nancy Callahan. Hartigan is able to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the son of Senator Roark, but takes four bullets in the process. Junior is in worse shape, having an ear and both of his "weapons" removed by Hartigan's bullets. If an old man dies and a little girl survives, then Hartigan considers that a fair deal. But this bloody encounter is but the first act in this particular comic noir.

The first episode sets the rules for Hartigan's world, where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of tough guys like him. Even when Hartigan finds out that Nancy grew up and filled out, that does not change his mission (just complicates it a bit). Granted, the age difference would make more sense if he was her grandfather, but then there is a consistency to what Hartigan means when he says that he loves Nancy, even if she is inclined to read it a different way. There is a leap in the narrative at one point that you might find a bit hard to accept (i.e., confession leads to immediate release), but you have to admit it is a lot easier to be a pariah out in the world than stuck in prison (and I think Junior would have wanted it that way).

Again, the art work here is Miller at what I consider to be his best, but attention must also be paid to the sense of pacing that he shows in several scenes (most notably when Hartigan pulls himself together for the final confrontation with Junior). There are easily a dozen great looks at Hartigan's grizzled face, and a 15-page sequence, spanning two chapters, of Nancy dancing at the club, consisting of not only full-page shots but also two-page spreads, as she mesmerizes her audience. With "That Yellow Bastard" readers who were introduced to the graphic novels by the film that incorporated three of the first four volumes will be heading into new territory with "Family Values." It will interesting to see when and how Miller tops artistically what he came up with for this one.

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Classic start to a classic series....a must have!, 24 Apr 2008
This is one of my favourite graphic novels. Utterly fantastic and visually stunning. Even if you are not a reader of graphic novels, any traditional crime fan would be pulled into Frank Millers world of hard cases, hitmen, dames and hookers. The men are big and burly, the women are so hot and curvy, and its all conveyed perfectly in harsh black and white artwork. Its like traditional film noir on the page.

This is the first in the series of Sin city, and the protagonist is the incredible Marv, hulking street fighter and tough guy with a "condition." He can't believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman called Goldie...But it's not to last, and she ends up murdered. Then Marv is hot on the trail of her killers, and blood splattered vengeance will be his!! Kevin is truly one of the creepiest baddies I've seen, and Marv makes sure he gets what he deserves. Some of the characters are just amazing and recur throughout the Sin City series, like Gail, the fiery hooker, and Nancy, the angelic strip club dancer. This is a great crime story, as well a thrilling personal drama. I found it kind of romantic too, in a tragic way.

A welcome change from traditional superhero comics. Frank Miller is a genius! Read the rest of series now, and have a look at the art book! A great adult read indeed!

Impressive crime story, 06 Aug 2007
This is a great story and incredibly well drawn. Marv is a brute with justice on his side in this dark tale of violence, prostitution and corruption. Highly recommended if you're fond of noir and incredibly well designed drawings. Some of Miller's art is astounding and this is well worth a look.

Grimy "Goodbye", 26 Mar 2007
With a name like "The Hard Goodbye," it isn't surprising that the first volume of the Sin City series is pure, gritty noir. After practically reinventing the superhero comic, Frank Miller created a series that can definitely be called his opus -- gritty, dark, sexy and heady. Think of it as "The Big Sleep" meets "Kill Bill."

"The night is hot as hell. Everything sticks." With those words, tough, scarred Marv encounters and beds a beautiful, alluring "goddess" named Goldie. No sooner have they made love than she is found dead beside him, and unsurprisingly the police believe that Marv is the killer. Case closed? Not really.

Being blamed for the murder of the woman he loved, Marv devotes himself to finding who killed her and framed him. He rampages through the depths of Sin City, unearthing the twisted power structure that holds it up -- and in his homicidal quest, destroying his hidden enemies for the murder of Goldie... and in the process, dooming himself.

The noir atmosphere starts from the first panel -- toughguyspeak, a silhouette and a beautiful woman. That dark, dirty feel sets the mood for the book, and in fact for the entire series. Imagine one of those old Humphrey Bogart noir movies, with the smoky atmosphere and black-and-white film... but darker, more violent, openly sexual, and often gruesome in tone.

Miller's drawing style is all in black and white, and in "Hard Goodbye" the style is simple, but effective. He uses stark swashes of dark and light to illustrate the characters' faces and bodies, never overburdening the reader with too many unnecessary details. Although later volumes have more visual detail, Miller strips it down here to the bare bones, and it fits the spare narrative beautifully.

"Sin City" itself is a seedy underbelly, full of crime, revenge and corruption; Marv isn't the guy who's going to clean it up, a la Dashiell Hammett, but the guy who will get revenge, no matter what the consequences are. The characters are just as dark: a corrupted Cardinal, psychopathic cannibal Kevin, and moderately crooked cops. Lots of death ensues.

Frank Miller's "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye" is a hard book to read. However, the Chander-by-way-of-Tarantino comic book is an electrifying read, dark and bloody and vivid.

Five Star Sin, 29 Jun 2006
This has to be the perfect place to start from if you want to enter the world of Sin City. Frank Miller brings what has to be one of the best graphic novels ever to the public. If you have already seen the film and want to follow up your interest in Sin City, this is one of the 3 main books used. The others being That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill, there is also a small section of Booze, Broads and Bullets used.

The second Sin City film will be based around the book To Hell and Back, which is the seventh book of the Sin City Empire.

Hartigan saves little Nancy Callahan in Miller's comic noir, 07 Jun 2005
Although I still have a preference for Marv and narrative of "The Hard Goodbye," the first of Frank Miller's "Sin City" graphic novels, I think that artistically he hits full stride in the fourth, "That Yellow Bastard." It is just mildly ironic that this becomes the first volume in the series to add any color to Miller's black and white world. But whereas "The Hard Goodbye" had an almost kitchen sink approach with Miller pretty much trying everything he could come up with for black & white (or white & black) illustrations, I find there is much more of a coherent artistic vision and a rhythm to way in which Miller goes from predominantly black to predominantly white pages, and back again.

"That Yellow Bastard" begins with tough cop John Hartigan, whose good heart is going bad on him, trying to stay alive long enough to do one last case before he dies. Somebody has been raping and murdering little girls for some time and now they have taken 11-year-old Nancy Callahan. Hartigan is able to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the son of Senator Roark, but takes four bullets in the process. Junior is in worse shape, having an ear and both of his "weapons" removed by Hartigan's bullets. If an old man dies and a little girl survives, then Hartigan considers that a fair deal. But this bloody encounter is but the first act in this particular comic noir.

The first episode sets the rules for Hartigan's world, where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of tough guys like him. Even when Hartigan finds out that Nancy grew up and filled out, that does not change his mission (just complicates it a bit). Granted, the age difference would make more sense if he was her grandfather, but then there is a consistency to what Hartigan means when he says that he loves Nancy, even if she is inclined to read it a different way. There is a leap in the narrative at one point that you might find a bit hard to accept (i.e., confession leads to immediate release), but you have to admit it is a lot easier to be a pariah out in the world than stuck in prison (and I think Junior would have wanted it that way).

Again, the art work here is Miller at what I consider to be his best, but attention must also be paid to the sense of pacing that he shows in several scenes (most notably when Hartigan pulls himself together for the final confrontation with Junior). There are easily a dozen great looks at Hartigan's grizzled face, and a 15-page sequence, spanning two chapters, of Nancy dancing at the club, consisting of not only full-page shots but also two-page spreads, as she mesmerizes her audience. With "That Yellow Bastard" readers who were introduced to the graphic novels by the film that incorporated three of the first four volumes will be heading into new territory with "Family Values." It will interesting to see when and how Miller tops artistically what he came up with for this one.

