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Raymond Chandler's Marlowe: The Authorized Philip Marlowe Graphic Novel
Elegantly designed and packaged in a mix of full color and black and white comics, this trio of graphic novels includes Chandler's classic final Marlowe adventure, "The Pencil," adapted from the Raymond Chandler story by award-winning mystery novelist Jerome Charyn and Marvel/DC comics illustrator David Lloyd; "Goldfish," adapted by top British designer Ryan Hughes and "Trouble is My Business" illustrated by Lee Moyer, Alfredo Alcala in a style reminiscent of 30s illustrator J.C. Leyendecker. None of this work has ever been published before and represents the first adaptations of these Chandler stories into comics.
In this series of stories, we not only present Chandler's characters to a new generation, but to a new medium as well. There have been several portrayals of Marlowe in films over the years: Bogart, Powell, Mitchum, and others. And now we'll see some new interpretations of him. Each stylistically different, but all unmistakably Marlowe.
In this series of stories, we not only present Chandler's characters to a new generation, but to a new medium as well. There have been several portrayals of Marlowe in films over the years: Bogart, Powell, Mitchum, and others. And now we'll see some new interpretations of him. Each stylistically different, but all unmistakably Marlowe.
136 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Chandler
450 books5,635 followersRaymond Thornton Chandler was an American-British novelist and screenwriter. In 1932, at the age of forty-four, Chandler became a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Great Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in 1933 in Black Mask, a popular pulp magazine. His first novel, The Big Sleep, was published in 1939. In addition to his short stories, Chandler published seven novels during his lifetime (an eighth, in progress at the time of his death, was completed by Robert B. Parker). All but Playback have been made into motion pictures, some more than once. In the year before his death, he was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Chandler had an immense stylistic influence on American popular literature. He is a founder of the hardboiled school of detective fiction, along with Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and other Black Mask writers. The protagonist of his novels, Philip Marlowe, like Hammett's Sam Spade, is considered by some to be synonymous with "private detective". Both were played in films by Humphrey Bogart, whom many consider to be the quintessential Marlowe.
The Big Sleep placed second on the Crime Writers Association poll of the 100 best crime novels; Farewell, My Lovely (1940), The Lady in the Lake (1943) and The Long Goodbye (1953) also made the list. The latter novel was praised in an anthology of American crime stories as "arguably the first book since Hammett's The Glass Key, published more than twenty years earlier, to qualify as a serious and significant mainstream novel that just happened to possess elements of mystery". Chandler was also a perceptive critic of detective fiction; his "The Simple Art of Murder" is the canonical essay in the field. In it he wrote: "Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor—by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world."
Parker wrote that, with Marlowe, "Chandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious—an innocent who knows better, a Romantic who is tough enough to sustain Romanticism in a world that has seen the eternal footman hold its coat and snicker. Living at the end of the Far West, where the American dream ran out of room, no hero has ever been more congruent with his landscape. Chandler had the right hero in the right place, and engaged him in the consideration of good and evil at precisely the time when our central certainty of good no longer held."
Chandler had an immense stylistic influence on American popular literature. He is a founder of the hardboiled school of detective fiction, along with Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and other Black Mask writers. The protagonist of his novels, Philip Marlowe, like Hammett's Sam Spade, is considered by some to be synonymous with "private detective". Both were played in films by Humphrey Bogart, whom many consider to be the quintessential Marlowe.
The Big Sleep placed second on the Crime Writers Association poll of the 100 best crime novels; Farewell, My Lovely (1940), The Lady in the Lake (1943) and The Long Goodbye (1953) also made the list. The latter novel was praised in an anthology of American crime stories as "arguably the first book since Hammett's The Glass Key, published more than twenty years earlier, to qualify as a serious and significant mainstream novel that just happened to possess elements of mystery". Chandler was also a perceptive critic of detective fiction; his "The Simple Art of Murder" is the canonical essay in the field. In it he wrote: "Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor—by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world."
Parker wrote that, with Marlowe, "Chandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious—an innocent who knows better, a Romantic who is tough enough to sustain Romanticism in a world that has seen the eternal footman hold its coat and snicker. Living at the end of the Far West, where the American dream ran out of room, no hero has ever been more congruent with his landscape. Chandler had the right hero in the right place, and engaged him in the consideration of good and evil at precisely the time when our central certainty of good no longer held."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 12, 2014
Three Raymond Chandler short stories featuring Philip Marlowe done graphic novel style. One of them worked for me and the other two didn't. The good one is "Goldfish" chiefly because of Rian Hughes great retro art style, which reminded me a little of Darwyn Cooke. Besides being one of Chandler's best short works I found the adaptation to be very engaging. I could enjoy a whole book of adaptations by him.