Stunning graphic novel, 08 Jul 2008
I, like many people I would guess, bought this novel after seeing the film. The first thing that struck me is how closely the film-makers stuck to the source material. There are several lines and scenes that have been duplicated to the letter in the film and the visual imagery is just as stunning in both adaptations.
There are some small changes between the book and the film e.g. everyone is totally naked apart from the cloak in the book but differences such as these are easily explained I would think i.e. the film-makers may have had a problem with 300 sets of male genitals being on screen for 90 minutes!
As has already been stated, this is not true to the history of the real event and never once has it claimed to be. Consequently, all you pendants out there who are moaning about this, get a life, seriously! This is an adaptation of the true events for entertainment, not for a historical study.
Overall, this a great novel in terms of imagery, story and overall presentation. If you liked the film, this is an absolute must.

Everybody knows that if you want a tough, manly comic book, you should turn to Frank Miller., 15 Dec 2007
Frank specializes in violent, testosterone-driven morality plays that make you want to run right out and hurt people. After years of hard-hitting crime stories, Frank turned his attention to what is possibly the ruggedest, manliest story in history: the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 B.C. King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 men to defend Greece from the vast Persian army. "But," as the book's back cover says, "these warriors are more than men... they are SPARTANS." You only think you've seen bad-asses before. The Spartans set whole new standards for bad-assery. The story's all about 300 mostly naked, sweaty Greek men, but you don't for a second imagine that they're gay. In fact, you don't think of them as sexual at all -they're purely devoted to killing, and they're very good at it. Even if you begin this book unsympathetic to their brutal culture, by the end you'll be cheering for them. Frank did a great job writing and drawing this story, and Lynn Varley did a great job adding the colors. The extra-wide pages allow for huge, sweeping shots and incredible battle scenes. The book has high production values all around - you'll want to leave it sitting out because it's just so damn pretty. Great artwork. Lots of memorable lines. And bone-crunching, overwhelming violence like you've never seen before. Five out of five!!! I would also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates--if you haven't read it yet.


I read this book, 300, before going to see the film, then re-read it after seeing the film., 29 Nov 2007
The movie is much more intense and complete, but it is still interesting to compare this book to the movie. I only notice one scene in the book that is not in the film, while the film adds a subplot about the queen getting political while the 300 are already in the field. The film also expands upon many scenes that only appear briefly in the book, like the stuff about babies being rejected by Spartan standards. There is less nudity in the book than the film, while the battle scenes are much more entertaining and more artful as they appear in the movie.

This book and movie are NOT hardly family-friendly fare for kids to see at all, that's why the film is R rated, and the book is for grown-ups.

Frank Miller is now a new reigning king of comic book success beyond the comics industry, and I like this 300 story much better than Miller's SIN CITY work. For me, SIN CITY was all about cruel violence for its own sake, as entertainment, but 300 serves a much better purpose, showing tons of violence, but basing it all around actual history. Despite the heightened, fictionalized polishes, the basic story of 300 teaches the reader/viewer the main points of this historical event, and the reader/viewer can then be intrigued enough to learn how this book and film of 300 differs, or is accurate, compared to the actual history.

300 is my favorite work by Frank Miller! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

A beauty, if a bit short, 06 Nov 2007
Great action, great colour, good storyline. Better than watching the film.
And it's good for you too (on the grounds that it is a little bit educational) :-) Recommended.

Good Fun, 16 Jul 2007
First, for anyone looking for a real tale of history, then avoid this. But if you are looking for a highly stylized and visually stunning tale of epic sacrifice, then this is for you. Some of the art work and set pieces are brilliant. The story is brutal and unforgiving and includes some immortal one-liners. Slight criticism is that it starts a little slow, but once the action begins, it doesn't give up!

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Classic start to a classic series....a must have!, 24 Apr 2008
This is one of my favourite graphic novels. Utterly fantastic and visually stunning. Even if you are not a reader of graphic novels, any traditional crime fan would be pulled into Frank Millers world of hard cases, hitmen, dames and hookers. The men are big and burly, the women are so hot and curvy, and its all conveyed perfectly in harsh black and white artwork. Its like traditional film noir on the page.

This is the first in the series of Sin city, and the protagonist is the incredible Marv, hulking street fighter and tough guy with a "condition." He can't believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman called Goldie...But it's not to last, and she ends up murdered. Then Marv is hot on the trail of her killers, and blood splattered vengeance will be his!! Kevin is truly one of the creepiest baddies I've seen, and Marv makes sure he gets what he deserves. Some of the characters are just amazing and recur throughout the Sin City series, like Gail, the fiery hooker, and Nancy, the angelic strip club dancer. This is a great crime story, as well a thrilling personal drama. I found it kind of romantic too, in a tragic way.

A welcome change from traditional superhero comics. Frank Miller is a genius! Read the rest of series now, and have a look at the art book! A great adult read indeed!

Impressive crime story, 06 Aug 2007
This is a great story and incredibly well drawn. Marv is a brute with justice on his side in this dark tale of violence, prostitution and corruption. Highly recommended if you're fond of noir and incredibly well designed drawings. Some of Miller's art is astounding and this is well worth a look.

Grimy "Goodbye", 26 Mar 2007
With a name like "The Hard Goodbye," it isn't surprising that the first volume of the Sin City series is pure, gritty noir. After practically reinventing the superhero comic, Frank Miller created a series that can definitely be called his opus -- gritty, dark, sexy and heady. Think of it as "The Big Sleep" meets "Kill Bill."

"The night is hot as hell. Everything sticks." With those words, tough, scarred Marv encounters and beds a beautiful, alluring "goddess" named Goldie. No sooner have they made love than she is found dead beside him, and unsurprisingly the police believe that Marv is the killer. Case closed? Not really.

Being blamed for the murder of the woman he loved, Marv devotes himself to finding who killed her and framed him. He rampages through the depths of Sin City, unearthing the twisted power structure that holds it up -- and in his homicidal quest, destroying his hidden enemies for the murder of Goldie... and in the process, dooming himself.

The noir atmosphere starts from the first panel -- toughguyspeak, a silhouette and a beautiful woman. That dark, dirty feel sets the mood for the book, and in fact for the entire series. Imagine one of those old Humphrey Bogart noir movies, with the smoky atmosphere and black-and-white film... but darker, more violent, openly sexual, and often gruesome in tone.

Miller's drawing style is all in black and white, and in "Hard Goodbye" the style is simple, but effective. He uses stark swashes of dark and light to illustrate the characters' faces and bodies, never overburdening the reader with too many unnecessary details. Although later volumes have more visual detail, Miller strips it down here to the bare bones, and it fits the spare narrative beautifully.

"Sin City" itself is a seedy underbelly, full of crime, revenge and corruption; Marv isn't the guy who's going to clean it up, a la Dashiell Hammett, but the guy who will get revenge, no matter what the consequences are. The characters are just as dark: a corrupted Cardinal, psychopathic cannibal Kevin, and moderately crooked cops. Lots of death ensues.

Frank Miller's "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye" is a hard book to read. However, the Chander-by-way-of-Tarantino comic book is an electrifying read, dark and bloody and vivid.

Five Star Sin, 29 Jun 2006
This has to be the perfect place to start from if you want to enter the world of Sin City. Frank Miller brings what has to be one of the best graphic novels ever to the public. If you have already seen the film and want to follow up your interest in Sin City, this is one of the 3 main books used. The others being That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill, there is also a small section of Booze, Broads and Bullets used.

The second Sin City film will be based around the book To Hell and Back, which is the seventh book of the Sin City Empire.

Hartigan saves little Nancy Callahan in Miller's comic noir, 07 Jun 2005
Although I still have a preference for Marv and narrative of "The Hard Goodbye," the first of Frank Miller's "Sin City" graphic novels, I think that artistically he hits full stride in the fourth, "That Yellow Bastard." It is just mildly ironic that this becomes the first volume in the series to add any color to Miller's black and white world. But whereas "The Hard Goodbye" had an almost kitchen sink approach with Miller pretty much trying everything he could come up with for black & white (or white & black) illustrations, I find there is much more of a coherent artistic vision and a rhythm to way in which Miller goes from predominantly black to predominantly white pages, and back again.

"That Yellow Bastard" begins with tough cop John Hartigan, whose good heart is going bad on him, trying to stay alive long enough to do one last case before he dies. Somebody has been raping and murdering little girls for some time and now they have taken 11-year-old Nancy Callahan. Hartigan is able to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the son of Senator Roark, but takes four bullets in the process. Junior is in worse shape, having an ear and both of his "weapons" removed by Hartigan's bullets. If an old man dies and a little girl survives, then Hartigan considers that a fair deal. But this bloody encounter is but the first act in this particular comic noir.

The first episode sets the rules for Hartigan's world, where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of tough guys like him. Even when Hartigan finds out that Nancy grew up and filled out, that does not change his mission (just complicates it a bit). Granted, the age difference would make more sense if he was her grandfather, but then there is a consistency to what Hartigan means when he says that he loves Nancy, even if she is inclined to read it a different way. There is a leap in the narrative at one point that you might find a bit hard to accept (i.e., confession leads to immediate release), but you have to admit it is a lot easier to be a pariah out in the world than stuck in prison (and I think Junior would have wanted it that way).

Again, the art work here is Miller at what I consider to be his best, but attention must also be paid to the sense of pacing that he shows in several scenes (most notably when Hartigan pulls himself together for the final confrontation with Junior). There are easily a dozen great looks at Hartigan's grizzled face, and a 15-page sequence, spanning two chapters, of Nancy dancing at the club, consisting of not only full-page shots but also two-page spreads, as she mesmerizes her audience. With "That Yellow Bastard" readers who were introduced to the graphic novels by the film that incorporated three of the first four volumes will be heading into new territory with "Family Values." It will interesting to see when and how Miller tops artistically what he came up with for this one.

Stunning graphic novel, 08 Jul 2008
I, like many people I would guess, bought this novel after seeing the film. The first thing that struck me is how closely the film-makers stuck to the source material. There are several lines and scenes that have been duplicated to the letter in the film and the visual imagery is just as stunning in both adaptations.
There are some small changes between the book and the film e.g. everyone is totally naked apart from the cloak in the book but differences such as these are easily explained I would think i.e. the film-makers may have had a problem with 300 sets of male genitals being on screen for 90 minutes!
As has already been stated, this is not true to the history of the real event and never once has it claimed to be. Consequently, all you pendants out there who are moaning about this, get a life, seriously! This is an adaptation of the true events for entertainment, not for a historical study.
Overall, this a great novel in terms of imagery, story and overall presentation. If you liked the film, this is an absolute must.

Everybody knows that if you want a tough, manly comic book, you should turn to Frank Miller., 15 Dec 2007
Frank specializes in violent, testosterone-driven morality plays that make you want to run right out and hurt people. After years of hard-hitting crime stories, Frank turned his attention to what is possibly the ruggedest, manliest story in history: the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 B.C. King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 men to defend Greece from the vast Persian army. "But," as the book's back cover says, "these warriors are more than men... they are SPARTANS." You only think you've seen bad-asses before. The Spartans set whole new standards for bad-assery. The story's all about 300 mostly naked, sweaty Greek men, but you don't for a second imagine that they're gay. In fact, you don't think of them as sexual at all -they're purely devoted to killing, and they're very good at it. Even if you begin this book unsympathetic to their brutal culture, by the end you'll be cheering for them. Frank did a great job writing and drawing this story, and Lynn Varley did a great job adding the colors. The extra-wide pages allow for huge, sweeping shots and incredible battle scenes. The book has high production values all around - you'll want to leave it sitting out because it's just so damn pretty. Great artwork. Lots of memorable lines. And bone-crunching, overwhelming violence like you've never seen before. Five out of five!!! I would also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates--if you haven't read it yet.


I read this book, 300, before going to see the film, then re-read it after seeing the film., 29 Nov 2007
The movie is much more intense and complete, but it is still interesting to compare this book to the movie. I only notice one scene in the book that is not in the film, while the film adds a subplot about the queen getting political while the 300 are already in the field. The film also expands upon many scenes that only appear briefly in the book, like the stuff about babies being rejected by Spartan standards. There is less nudity in the book than the film, while the battle scenes are much more entertaining and more artful as they appear in the movie.

This book and movie are NOT hardly family-friendly fare for kids to see at all, that's why the film is R rated, and the book is for grown-ups.

Frank Miller is now a new reigning king of comic book success beyond the comics industry, and I like this 300 story much better than Miller's SIN CITY work. For me, SIN CITY was all about cruel violence for its own sake, as entertainment, but 300 serves a much better purpose, showing tons of violence, but basing it all around actual history. Despite the heightened, fictionalized polishes, the basic story of 300 teaches the reader/viewer the main points of this historical event, and the reader/viewer can then be intrigued enough to learn how this book and film of 300 differs, or is accurate, compared to the actual history.

300 is my favorite work by Frank Miller! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

A beauty, if a bit short, 06 Nov 2007
Great action, great colour, good storyline. Better than watching the film.
And it's good for you too (on the grounds that it is a little bit educational) :-) Recommended.

Good Fun, 16 Jul 2007
First, for anyone looking for a real tale of history, then avoid this. But if you are looking for a highly stylized and visually stunning tale of epic sacrifice, then this is for you. Some of the art work and set pieces are brilliant. The story is brutal and unforgiving and includes some immortal one-liners. Slight criticism is that it starts a little slow, but once the action begins, it doesn't give up!

Brilliant series, Frank Miller is great!, 23 Apr 2008
Once again Frank Miller knocks it out of the park in this, the 3rd Sin City installment.
This is a welcome return for some characters, namely Dwight from Dame to Kill for, and the girls from Old Town, and the evil Manute (big, creepy guy that he is!) Dwight is out to put a stop to Jacky-Boy's drunken violence, but he gets whole lot more than he bargained for, when the voluptous Gail steps in. Theres some rough justice, Old Town style, and a fantastic showcase for deadly little Miho and some suprisingly funny use of shruiken! Then things get a whole lot worse, with the discovery of the "Atom Bomb," turns out Jacky-boy was kinda important! Another great crime noir from Miller, with all the amazing characteristics you expect from Sin City. The black and white art is sharp as ever and perfectly captures the mood. The shadows are just brilliant, so effective! Throw in some talking heads, rogue IRA mercs, hot babes, betrayal and the evil mafia. Passionate and thrilling! Theres a cracking gallery section at the back and some colour plates at the front. A must for any sane graphic novel fan!

Not the best so far, but certainly enough for a good time, 02 Jul 2001
The first thing you should realize before you order "The Big Fat Kill" is that it's really a big pro if you read the original Sin City story, and a MUST to read "A Dame to Kill For" prior to this one. See, the main character in this book is Dwight, a man who tries to stay as anonymous as possible because elseways his criminal past may catch up with him. This past that he's hiding from is the story from "A Dame to Kill For", so you should really get that first. It makes it a lot easier to understand a lot of why Dwight's acting the way he is. There's also some conversation about Marv, the main character from the original story. But Marv is not a major factor in this book so reading the original story is really only a pro, not a must.

About the story: Oneday a girl named Shelley is being harassed in her own home by a guy named Jack, her drunk ex-boyfriend, and his friends. Dwight, who is living with Shelley 'convinces' them to leave and decides to follow them to make sure he doesn't do any more damage. Only Jack turns out to be so dumb to drive into Old Town, a place where the hookers are the law because of the pact they made with the police ('they stay off the police's back, the police stays off their backs'). Jack and his friends wind up dead, upon which they find out Jack is really a cop while examing the body. This will clearly lead to war between the cops and Old Town, leaving it a free warzone for the mob, IF the cops ever find out about Jack. Dwight thinks to have the solution to get rid of the bodies and goes on his way. But things turn out to be not that easy. What follows is an interesting story with several different parties of power and interests, violence, a lot of backstabbing, loyalty and finally an interesting plot-twist.

In all honesty I think the original "Sin City", "A Dame to Kill For" and especially "That Yellow Bastard" are better books than this one, so if you haven't read all of those yet I think you'd rather read those first. With that I'm NOT saying this is a bad book because it isn't. In my opinion it's actually a very good tale which keeps interesting to the very end because of the different directions the story takes all the time. It's also carried by Frank Millers trademark (by now) art. This is really suitable for the story, it being a dark grimmy 'mad-cop' story, and of no less quality than you're used to if you've been a Sin City reader longer. I just don't think it's THE best Sin City story out there. Get the other ones I named first, than get this one and have yourself a good time with it.

Not Miller's best work but a worthy read., 11 Apr 2001
Pretty much a-typical for Miller. Obviously it's going to contain beautiful, noir, artwork and excellent story telling but it simply does have the edge offered by such titles as Dark Night Returns and A Dame to Kill For. The Big Fat Kill focuses on the activities of the old town so if your interest lies here in particular then this is the one for you

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Classic start to a classic series....a must have!, 24 Apr 2008
This is one of my favourite graphic novels. Utterly fantastic and visually stunning. Even if you are not a reader of graphic novels, any traditional crime fan would be pulled into Frank Millers world of hard cases, hitmen, dames and hookers. The men are big and burly, the women are so hot and curvy, and its all conveyed perfectly in harsh black and white artwork. Its like traditional film noir on the page.

This is the first in the series of Sin city, and the protagonist is the incredible Marv, hulking street fighter and tough guy with a "condition." He can't believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman called Goldie...But it's not to last, and she ends up murdered. Then Marv is hot on the trail of her killers, and blood splattered vengeance will be his!! Kevin is truly one of the creepiest baddies I've seen, and Marv makes sure he gets what he deserves. Some of the characters are just amazing and recur throughout the Sin City series, like Gail, the fiery hooker, and Nancy, the angelic strip club dancer. This is a great crime story, as well a thrilling personal drama. I found it kind of romantic too, in a tragic way.

A welcome change from traditional superhero comics. Frank Miller is a genius! Read the rest of series now, and have a look at the art book! A great adult read indeed!

Impressive crime story, 06 Aug 2007
This is a great story and incredibly well drawn. Marv is a brute with justice on his side in this dark tale of violence, prostitution and corruption. Highly recommended if you're fond of noir and incredibly well designed drawings. Some of Miller's art is astounding and this is well worth a look.

Grimy "Goodbye", 26 Mar 2007
With a name like "The Hard Goodbye," it isn't surprising that the first volume of the Sin City series is pure, gritty noir. After practically reinventing the superhero comic, Frank Miller created a series that can definitely be called his opus -- gritty, dark, sexy and heady. Think of it as "The Big Sleep" meets "Kill Bill."

"The night is hot as hell. Everything sticks." With those words, tough, scarred Marv encounters and beds a beautiful, alluring "goddess" named Goldie. No sooner have they made love than she is found dead beside him, and unsurprisingly the police believe that Marv is the killer. Case closed? Not really.

Being blamed for the murder of the woman he loved, Marv devotes himself to finding who killed her and framed him. He rampages through the depths of Sin City, unearthing the twisted power structure that holds it up -- and in his homicidal quest, destroying his hidden enemies for the murder of Goldie... and in the process, dooming himself.

The noir atmosphere starts from the first panel -- toughguyspeak, a silhouette and a beautiful woman. That dark, dirty feel sets the mood for the book, and in fact for the entire series. Imagine one of those old Humphrey Bogart noir movies, with the smoky atmosphere and black-and-white film... but darker, more violent, openly sexual, and often gruesome in tone.

Miller's drawing style is all in black and white, and in "Hard Goodbye" the style is simple, but effective. He uses stark swashes of dark and light to illustrate the characters' faces and bodies, never overburdening the reader with too many unnecessary details. Although later volumes have more visual detail, Miller strips it down here to the bare bones, and it fits the spare narrative beautifully.

"Sin City" itself is a seedy underbelly, full of crime, revenge and corruption; Marv isn't the guy who's going to clean it up, a la Dashiell Hammett, but the guy who will get revenge, no matter what the consequences are. The characters are just as dark: a corrupted Cardinal, psychopathic cannibal Kevin, and moderately crooked cops. Lots of death ensues.

Frank Miller's "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye" is a hard book to read. However, the Chander-by-way-of-Tarantino comic book is an electrifying read, dark and bloody and vivid.

Five Star Sin, 29 Jun 2006
This has to be the perfect place to start from if you want to enter the world of Sin City. Frank Miller brings what has to be one of the best graphic novels ever to the public. If you have already seen the film and want to follow up your interest in Sin City, this is one of the 3 main books used. The others being That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill, there is also a small section of Booze, Broads and Bullets used.

The second Sin City film will be based around the book To Hell and Back, which is the seventh book of the Sin City Empire.

Hartigan saves little Nancy Callahan in Miller's comic noir, 07 Jun 2005
Although I still have a preference for Marv and narrative of "The Hard Goodbye," the first of Frank Miller's "Sin City" graphic novels, I think that artistically he hits full stride in the fourth, "That Yellow Bastard." It is just mildly ironic that this becomes the first volume in the series to add any color to Miller's black and white world. But whereas "The Hard Goodbye" had an almost kitchen sink approach with Miller pretty much trying everything he could come up with for black & white (or white & black) illustrations, I find there is much more of a coherent artistic vision and a rhythm to way in which Miller goes from predominantly black to predominantly white pages, and back again.

"That Yellow Bastard" begins with tough cop John Hartigan, whose good heart is going bad on him, trying to stay alive long enough to do one last case before he dies. Somebody has been raping and murdering little girls for some time and now they have taken 11-year-old Nancy Callahan. Hartigan is able to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the son of Senator Roark, but takes four bullets in the process. Junior is in worse shape, having an ear and both of his "weapons" removed by Hartigan's bullets. If an old man dies and a little girl survives, then Hartigan considers that a fair deal. But this bloody encounter is but the first act in this particular comic noir.

The first episode sets the rules for Hartigan's world, where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of tough guys like him. Even when Hartigan finds out that Nancy grew up and filled out, that does not change his mission (just complicates it a bit). Granted, the age difference would make more sense if he was her grandfather, but then there is a consistency to what Hartigan means when he says that he loves Nancy, even if she is inclined to read it a different way. There is a leap in the narrative at one point that you might find a bit hard to accept (i.e., confession leads to immediate release), but you have to admit it is a lot easier to be a pariah out in the world than stuck in prison (and I think Junior would have wanted it that way).

Again, the art work here is Miller at what I consider to be his best, but attention must also be paid to the sense of pacing that he shows in several scenes (most notably when Hartigan pulls himself together for the final confrontation with Junior). There are easily a dozen great looks at Hartigan's grizzled face, and a 15-page sequence, spanning two chapters, of Nancy dancing at the club, consisting of not only full-page shots but also two-page spreads, as she mesmerizes her audience. With "That Yellow Bastard" readers who were introduced to the graphic novels by the film that incorporated three of the first four volumes will be heading into new territory with "Family Values." It will interesting to see when and how Miller tops artistically what he came up with for this one.

Stunning graphic novel, 08 Jul 2008
I, like many people I would guess, bought this novel after seeing the film. The first thing that struck me is how closely the film-makers stuck to the source material. There are several lines and scenes that have been duplicated to the letter in the film and the visual imagery is just as stunning in both adaptations.
There are some small changes between the book and the film e.g. everyone is totally naked apart from the cloak in the book but differences such as these are easily explained I would think i.e. the film-makers may have had a problem with 300 sets of male genitals being on screen for 90 minutes!
As has already been stated, this is not true to the history of the real event and never once has it claimed to be. Consequently, all you pendants out there who are moaning about this, get a life, seriously! This is an adaptation of the true events for entertainment, not for a historical study.
Overall, this a great novel in terms of imagery, story and overall presentation. If you liked the film, this is an absolute must.

Everybody knows that if you want a tough, manly comic book, you should turn to Frank Miller., 15 Dec 2007
Frank specializes in violent, testosterone-driven morality plays that make you want to run right out and hurt people. After years of hard-hitting crime stories, Frank turned his attention to what is possibly the ruggedest, manliest story in history: the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 B.C. King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 men to defend Greece from the vast Persian army. "But," as the book's back cover says, "these warriors are more than men... they are SPARTANS." You only think you've seen bad-asses before. The Spartans set whole new standards for bad-assery. The story's all about 300 mostly naked, sweaty Greek men, but you don't for a second imagine that they're gay. In fact, you don't think of them as sexual at all -they're purely devoted to killing, and they're very good at it. Even if you begin this book unsympathetic to their brutal culture, by the end you'll be cheering for them. Frank did a great job writing and drawing this story, and Lynn Varley did a great job adding the colors. The extra-wide pages allow for huge, sweeping shots and incredible battle scenes. The book has high production values all around - you'll want to leave it sitting out because it's just so damn pretty. Great artwork. Lots of memorable lines. And bone-crunching, overwhelming violence like you've never seen before. Five out of five!!! I would also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates--if you haven't read it yet.


I read this book, 300, before going to see the film, then re-read it after seeing the film., 29 Nov 2007
The movie is much more intense and complete, but it is still interesting to compare this book to the movie. I only notice one scene in the book that is not in the film, while the film adds a subplot about the queen getting political while the 300 are already in the field. The film also expands upon many scenes that only appear briefly in the book, like the stuff about babies being rejected by Spartan standards. There is less nudity in the book than the film, while the battle scenes are much more entertaining and more artful as they appear in the movie.

This book and movie are NOT hardly family-friendly fare for kids to see at all, that's why the film is R rated, and the book is for grown-ups.

Frank Miller is now a new reigning king of comic book success beyond the comics industry, and I like this 300 story much better than Miller's SIN CITY work. For me, SIN CITY was all about cruel violence for its own sake, as entertainment, but 300 serves a much better purpose, showing tons of violence, but basing it all around actual history. Despite the heightened, fictionalized polishes, the basic story of 300 teaches the reader/viewer the main points of this historical event, and the reader/viewer can then be intrigued enough to learn how this book and film of 300 differs, or is accurate, compared to the actual history.

300 is my favorite work by Frank Miller! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

A beauty, if a bit short, 06 Nov 2007
Great action, great colour, good storyline. Better than watching the film.
And it's good for you too (on the grounds that it is a little bit educational) :-) Recommended.

Good Fun, 16 Jul 2007
First, for anyone looking for a real tale of history, then avoid this. But if you are looking for a highly stylized and visually stunning tale of epic sacrifice, then this is for you. Some of the art work and set pieces are brilliant. The story is brutal and unforgiving and includes some immortal one-liners. Slight criticism is that it starts a little slow, but once the action begins, it doesn't give up!

Brilliant series, Frank Miller is great!, 23 Apr 2008
Once again Frank Miller knocks it out of the park in this, the 3rd Sin City installment.
This is a welcome return for some characters, namely Dwight from Dame to Kill for, and the girls from Old Town, and the evil Manute (big, creepy guy that he is!) Dwight is out to put a stop to Jacky-Boy's drunken violence, but he gets whole lot more than he bargained for, when the voluptous Gail steps in. Theres some rough justice, Old Town style, and a fantastic showcase for deadly little Miho and some suprisingly funny use of shruiken! Then things get a whole lot worse, with the discovery of the "Atom Bomb," turns out Jacky-boy was kinda important! Another great crime noir from Miller, with all the amazing characteristics you expect from Sin City. The black and white art is sharp as ever and perfectly captures the mood. The shadows are just brilliant, so effective! Throw in some talking heads, rogue IRA mercs, hot babes, betrayal and the evil mafia. Passionate and thrilling! Theres a cracking gallery section at the back and some colour plates at the front. A must for any sane graphic novel fan!

Not the best so far, but certainly enough for a good time, 02 Jul 2001
The first thing you should realize before you order "The Big Fat Kill" is that it's really a big pro if you read the original Sin City story, and a MUST to read "A Dame to Kill For" prior to this one. See, the main character in this book is Dwight, a man who tries to stay as anonymous as possible because elseways his criminal past may catch up with him. This past that he's hiding from is the story from "A Dame to Kill For", so you should really get that first. It makes it a lot easier to understand a lot of why Dwight's acting the way he is. There's also some conversation about Marv, the main character from the original story. But Marv is not a major factor in this book so reading the original story is really only a pro, not a must.

About the story: Oneday a girl named Shelley is being harassed in her own home by a guy named Jack, her drunk ex-boyfriend, and his friends. Dwight, who is living with Shelley 'convinces' them to leave and decides to follow them to make sure he doesn't do any more damage. Only Jack turns out to be so dumb to drive into Old Town, a place where the hookers are the law because of the pact they made with the police ('they stay off the police's back, the police stays off their backs'). Jack and his friends wind up dead, upon which they find out Jack is really a cop while examing the body. This will clearly lead to war between the cops and Old Town, leaving it a free warzone for the mob, IF the cops ever find out about Jack. Dwight thinks to have the solution to get rid of the bodies and goes on his way. But things turn out to be not that easy. What follows is an interesting story with several different parties of power and interests, violence, a lot of backstabbing, loyalty and finally an interesting plot-twist.

In all honesty I think the original "Sin City", "A Dame to Kill For" and especially "That Yellow Bastard" are better books than this one, so if you haven't read all of those yet I think you'd rather read those first. With that I'm NOT saying this is a bad book because it isn't. In my opinion it's actually a very good tale which keeps interesting to the very end because of the different directions the story takes all the time. It's also carried by Frank Millers trademark (by now) art. This is really suitable for the story, it being a dark grimmy 'mad-cop' story, and of no less quality than you're used to if you've been a Sin City reader longer. I just don't think it's THE best Sin City story out there. Get the other ones I named first, than get this one and have yourself a good time with it.

Not Miller's best work but a worthy read., 11 Apr 2001
Pretty much a-typical for Miller. Obviously it's going to contain beautiful, noir, artwork and excellent story telling but it simply does have the edge offered by such titles as Dark Night Returns and A Dame to Kill For. The Big Fat Kill focuses on the activities of the old town so if your interest lies here in particular then this is the one for you

A great stand alone story too! , 13 Sep 2008
Having loved the film, it was only a matter of time before I delved into the graphic form of frank miller's sin city. I started with that yellow bastard, knowing the plot for the first book (The hard goodbye) inside out. Although this is in fact book 4 it is still a great place to start, the story which I wont go into detail about doesn't really connect with the other books in the series in any major way, so this is great as a stand alone novel too!

I was a big miller fan long before reading sin city, the dark knight returns being masterfully writen and 300 just blowing me away entirely. That yellow bastard though, for me topped them all. Miller's artwork is amazing, striking out from every page. The story, although no war & peace runs along at break neck speeds and the only down side I found was that I read it all too quickly and was disappointed to finish it, thankfully sin city is a series.

If you're new to sin city entirely then I would advise you read this first before watching the film, bruce willis is good as hartigan the main character in the film but I don't think he was the best choice and reading the book I get a completely different feel for the hartigan character to that portrayed on screen.


One of the best in the series...., 23 Apr 2008
That Yellow Bastard is the fourth installment of Sin City, the noir epic of Frank Miller.

An absolute classic this one, with one of the nastiest villains ever, Junior! This is pure, gritty crime noir. Its got all the right features - corrupt cops, crooked politicians, a dame to be saved and a tough, noble cop called Hartigan. He's one hour from retirement, but it all goes horribly wrong as he refuses to let a senators son get away with murder and child rape, and shoots the guy to pieces in the process. Hartigan is framed for everything, but won't talk, so he can save skinny little Nancy Callahan. He serves his time, takes the beatings and cruelties, until.....a parcel arrives for him in jail that changes everything...He swallows his pride and gets his parole, and goes after Nancy, one of the most stunning looking girls in comics! The chase in on! The pacing is fantastic and urgent, and the use of a single colour, yellow, really picks out that character and his sick, evil essence! Some pages are almost eniterly black, really emphasising the oppresive nature of the moment, its bleakness. The violence is harsh and unrelenting. A gripping and dramatic read. "I took his weapons away...Both of them." Immortal lines from a genius creation!! Read it now!

Thrill a minute, 06 Feb 2007
What can I say - brilliant.

I chose to review this one and not the others as

a) people who read the series will suspect review the first one only, and
b) this is is my favourite of them all (personally)

Buy all of these books, 1-7, they are all truly great stories. Some people have knocked the graphical style of these books - to me, they are one of the high points - they has a superb style all of their own. Millers dialogue, jokes, slang and story are all superb - great film noir, and add in his sound effects (SPAK! HEFF!) and he really has made this series unique Miller.

Finally, I'm not a fan of comparisons with films - usually graphic novels are changed dramatically (often for the worse) in the movies. Sin City is different. I thought it was a cracking film and is incredibly faithful to the books (although in differing order). Therefore, for once I can say, if you liked the film you'll love the book, as opposed to if you hated the film dont be put off by the book.

Cinematic, thrill a minute series.

Miller writes his way into the comic-book hall of fame, 16 Feb 2001
Frank Miller is one of the greatest writers of comic book literature to date. With a tone that can be likened to Raymond Chandler in a bad mood, Miller's style is lean and very mean. His characters are extreme yet believable, the situations are dramatic but have their feet stuck in reality. And thats ust the writing. The artwork? Breathtaking and so complimentary to Miller's words that it is scarey. We see colour introdced to the frames - a simple splash of yellow that signifies the crooked villain of the story. Genius. Not the first time he has used the technique but still brilliant. The plot revolvs around one of Miller's usual hard-nuts with a heart. The villain this time is his opposite rather than equal. Enough from me. Buy the book.

Not The Best......., 19 Jul 2000
That Yellow Bastard....does exactly what it says on the cover. That is, he's yellow, and my, what a bastard he is! In typical Sin City stylee, this is a tale of revenge and redemption. The main character, Hartigan is every bit as lovable as Marv, and the other regulars, but the story does not twist and turn as the previous episodes do. It all seems like a very long-winded way of telling a short, but heart rendering story of what is basically boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy goes crazy-ape-bonkers and kills everyone. This has already been done by the solo Miller in the eponymous debut and 'The Big Fat Kill'. Still this series has got legs, and if anyone can keep it going it is King Frank.

The Dark Knight Stuns!, 22 Oct 2008
Starting off with anarchy approaching Gotham, Batman as an older man finds himself pulled back into vigilante activities with a variety of mean, ugly threats to be dealt with.

The art & the writing in this are excellent & this is a really gripping read. This is recommended even if you aren't a big graphic novel fan, as the action pulls you in and the story is very compelling. A great read.

SUPERB!, 28 Sep 2008
Only Watchmen can be considered to be as good as Batman: The Dark Night Returns. However, where Watchmen had an absolute myriad of characters, The Dark Night Returns with its single protagonist is better able to create characters the reader can emphasise with.

The reader is introduced to an ageing Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to continue is vengeful fight against crime. This dark, disturbed and sad character is pitted against those he considered allies, new enemies that are stronger than him and an all too familiar nemesis. The story is wonderfully written, well paced with a few twists and turns that keep the story interesting and a surprise shock ending with a man in tights. The artwork is brilliant, quick loose drawings capturing the action and suspense of a dark brooding story in a way some comics are unable to achieve.

Batman: The Dark Night Returns is a must own and a must read. The story is brilliantly told and features a damaged, weary character that draws you in to his own one man war.


The Greatest...., 24 Jul 2008
In all types of history there are defining moments. A moment that is so extraordinary that you have to see it again to believe what you have just seen. It sometimes takes time for the dust to settle to appreciate such a moment.
This comic is one of those moments.
The Dark Knight Returns took a tired out superhero genre and re-injected it with the modern paced style we see today. A comic that in fact saved the superhero himself. The multi-layering of story lines in this epic tale is almost cinematic in its construction.
Maybe a little dated now, but at the time it re-defined everything in comics and the way superheroes where percieved. If you are a fan of Batman, this should be the cornerstone to your collection.

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, 23 Jul 2008
If you are used to the slick, photo-realistic art of some modern Graphic Novels/Comics, then the look of this book may take some getting used to... but get passed that, and it's one of the best comics you'll ever read.

A very good read., 05 Jun 2008
If I had to choose one word to describe this, I would choose the word epic. Why? Because its an interesting look on how Bruce Wayne would handle himself in his later years with excellent action sequences and crisp dialogue. There's really only one thing bad about this, and that is the lack of Joker. Sure he's in it, but he's not really as important to the plot as he should have been. And he's camper than ever. But aside from that, buy it. It should tickle your fetish.

Classic start to a classic series....a must have!, 24 Apr 2008
This is one of my favourite graphic novels. Utterly fantastic and visually stunning. Even if you are not a reader of graphic novels, any traditional crime fan would be pulled into Frank Millers world of hard cases, hitmen, dames and hookers. The men are big and burly, the women are so hot and curvy, and its all conveyed perfectly in harsh black and white artwork. Its like traditional film noir on the page.

This is the first in the series of Sin city, and the protagonist is the incredible Marv, hulking street fighter and tough guy with a "condition." He can't believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman called Goldie...But it's not to last, and she ends up murdered. Then Marv is hot on the trail of her killers, and blood splattered vengeance will be his!! Kevin is truly one of the creepiest baddies I've seen, and Marv makes sure he gets what he deserves. Some of the characters are just amazing and recur throughout the Sin City series, like Gail, the fiery hooker, and Nancy, the angelic strip club dancer. This is a great crime story, as well a thrilling personal drama. I found it kind of romantic too, in a tragic way.

A welcome change from traditional superhero comics. Frank Miller is a genius! Read the rest of series now, and have a look at the art book! A great adult read indeed!

Impressive crime story, 06 Aug 2007
This is a great story and incredibly well drawn. Marv is a brute with justice on his side in this dark tale of violence, prostitution and corruption. Highly recommended if you're fond of noir and incredibly well designed drawings. Some of Miller's art is astounding and this is well worth a look.

Grimy "Goodbye", 26 Mar 2007
With a name like "The Hard Goodbye," it isn't surprising that the first volume of the Sin City series is pure, gritty noir. After practically reinventing the superhero comic, Frank Miller created a series that can definitely be called his opus -- gritty, dark, sexy and heady. Think of it as "The Big Sleep" meets "Kill Bill."

"The night is hot as hell. Everything sticks." With those words, tough, scarred Marv encounters and beds a beautiful, alluring "goddess" named Goldie. No sooner have they made love than she is found dead beside him, and unsurprisingly the police believe that Marv is the killer. Case closed? Not really.

Being blamed for the murder of the woman he loved, Marv devotes himself to finding who killed her and framed him. He rampages through the depths of Sin City, unearthing the twisted power structure that holds it up -- and in his homicidal quest, destroying his hidden enemies for the murder of Goldie... and in the process, dooming himself.

The noir atmosphere starts from the first panel -- toughguyspeak, a silhouette and a beautiful woman. That dark, dirty feel sets the mood for the book, and in fact for the entire series. Imagine one of those old Humphrey Bogart noir movies, with the smoky atmosphere and black-and-white film... but darker, more violent, openly sexual, and often gruesome in tone.

Miller's drawing style is all in black and white, and in "Hard Goodbye" the style is simple, but effective. He uses stark swashes of dark and light to illustrate the characters' faces and bodies, never overburdening the reader with too many unnecessary details. Although later volumes have more visual detail, Miller strips it down here to the bare bones, and it fits the spare narrative beautifully.

"Sin City" itself is a seedy underbelly, full of crime, revenge and corruption; Marv isn't the guy who's going to clean it up, a la Dashiell Hammett, but the guy who will get revenge, no matter what the consequences are. The characters are just as dark: a corrupted Cardinal, psychopathic cannibal Kevin, and moderately crooked cops. Lots of death ensues.

Frank Miller's "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye" is a hard book to read. However, the Chander-by-way-of-Tarantino comic book is an electrifying read, dark and bloody and vivid.

Five Star Sin, 29 Jun 2006
This has to be the perfect place to start from if you want to enter the world of Sin City. Frank Miller brings what has to be one of the best graphic novels ever to the public. If you have already seen the film and want to follow up your interest in Sin City, this is one of the 3 main books used. The others being That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill, there is also a small section of Booze, Broads and Bullets used.

The second Sin City film will be based around the book To Hell and Back, which is the seventh book of the Sin City Empire.

Hartigan saves little Nancy Callahan in Miller's comic noir, 07 Jun 2005
Although I still have a preference for Marv and narrative of "The Hard Goodbye," the first of Frank Miller's "Sin City" graphic novels, I think that artistically he hits full stride in the fourth, "That Yellow Bastard." It is just mildly ironic that this becomes the first volume in the series to add any color to Miller's black and white world. But whereas "The Hard Goodbye" had an almost kitchen sink approach with Miller pretty much trying everything he could come up with for black & white (or white & black) illustrations, I find there is much more of a coherent artistic vision and a rhythm to way in which Miller goes from predominantly black to predominantly white pages, and back again.

"That Yellow Bastard" begins with tough cop John Hartigan, whose good heart is going bad on him, trying to stay alive long enough to do one last case before he dies. Somebody has been raping and murdering little girls for some time and now they have taken 11-year-old Nancy Callahan. Hartigan is able to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the son of Senator Roark, but takes four bullets in the process. Junior is in worse shape, having an ear and both of his "weapons" removed by Hartigan's bullets. If an old man dies and a little girl survives, then Hartigan considers that a fair deal. But this bloody encounter is but the first act in this particular comic noir.

The first episode sets the rules for Hartigan's world, where protecting women is hard-wired into the psyches of tough guys like him. Even when Hartigan finds out that Nancy grew up and filled out, that does not change his mission (just complicates it a bit). Granted, the age difference would make more sense if he was her grandfather, but then there is a consistency to what Hartigan means when he says that he loves Nancy, even if she is inclined to read it a different way. There is a leap in the narrative at one point that you might find a bit hard to accept (i.e., confession leads to immediate release), but you have to admit it is a lot easier to be a pariah out in the world than stuck in prison (and I think Junior would have wanted it that way).

Again, the art work here is Miller at what I consider to be his best, but attention must also be paid to the sense of pacing that he shows in several scenes (most notably when Hartigan pulls himself together for the final confrontation with Junior). There are easily a dozen great looks at Hartigan's grizzled face, and a 15-page sequence, spanning two chapters, of Nancy dancing at the club, consisting of not only full-page shots but also two-page spreads, as she mesmerizes her audience. With "That Yellow Bastard" readers who were introduced to the graphic novels by the film that incorporated three of the first four volumes will be heading into new territory with "Family Values." It will interesting to see when and how Miller tops artistically what he came up with for this one.

Stunning graphic novel, 08 Jul 2008
I, like many people I would guess, bought this novel after seeing the film. The first thing that struck me is how closely the film-makers stuck to the source material. There are several lines and scenes that have been duplicated to the letter in the film and the visual imagery is just as stunning in both adaptations.
There are some small changes between the book and the film e.g. everyone is totally naked apart from the cloak in the book but differences such as these are easily explained I would think i.e. the film-makers may have had a problem with 300 sets of male genitals being on screen for 90 minutes!
As has already been stated, this is not true to the history of the real event and never once has it claimed to be. Consequently, all you pendants out there who are moaning about this, get a life, seriously! This is an adaptation of the true events for entertainment, not for a historical study.
Overall, this a great novel in terms of imagery, story and overall presentation. If you liked the film, this is an absolute must.