The others didn't fare as well, "The Pencil" simply because it's one of Chandler's weaker works and David Lloyd's framing of images seemed awkward to me, especially during the action scenes. The artwork to "Trouble Is My Business" looked even more amateurish than the last one. I think the whole book should be done again with Rian Hughes handling all the art. Gained a star for having the great Jim Steranko doing both the front and back covers.
The others didn't fare as well, "The Pencil" simply because it's one of Chandler's weaker works and David Lloyd's framing of images seemed awkward to me, especially during the action scenes. The artwork to "Trouble Is My Business" looked even more amateurish than the last one. I think the whole book should be done again with Rian Hughes handling all the art. Gained a star for having the great Jim Steranko doing both the front and back covers.
April 7, 2023
The Marlowe legacy has served as the benchmark for many great detective stories from the noir era
and never having read any, I was keen to try it.
Within is a trilogy of stories that emit the kind of old school crime scenarios you'd expect, guys in suits with guns, hired goons, sneaky eavesdrops, meddling dames and mysteries from rich folk who are above the law.
Some of the stories, being quite old, are hard to follow, especially with some of the slang and language used. There was a point where the text from an entire page I had to look up to understand it.
Some of the art is also a little jarring with continuity although decent throughout each story which are drawn in different styles.
The text in places could have been reduced, somewhat over-egged with repetition and on other occasions, skims through the narrative too quickly.
As a whole I'd say they are worth a read, it was ok, an interesting book for noir fans and some quirky characters with shady motives to bring.
It stands today lower than more modern stuff in my opinion like ed brubakers 'criminal' series. But maybe it wouldn't have been around without Marlowe, and that is golden credit.
and never having read any, I was keen to try it.
Within is a trilogy of stories that emit the kind of old school crime scenarios you'd expect, guys in suits with guns, hired goons, sneaky eavesdrops, meddling dames and mysteries from rich folk who are above the law.
Some of the stories, being quite old, are hard to follow, especially with some of the slang and language used. There was a point where the text from an entire page I had to look up to understand it.
Some of the art is also a little jarring with continuity although decent throughout each story which are drawn in different styles.
The text in places could have been reduced, somewhat over-egged with repetition and on other occasions, skims through the narrative too quickly.
As a whole I'd say they are worth a read, it was ok, an interesting book for noir fans and some quirky characters with shady motives to bring.
It stands today lower than more modern stuff in my opinion like ed brubakers 'criminal' series. But maybe it wouldn't have been around without Marlowe, and that is golden credit.
January 20, 2024
Some people have shallow memories. By this I mean they only have room for a little of something, such as Philip Marlowe as portrayed by Bogart in The Big Sleep. Chandler’s original stories themselves are out the window. And forgot a recent film like last year’s starring Liam Neeson…
And yet Marlowe remains vital, in the way they always say Gatsby is, as a vivid window into his times (and other times), Chandler’s language unmistakable. If Holmes made his name being the indomitable master of mystery then Marlowe surely exists alongside him in mere endurance against a cold world.
Among the three stories is one adapted by Jerome Charyn, which admittedly is more the reason than Marlowe himself that I chose to read this. Charyn chose a very Charyn story (although still very much Chandler’s), hip deep in a dame hopelessly tangled up in the basic Marlowe romance. And if I had to finger one of the three stories here to suggest a grander portrait, it would be the one Charyn chose, much more inline with today’s impulses than Charyn’s own reputation tends to suggest.
And yet Marlowe remains vital, in the way they always say Gatsby is, as a vivid window into his times (and other times), Chandler’s language unmistakable. If Holmes made his name being the indomitable master of mystery then Marlowe surely exists alongside him in mere endurance against a cold world.
Among the three stories is one adapted by Jerome Charyn, which admittedly is more the reason than Marlowe himself that I chose to read this. Charyn chose a very Charyn story (although still very much Chandler’s), hip deep in a dame hopelessly tangled up in the basic Marlowe romance. And if I had to finger one of the three stories here to suggest a grander portrait, it would be the one Charyn chose, much more inline with today’s impulses than Charyn’s own reputation tends to suggest.