Everybody knows that if you want a tough, manly comic book, you should turn to Frank Miller., 15 Dec 2007
Frank specializes in violent, testosterone-driven morality plays that make you want to run right out and hurt people. After years of hard-hitting crime stories, Frank turned his attention to what is possibly the ruggedest, manliest story in history: the battle of Thermopylae. In 480 B.C. King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 men to defend Greece from the vast Persian army. "But," as the book's back cover says, "these warriors are more than men... they are SPARTANS." You only think you've seen bad-asses before. The Spartans set whole new standards for bad-assery. The story's all about 300 mostly naked, sweaty Greek men, but you don't for a second imagine that they're gay. In fact, you don't think of them as sexual at all -they're purely devoted to killing, and they're very good at it. Even if you begin this book unsympathetic to their brutal culture, by the end you'll be cheering for them. Frank did a great job writing and drawing this story, and Lynn Varley did a great job adding the colors. The extra-wide pages allow for huge, sweeping shots and incredible battle scenes. The book has high production values all around - you'll want to leave it sitting out because it's just so damn pretty. Great artwork. Lots of memorable lines. And bone-crunching, overwhelming violence like you've never seen before. Five out of five!!! I would also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates--if you haven't read it yet.


I read this book, 300, before going to see the film, then re-read it after seeing the film., 29 Nov 2007
The movie is much more intense and complete, but it is still interesting to compare this book to the movie. I only notice one scene in the book that is not in the film, while the film adds a subplot about the queen getting political while the 300 are already in the field. The film also expands upon many scenes that only appear briefly in the book, like the stuff about babies being rejected by Spartan standards. There is less nudity in the book than the film, while the battle scenes are much more entertaining and more artful as they appear in the movie.

This book and movie are NOT hardly family-friendly fare for kids to see at all, that's why the film is R rated, and the book is for grown-ups.

Frank Miller is now a new reigning king of comic book success beyond the comics industry, and I like this 300 story much better than Miller's SIN CITY work. For me, SIN CITY was all about cruel violence for its own sake, as entertainment, but 300 serves a much better purpose, showing tons of violence, but basing it all around actual history. Despite the heightened, fictionalized polishes, the basic story of 300 teaches the reader/viewer the main points of this historical event, and the reader/viewer can then be intrigued enough to learn how this book and film of 300 differs, or is accurate, compared to the actual history.

300 is my favorite work by Frank Miller! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

A beauty, if a bit short, 06 Nov 2007
Great action, great colour, good storyline. Better than watching the film.
And it's good for you too (on the grounds that it is a little bit educational) :-) Recommended.

Good Fun, 16 Jul 2007
First, for anyone looking for a real tale of history, then avoid this. But if you are looking for a highly stylized and visually stunning tale of epic sacrifice, then this is for you. Some of the art work and set pieces are brilliant. The story is brutal and unforgiving and includes some immortal one-liners. Slight criticism is that it starts a little slow, but once the action begins, it doesn't give up!

Brilliant series, Frank Miller is great!, 23 Apr 2008
Once again Frank Miller knocks it out of the park in this, the 3rd Sin City installment.
This is a welcome return for some characters, namely Dwight from Dame to Kill for, and the girls from Old Town, and the evil Manute (big, creepy guy that he is!) Dwight is out to put a stop to Jacky-Boy's drunken violence, but he gets whole lot more than he bargained for, when the voluptous Gail steps in. Theres some rough justice, Old Town style, and a fantastic showcase for deadly little Miho and some suprisingly funny use of shruiken! Then things get a whole lot worse, with the discovery of the "Atom Bomb," turns out Jacky-boy was kinda important! Another great crime noir from Miller, with all the amazing characteristics you expect from Sin City. The black and white art is sharp as ever and perfectly captures the mood. The shadows are just brilliant, so effective! Throw in some talking heads, rogue IRA mercs, hot babes, betrayal and the evil mafia. Passionate and thrilling! Theres a cracking gallery section at the back and some colour plates at the front. A must for any sane graphic novel fan!

Not the best so far, but certainly enough for a good time, 02 Jul 2001
The first thing you should realize before you order "The Big Fat Kill" is that it's really a big pro if you read the original Sin City story, and a MUST to read "A Dame to Kill For" prior to this one. See, the main character in this book is Dwight, a man who tries to stay as anonymous as possible because elseways his criminal past may catch up with him. This past that he's hiding from is the story from "A Dame to Kill For", so you should really get that first. It makes it a lot easier to understand a lot of why Dwight's acting the way he is. There's also some conversation about Marv, the main character from the original story. But Marv is not a major factor in this book so reading the original story is really only a pro, not a must.

About the story: Oneday a girl named Shelley is being harassed in her own home by a guy named Jack, her drunk ex-boyfriend, and his friends. Dwight, who is living with Shelley 'convinces' them to leave and decides to follow them to make sure he doesn't do any more damage. Only Jack turns out to be so dumb to drive into Old Town, a place where the hookers are the law because of the pact they made with the police ('they stay off the police's back, the police stays off their backs'). Jack and his friends wind up dead, upon which they find out Jack is really a cop while examing the body. This will clearly lead to war between the cops and Old Town, leaving it a free warzone for the mob, IF the cops ever find out about Jack. Dwight thinks to have the solution to get rid of the bodies and goes on his way. But things turn out to be not that easy. What follows is an interesting story with several different parties of power and interests, violence, a lot of backstabbing, loyalty and finally an interesting plot-twist.

In all honesty I think the original "Sin City", "A Dame to Kill For" and especially "That Yellow Bastard" are better books than this one, so if you haven't read all of those yet I think you'd rather read those first. With that I'm NOT saying this is a bad book because it isn't. In my opinion it's actually a very good tale which keeps interesting to the very end because of the different directions the story takes all the time. It's also carried by Frank Millers trademark (by now) art. This is really suitable for the story, it being a dark grimmy 'mad-cop' story, and of no less quality than you're used to if you've been a Sin City reader longer. I just don't think it's THE best Sin City story out there. Get the other ones I named first, than get this one and have yourself a good time with it.

Not Miller's best work but a worthy read., 11 Apr 2001
Pretty much a-typical for Miller. Obviously it's going to contain beautiful, noir, artwork and excellent story telling but it simply does have the edge offered by such titles as Dark Night Returns and A Dame to Kill For. The Big Fat Kill focuses on the activities of the old town so if your interest lies here in particular then this is the one for you

A great stand alone story too! , 13 Sep 2008
Having loved the film, it was only a matter of time before I delved into the graphic form of frank miller's sin city. I started with that yellow bastard, knowing the plot for the first book (The hard goodbye) inside out. Although this is in fact book 4 it is still a great place to start, the story which I wont go into detail about doesn't really connect with the other books in the series in any major way, so this is great as a stand alone novel too!

I was a big miller fan long before reading sin city, the dark knight returns being masterfully writen and 300 just blowing me away entirely. That yellow bastard though, for me topped them all. Miller's artwork is amazing, striking out from every page. The story, although no war & peace runs along at break neck speeds and the only down side I found was that I read it all too quickly and was disappointed to finish it, thankfully sin city is a series.

If you're new to sin city entirely then I would advise you read this first before watching the film, bruce willis is good as hartigan the main character in the film but I don't think he was the best choice and reading the book I get a completely different feel for the hartigan character to that portrayed on screen.


One of the best in the series...., 23 Apr 2008
That Yellow Bastard is the fourth installment of Sin City, the noir epic of Frank Miller.

An absolute classic this one, with one of the nastiest villains ever, Junior! This is pure, gritty crime noir. Its got all the right features - corrupt cops, crooked politicians, a dame to be saved and a tough, noble cop called Hartigan. He's one hour from retirement, but it all goes horribly wrong as he refuses to let a senators son get away with murder and child rape, and shoots the guy to pieces in the process. Hartigan is framed for everything, but won't talk, so he can save skinny little Nancy Callahan. He serves his time, takes the beatings and cruelties, until.....a parcel arrives for him in jail that cha