September 18, 2018
Entertaining graphic adaptions of three of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe stories.
1. Goldfish-were Marlowe joins a hunt stolen pearls.
2. The Pencil-A mob hit team endangers Marlowe client and Marlowe. Of the three stories this is my favorite.
3. Trouble is My Business-the bodies pile up as Marlowe try's to break a dame's hold a rich kid.
Read this collection and join this urban knight on these mean streets.
1. Goldfish-were Marlowe joins a hunt stolen pearls.
2. The Pencil-A mob hit team endangers Marlowe client and Marlowe. Of the three stories this is my favorite.
3. Trouble is My Business-the bodies pile up as Marlowe try's to break a dame's hold a rich kid.
Read this collection and join this urban knight on these mean streets.
February 23, 2025
Adaptations of three Chandler short stories. I think something was a bit lost in these adaptations as the motivations can get a bit clunky in places. I'd say read the originals first, then the adaptations if you hunger for more.
Read
April 8, 2020I bailed. Just not my genre.
February 1, 2015
I found this collection in my book collection, from 1988, a celebration of Raymond Chandler's centennial. Philip Marlowe stories from 23 notable crime-fiction writers. Fun concept and interesting organization (each story is assigned and set in a particular year, from 1935 through 1959, when Chandler died. (Interestingly, they skip 1943.)
All very fun, although after the 12th story, it grows so repetitive, I found myself thinking in the first person and using words like dame and shamus. I think there was a word limit, so some of the stories are a little too tidy.
The collection ends with "The Pencil," from 1959, the last Marlowe story, which is a real treat. It all makes me want to read the real deal. And see the Bogart version of The Big Sleep.
All very fun, although after the 12th story, it grows so repetitive, I found myself thinking in the first person and using words like dame and shamus. I think there was a word limit, so some of the stories are a little too tidy.
The collection ends with "The Pencil," from 1959, the last Marlowe story, which is a real treat. It all makes me want to read the real deal. And see the Bogart version of The Big Sleep.
April 28, 2015
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
January 8, 2014
I'm not much into graphic novels, but this was a gift from my parents, and it was a fun way to pass an afternoon. The artwork in the first story was clunky and awkward, but the second two stories had great shading and a dark noir feel. At times I felt like the writing was a little awkward (how exactly does one "draw" Marlowe's spoken thoughts?), but I ended up most enjoying the sequences that actually relied entirely on images, similar to a film montage, which worked quite well in all three stories. The cover image was retro-cool and introduced me to the work of Jim Steranko, so I may check out his Chandler book in the near future.
August 3, 2015
Raymond Chandler's Marlowe: The Graphic Novel is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe short stories "The Pencil," "The Goldfish," and "Trouble is My Business." The art is all together well done. Each story is illustrated by different artists with their own perspective style. I found the art in "The Goldfish" to be lacking in comparison to the other stories, but it was still good. The dialogue was well done, perfectly fitted into graphic novel format. It is a very enjoyable read, especially for any fan of the noir genre. For any fan of Raymond Chandler this is a must have.
July 21, 2013
As with all anthologies, some stories are better than others. Surprisingly, some of the authors whose works are included in this book vehemently claim that Chandler's works had little or no impact on their style. Which makes me wonder why on earthy they were included in a Marlowe anthology (?). Still, there is enough strength in the other stories to make this an interesting read.
April 11, 2009
Three solid Marlowe stories done up in graphic form. I will admit that Chandler's prose and language loses something when you turn it into a funnybook, but these were still three satisfying comic petit-fours.
March 29, 2012
An interesting take on Chandler's work. I enjoyed it, but I prefer the originals. The second story, The Pencil, was the final Marlowe story Chandler wrote before his death and I may have to hunt down the original.
June 19, 2011
Enjoyable take on the noir stories of Chandler. Marlowe is an intriguing character and I find a modern counterpart in Connelleys Bosch
September 8, 2011
Adaptations of several of Chandler's Marlow stories - Goldfish, the Pencil and one other one.
Not recommended, a lot feels missing.
Not recommended, a lot feels missing.
December 11, 2014
A faithful adaptation of Chandler's work in the graphic novel form. It is done in the Noir style and that works really well with the stories.
May 11, 2015
I enjoyed the first story, Goldfish, the best (art, adaptation) but the entire book was pretty enjoyable. The language and dialogue were a hoot.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews