A Dame to Kill for

Sin City #2

by Dark Horse Comics, Frank Miller (Illustrator)

It's one of those hot nights, dry and windless. The kind that makes people do sweaty, secret things. Dwight's thinking of all they ways he's screwed up and what he'd give for one clear chance to wipe the slate clean, to dig his way out of the numb grey hell that is his life. And he'd give anything. Just to cut loose. Just to feel the fire. One more time. And then Ava calls.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Crime, Graphic Novels Comics, Noir, Comic Book

117 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Federico DN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Dame!

Dwight McCarthy is an unscrupulous photographer barely scraping by fulfilling shady requests for the rich and powerful of Sin City. All his inner core is shaken and put to the test when one night he receives a phone call from Ava, his life's love and long lost ex-girlfriend, imploring him to help her out, before it's too late. Ava's life is at dire risk, and Dwight may be the only person on Earth that might be able to save her. Deeply scarred and wounded, everything in him tells him not to listen and hang up, but the heart only hears what it wants to hear.

This was great addition and a very nice sequel to the Sin City series. I use the word "sequel" freely, since even though this is Vol #2, it's not exactly a sequel, as the timeline in this story take place before, during and after the events of Vol #1, as well as I hear it happens with every single volume in this saga. All the characters in Sin City are interconnected, and all the events happening mostly at the same given time frame within any issue.

Dwight is an obscure but compelling character, and sure made a fantastic partnership with Marv, the MC from Vol #1, who was also there and so cool to see again. Ava was wildly interesting too and one femme fatale for the books. Mort, Gail, and specially Manute, great and rogue supporting characters. The visuals in the comic superb as ever, with a rough and glowing neo-noir vibe, though considerably more "sensual" than the previous installment. Some nice and very dark dark twists, and one the whole one very memorable story, thought all in all I slightly preferred the first one better.

*** Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) is a fantastic adaptation, and even though it was remarkably panned for some reason, I for myself can say I enjoyed it, plenty. For me, it captured a lot of the comic's main essence, or at least this is what I can say for "A Dame to Kill For", since the movie also covers many more stories and segments which I haven't read in the series yet. Josh Brolin played a reasonable Dwight McCarthy, and Eva Green really excelled as Ava Lord, damn that woman can truly act for sure. Christopher Meloni as Detective Mort and Dennis Haysbert as Manute were especially memorable too, though Michael Clarke Duncan was way better imo, may the good man man RIP. Recommendable, for the movie completionist (7/10)



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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1993] [208p] [Comic] [Recommendable]
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★★★★☆ Sin City #1 - The Hard Goodbye.
★★★★☆ Sin City #2 - A Dame to Kill For. [3.5]
★★★☆☆ Sin City #3 - The Big Fat Kill. [3.5]
★★★☆☆ Sin City #4 - That Yellow Bastard.
★★★☆☆ Sin City #5 - Family Values. [2.5]
★★★☆☆ Sin City #6 - Booze, Broads, and Bullets.
★★★☆☆ Sin City #7 - Hell and Back. [3.5]
★★★☆☆ Sin City #1-7 Complete Set.

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¡Alta Dama!

Dwight McCarthy es un inescrupuloso fotógrafo que apenas logra sobrevivir cumpliendo las turbias peticiones de los ricos y poderosos de Sin City. Todo su núcleo interior se sacude y es puesto a prueba cuando una noche recibe una llamada telefónica de Ava, el amor de su vida y ex-novia perdida hace mucho tiempo, implorándole que la ayude antes de que sea demasiado tarde. La vida de Ava corre un grave peligro, y Dwight puede ser la única persona en la Tierra que podría salvarla. Profundamente herido y marcado, todo en él le dice que no escuche nada y cuelgue, pero el corazón sólo oye lo que quiere oír.

Esta fue una genial adición y una muy buena secuela en la serie de Sin City. Utilizo la palabra "secuela" libremente, ya que aunque éste es el Vol #2, no es exactamente una secuela, ya que la línea de tiempo de esta historia tiene lugar antes, durante y después de los eventos de Vol #1, y también escuché que sucede con cada entrega de esta saga. Todos los personajes de Sin City están interconectados, y todos los eventos ocurren principalmente dentro del mismo período de tiempo en cualquier libro.

Dwight es un personaje oscuro pero interesante, y sin duda hace un fantástico duo con Marv, el personaje principal de Vol #1, que también estuvo allí y fue genial volver a ver. Ava también fue tremendamente atrapante, y una mujer fatal para el recuerdo. Mort, Gail y especialmente Manute, rebeldes y geniales personajes secundarios. Las imágenes del cómic magníficas como siempre, con una áspera pero brillante vibra neo-noir, aunque considerablemente más "sensual" que la entrega anterior. Algunos agradables y muy oscuros giros de trama, y por sobre todo una historia bastante memorable, aunque para ser sinceros preferí un poco más la primera.

*** Sin City: Una Dama por la que Matar (2014) es una adaptación fantástica y, aunque por alguna razón fue bastante criticada, por mí puedo decir que la disfruté. mucho. Para mí, capturó gran parte de la esencia principal del cómic, o al menos eso es lo que puedo decir de "Una Dama por la que Matar", ya que la película también cubre muchas más historias y segmentos que aún no he leído de la serie. Josh Brolin interpreta a un razonable Dwight McCarthy , y Eva Green realmente sobresale como Ava Lord, maldita sea, esa mujer realmente sí que sabe actuar. Christopher Meloni como el Detective Mort y Dennis Haysbert como Manute también fueron especialmente memorables, aunque Michael Clarke Duncan en mi opinión fue mucho mejor, que el buen hombre descanse en paz. Recomendable, para los completistas de películas (7/10)



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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1993] [208p] [Comic] [3.5] [Recomendable]
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[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dwight is a wounded man staying low, making money taking secret lewd photo shoots for divorce attorneys vis his obese 'partner' and agent. Dwight has only two problems drink and women, so he avoids them like the plague... that is, until he finds his heartbreaker and betrayer of a ex-girlfriend, laying naked in his flat! You have entered Sin City. Dwight might need some backup.

Miller's neo-noir reality takes a hardcore look a the female of the species, albeit a black widow. There's some sublime crossovers with the first volume, more shockingly superb monochrome + shadows structured art, some off-key violence and a a very neat neo-noir plot. Not as big a shock as the first volume, but some assured Sin City world building. 8 out of 12.

2019 read

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miller is an expert at using negative space. The artwork is just jawdropping and fits the noir setting so well. He can make the simplest drawing breathtaking.

This volume focuses on the femme fatale of noir lore. Ava knows how to twist men to her every whim, how to play them to get what she wants. When she re-enters Dwight's life, you know it won't lead to anything good. Sin City has very few redeeming characters. But what do you expect from noir?

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume of Sin City continues the the same vein as the first. Dark violence and blood shed. Sexual deviance and twisted characters. Deception and corruption. I could go on and on . . .



My thoughts on this volume are a bit different simply because the first volume and first movie have many similarities - and I have seen the first movie several times. While the second volume is supposed to be the same story as was depicted in the second movie, I have not seen it yet. Therefore, I had no preconceived notions of what to expect.



I can tell why this series is already considered a classic. The stories and the art are unique. The characters are very enthralling. Also, since there is a lot of bad stuff going on here, you almost feel like you are getting away with something when you are reading it.

This is not for the feint of heart, but if you like murder, sex, corruption, really bad bad guys, and suspense, be sure to check this series out.

[Miltos S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πιστεύω ότι ο Frank Miller, ξεκινώντας να γράφει το πρώτο μέρος του Sin City, επ' ουδενί δεν είχε στο μυαλό του να δημιουργήσει μια ολόκληρη σειρά 7 βιβλίων που θα τράβαγε τόσο. Αυτό, είμαι σίγουρος, προέκυψε από την τεράστια επιτυχία του Marv στο πρώτο βιβλίο.
Και αυτό φαίνεται σε όλη τη σειρά των βιβλίων όπως και σε αυτό το δεύτερο τεύχος (σε αντίθεση για παράδειγμα με το Preacher, που είναι ξεκάθαρο ότι η ιστορία υπήρχε από την αρχή στο μυαλό των δημιουργών και γι αυτό σχεδόν όλα τα βιβλία κρατούν το ίδιο υψηλό επίπεδο).
Καλή ιστορία, ωραία σκίτσα, αλλά δεν έχει το βάθος της ιστορίας του Marv και οι χαρακτήρες μάλλον μοιάζουν "χάρτινοι" παρά σε πείθουν.
Γενικά, για τους φίλους των κόμικς, πιστεύω ότι όλα τα βιβλία της Sin City θα είναι ένα πολύ καλό ανάγνωσμα, αλλά μην περιμένετε να ενθουσιαστείτε το ίδιο με τα υπόλοιπα τεύχη, σε σχέση με το πρώτο τεύχος.

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava.
You got me good, Babe. Just when I was pulling it back together you come along and rip my heart out one more time. Only this time you crossed a final, fatal line. You tricked me into doing something there's no coming back from. You've damned my soul to hell.



In the first Sin City album, bruiser Marv got into a war with society over the killing of his one night stand. This time, scandal photographer and freelance investigator Dwight puts his own neck in the noose over an old flame of his. Ava, a dame that left him for a wealthy playboy four years ago, wants him back. He knows she is poison, yet he cannot say no to her when she wiggles her charms at him (this lady has major issues with her wardrobe all over the album. She keeps losing them clothes. I can understand now why Eva Green was chosen for the role, she has a similar problem in a lot of her movies).



The level of explicit violence, strong language and exposed breasts is no longer a surprise for a Sin City album. What truly impresses me is how good the story itself is, and how well the artwork serves the dark atmosphere and the twisted characters. It's always night time in Sin City, an urban jungle controlled by outcasts, criminals, ladies of pleasure and drug dealers. In an interesting twist of the series timeline, Marv from the first album returns to his usual seat in Kadie's Bar, watching the strip dancing of his protegee Nancy and breaking the arms of some hecklers. Marv will play a sidekick role for photographer Dwight, making the two albums overlap in time. I guess the following ones will use a similar technique, building on the already established characters and adding depth to the already complex setting.

As the title suggests, the dame Ava Lord is the black queen of the chess game played by Frank Miller. She moves her pawns (her playboy husband, her bodyguard, Dwight, a cop, a mob boss, and so on) across the board, using them anyway she can to further her own greed for power. Dwight was once infatuated with her, but maybe this time she has pushed him too far, maybe this time she can no longer control him with a fake tear and a flutter of the eyelashes:



Then the maybes kick in. Maybe I shouldn't put the blame on you. Maybe once I let the monster out something bad was sure to happen, just like it always has. Maybe a killer's a killer and I was just born that way. Maybe all you did was give me a target. Maybe. But I'm going to go ahead and blame you anyway. I have to blame you. Hate's the only think keeping me going so I'm holding on to it.

The only reason I cannot give all the stars to the Frank Miller adult comic is his continuing penchant for naked ladies. He sends mixed messages: on the one hand, he empowers them, gives them control over their own lives (pro-tip: don't piss off little Miho, the ninja hooker), on the other hand he keeps drawing them as sex toys and the only occupations available in Basin City for women are stripper, waitress or hooker. Ava is one of the best villains in the noir gallery of femmes fatales, and I would lie if I didn't admit I found her panels alluring, but she is very close to becoming a caricature of herself - naked in practically every scene she features.

On the plus side, I have no idea what to expect from the third album (besides tons of violence) and I look forward to learn more about the night creatures of Basin City, safely ensconced on my couch, knowing none of them is likely to come knocking at my own door.

Can you tell I like Eva Green?
Ok, only one more picture of her ... (all images here from the recent movie Sin City 2, a version that comes very close to the original comic)

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Can we go dancing, Eddie? I feel crazy tonight. I just can't settle down." -- 'Doll'

"Sure, baby. Dancing, tables, the works. You don't visit Sin City to read the Bible." -- 'Eddie'

A Dame to Kill For is another slice of Miller's hard-edged and uber-violent pulp fiction / noir featuring big guns, big cars, and big crime. The 'dame' of the subtitle is the slinky Ava - perhaps named as a tribute to 50's silver-screen femme fatale, and ex-Mrs. Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner? - a moll who sure knows how to wrap a man (or five) around her duplicitous finger. In fact, there's a certain four-letter word that starts with a 'c' which perfectly describes her . . . COLD! (Gotcha there, didn't I?) Anyway, Ava drives her reformed ex-hub Dwight crazy with the deliberate misconception that they'll get back together, and this predictably results in male common sense sailing out the window, followed by numerous bodies falling all over the titular town. Ava is one of the more manipulative characters I've seen depicted in quite some time, but sooner or later everyone has to pay their due in Sin City.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to give a summary of the story without making it sound cheesy and stereotypical with far too much macho action, because the book, and series even, is all of those things but manages to be so much better than all of that. A sleazy photographer takes pictures of an extra-marital affair with which he plans to blackmail the man with - this is our hero. Then the noir element kicks in - the femme fatale enters the bar in a haze of smoke and shadows. She's in trouble, and the photographer called Dwight is the one to save her after all... they used to be lovers. And then we're off, onto a twisting plot through the deadly streets of Sin City to a blood soaked ending.

I read the Sin City series shortly before the first movie back in 2005 and, now that the sequel's out, I thought I'd revisit this one to see if it holds up - and it most certainly does. This is Frank Miller: The Glory Years, when he was writing amazing Batman books, Daredevil stories, and creating his own comic masterpiece with Sin City. He writes and draws these books providing a master-class to all artists who read it: this is how you write a noir comic and make it both high art and bad-ass to boot.

The book is in black and white, and Miller uses light and shadows to full effect in all of the panels. Look at Ava Lord's entrance: first full page silhouette with hazy white smoke at the top, then close up, then look at Dwight's face, then close up still but not making out any features on the shadowy face, then the meeting, then straight into dialogue fresh from the 1930s. It's so cinematic!

Or Dwight's fight with Manute and his bloody end, flying through a window, falling with the glass, hitting the bottom of the page, then a blank black page, then a full page look at his spread-eagled, unconscious form - end of chapter. There are too many moments like this to go into but I was shaking my head in awe of Miller's use of black and white in this book. The guy created a unique look to these comics that remain untouched with age and still looks innovative today.

I won't go into the twisty, turning plot which takes you one way and then, halfway through, switches direction with breath-taking ease and sends you hurtling another way. I will say one thing which is to read "The Hard Goodbye" before this as that's the first Sin City book and "A Dame To Kill For" is the second, and the two cross paths in their telling in a way that you'd appreciate more if you read them both in order. Hell, read them all, they're all brilliant!

The dialogue is wonderful, full of macho metaphors, moody voice-overs, each character playing an archetype with relish and verve - they're cartoons, they know it, Miller knows it, and that frees them up to just have fun with it. Don't approach this book expecting realism - it's gritty but not at all in a realistic way.

The book and series is nothing short of a triumph of high art, literature, and the beating heart of what people love most about comics: fun. If you know someone who doesn't like comics because to them it's for people with low IQs or are perennially stuck in childhood, give them a copy of this book and see if it won't change their mind.

Noir was a great genre while it lasted and Chandler, Hammett, and Cain were all geniuses but Miller takes Noir and makes it even better with his Sin City stories. There should be another label for the genius of these books but there isn't so I'll end this review by urging new and old readers of the series to pick up these books if you're looking for a damn good read.

Get yourself a copy and settle down with a shot and a brew - Marv and co. have some stories to tell you.

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would be fun in anticipation for the new Sin City movie A Dame to kill for to read the comic that the movie is based upon. I loved the first movie (Actually bought it today and will try to re-watch it again soon) and I hope that the sequel will be just as good.

Anyway the story in Sin City: A Dame to kill for is quite simple: Dwight is working as a photographer taking pictures of men having affairs with women. He gets contacted after a job by his old flame Ava Lord and she is the dame with a capital D for him. She is miserable in her marriage and scared and, of course, he will do anything to help her. And of course, he enlists Marv to help him. And that’s as much I will give away of the plot.

I found the story very engrossing. It’s gritty, dark, noir and very much brutal to read and if you like that kind of graphic novels then you will love this one.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

[Mohamed Metwally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing that the series was 7 volumes, together with the naming of 'Sin' city, I expected each volume to be dedicated to one of the 7 deadly sins, but nonetheless I'm still impressed...
So this crime, in your face, bold thriller continues without pause to the second story with Sex/ prostitution/ love (physical not emotional) taking centeestage for the machinations of events. As AVA said to Dwight "Sex always made you stupid. Ready to believe in everything" AND i see this as the essence of both volumes 1&2. Love driven by lust leading the men to self destructing crusades...
PS: loved the cameo in page 172 crossing over the events from both volumes within the same timeline..

MiM

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS. STRONG LANGUAGE.

I don't like Dwight. And that's unfortunate, seeing as he's the main character. He looks down on other people. I also don't like the way he treats Marv or the way he talks about Marv. He also makes incredibly stupid decisions.

This book is actually a great portrait and portrayal of addiction. Dwight is an addict. He has completely given up alcohol, drugs, and killing. Because he thinks he's a monster. He's sure that any little thing... speeding, having a drink, etc. will turn him into the "monster" he was before. He never wants to go back to those days, and so he holds himself very tightly, in iron control.

Then all that control is shattered when his ex-lover Ava reenters his life. She hasn't seen him in 4 years and feeds him some sob story about her husband being the devil.

AVA: "You're right about me! I'm nothing but a selfish slut who threw away the only man she ever loved! Just like you said! But I was wrong, darling! Wrong! I'm in hell, Dwight. It's worse than you can imagine.... Oh God... I wish I could go back in time. Back to the way it was. To you and me. I'm such a selfish, stupid slut."
DWIGHT: "You made your bed. Sleep in it."
AVA: "Forgive me, darling. I beg you. I love you."
(She kisses him.)
DWIGHT: "You do that again and I swear to hell I'll kill you."

Charming. <--sarcasm

Anyway, I instantly am filled with revulsion towards her because she's calling herself a slut and begging this guy to love and forgive her. Have some pride! And I already hate Dwight, but I hate him more because he keeps threatening to beat Ava.

She's so melodramatic and silly and over-the-top. If I were him, I'd laugh and walk away. But he seems easily caught up in her games. What a moron.

He goes to her place and gets the shit kicked out of him. Next thing you know, he comes home and she's naked in his bed.

AVA: "But you came for me. You risked your life. You still care. You still want me. And I'm yours. Now. Tonight."
DWIGHT: "You make me sick. You and this crazy game you're playing. Get out of my life once and for all or I'll bash your teeth in. Go back to your mansion. Or go to hell. I don't care which."
AVA: "Do you want me to beg? Would that amuse you? I'll beg. I'll grovel. I have no shame. I'm nothing. I'm dirt. I'm a lying, treacherous whore who's going to get what I deserve. Oh, for flip's sake. I can't tell you how much I loathe this woman right now. But I must have you first. Tonight. Now, Tonight, and never again. If you can't love me - hate me. If you can't forgive me - punish me."
DWIGHT: "Okay."

Then Dwight punches Ava in the face. My hatred for him grows to epic proportions. Then he kisses her. Then he starts calling her whore, slut, bitch, cunt. etc. etc. etc.

Then they have sex. And suddenly he's in love with her again. He'd do anything for her. Kill for her.

It's slowly starting to dawn on me that every single male Miller writes is a complete moron. I mean, it was one thing when it was Marv - I thought his "I love her after having sex with her once and spending exactly 60 minutes conscious with her and 180 unconscious" was just because he was Marv. Sex-deprived, sweet, loyal Marv. But now I know I'm wrong. Apparently Miller believes that all men are complete idiots who will do anything, ANYTHING for a woman who just gave them sex. It's ridiculous, and frankly, insulting to men.

Marv and Dwight team up to bring down Ava's allegedly abusive husband. Seeing as Dwight's just punched her in the face, I think she's changing one demon for another, but oh well. Seeing Marv again reminds me what a sweetie-pie he is (for a Miller character) and I wish I was spending this book with him instead of with Dwight. Sigh.

So, Dwight murders Damian, Ava's husband. Ava shows up with a gun and starts the evil villain gloating speech - complete with Bwahahahahaha laughter. Really - it goes on for 6 pages.

Marv saves a shot-up Dwight, Dwight runs to the whores of Old Town - who apparently owe him one or three. Gail, the BDSM dominatrix from the last book, is completely in love with him. But he doesn't love her. Also, he killed some evil white slaver who was hurting women, and ALSO saved Miho's life. (Every time I see Miho's name - every time - I see it as mi'jo, the shortening Spanish-speakers use when saying "mi hijo", "my son." Sounds exactly the same.) Dwight acts like an asshole with the whores.

"I'm staying. You'll stonewall the cops. You'll provide the services of Gail, Miho, and Molly. When I give an order, it will be obeyed."

A little politeness costs nothing and goes a long way, Dwight, you dick.

And the twins, Wendy and Goldie, are standing over him, threatening him, and he thinks:

I should fear for my life, and I would - if I could just get that damn "doublemint" jingle out of my head. Go to hell, Dwight.

Oh, and I didn't even tell you about what happened with the cops. So, two cops come to talk to Ava and investigate the murder of her husband. They seem like actual honest, hard-working cops. In Sin City? I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm even happier when Ava lays it on thick to the huge cop (she and Miller both seem to like huge men) and he is just formal with her. His partner asks him if he's gonna tap that. And he's all:

I'm a married man, Bob."

Wow. I'm happy and proud and shocked. That quickly goes down the tubes when he calls Ava the next day and has sex with her. For no reason I can see. He's married (his wife's beautiful, of course), he didn't seem to be falling for Ava's lies, he's been a cop for a long time. And sure, Ava's gorgeous, but SO ARE 98% OF WOMEN IN SIN CITY. I'm just not buying this.

Anyway, of course, because all men are morons according to Miller, the cop is immediately willing to risk his life and his job doing whatever Ava asks him to do and hunt down Dwight and kill him. Since I'm literally laughing out loud every time Ava opens her mouth and spews out her melodramatic performances, I can't for the life of me believe anyone would buy her lies. I don't care HOW good she is in bed, this is ridiculous.

...

I won't tell you how it ends, but I will say I was disappointed.

In short - Miller believes men are idiots and women are whores. I didn't like the main character. I found the villain ridiculously cheesy. The illustrations are great. The noir tone and over-the-top gestures that worked so well in The Hard Goodbye seem silly and melodramatic here. Mainly because of the Ava character. I didn't enjoy this.

[Maksym Karpovets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Мене трохи менше вразив цей том, але не настільки, щоб зовсім покинути серію чи заганити весь цикл. Насправді Міллер просто дещо ускладнив сюжет, поглибив наратив, додав перетини з попередньою історією на якомусь метарівні, вибудовуючи й розширюючи власний світ зіпсутого міста. І ось ці флешбеки з попереднього тому виглядають просто блискуче, посилюючи як актуальну, так і попередню історію (авжеж, адже хочеться її перечитати, раптом щось упустив?).

Зрозуміло, що цей том фокусується навколо фатальної жінки Ави. Двайт, ще один громила-одинак у темному місті гріхів, відкинув Аву зі свого життя, хоча в глибині душі (чи тіла) досі її бажає. Своєю чергою, Ава користується цим. Із цього вийде одне: драма та бійки. Ну й буде відповідь на питання: а чи справді вона варта того, щоб за неї убивати?

Жорстокість і кров так само супроводжує усю історію, але якщо перша історія була моторошна й загадкова, тому ця більше мелодраматична, певною мірою сентиментальна. Як не дивно, перша мене більш емоційно зачепила, бо справді було страшно й непередбачувано. Основне ж, що атмосфера темного міста, бруду, обману, корупції й персонажів із подвійним дном лишається. Ну й напруга. Міллер просто блискуче нагнітає саспенс, наелектризовує повітря до нестями, коли ось-ось і все вийде з-під контроля. Але не переживається: ви ж просто читаєте мальопис, тому завжди можна втриматись за зручні перила свого крісла.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second Sin City tale is just as fantastic as the first one, but this time it explores the noir femme fatale angle, and does it with real verve, featuring a group of enjoyably deplorable characters. We follow a new protagonist, Dwight, a solitary guy who tries to forget his sordid past by finding work photographing cheating spouses for a private dick. When an old flame comes to him desperate for help, he travels back down the dark alleys that he tried to escape from years ago.

There's tons of action, a hefty amount of sex, seedy locales, crooked betrayals, striking artwork, hookers with guns, and surprising cameos. What's not to like? If you have an even passing interest in hard-boiled writing or noir plots, you owe it to yourself to read this.

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't seen the movie adaptation of this story so I can't say how close it is, but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the second Sin City installment. I really got into the story and found the whole situation that Dwight was in to be interesting and it kept my interest. Again, I really enjoyed the artwork and I feel like the stark black/white panels really add the severity of the story and the things that happen to the characters.

Received via Edelweiss

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah the movie was ok. Should have been made into different parts like the comic ....but hey can't win them all.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in English • en Français • en Español
Once again, loved the film noir style of the drawings. Ava’s introductory depiction was great: a rather square silhouette, a structured figure, a powerful stance, a smoke screen, and a rain coat like Marv's. Further contrasted with Dwain’s curvy and diminished image, the whole plot can be guessed from this single image, she is the hunter.
—
Une fois de plus j’ai adoré le style film noir du roman graphique. Le portrait introducteur de Ava est magnifique: une silhouette plutôt carrée, structurée, une marche solide, un brouillard de fumée et un imperméable comme celui de Marv. Contrastée plus loin avec la figure plus arrondie et diminuée de Dwain, le récit en entier peut se lire dans cette seule image, elle est la chasseresse.
—
Adore una ves más el estilo film noir de la novela gráfica. El retrato que introduce a Ava es magnífico: una silueta cuadrada y estructurada, un paso sólido, una cortina de humo y una gabardina que recuerda la de Marv. Cuando se contrasta con la figura más redonda y minimizada de Dwain, la historia entera se ve resumida en esta única imagen, ella es la cazadora.

[Pavlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я обожнюю цей цикл, тому ще емоційніший ніж зазвичай. Місто Гріхів - це чистісінька 100% нуарна насолода. Оголені нерви та інстинкти, прості примітивні емоції, але які ж вони потужні, та до тремору зрозумілі. Цю "чорну на білому" масну густу туш автора відчуваєш шкірою, кожнісінькою клітиною тіла. Споглядання Міста Гріхів це особливий процес для мене, це якесь втаємничення, де кожна емоція оголена і надзвичайно інтимна, але в той же час кривава та брутальна, зіпсована чорнотою Френка Міллера.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man I think more woman in this series are portrayed as prostitutes than not lol.

So this is about a new guy in the sin city universe called Dwight and he, just like Marv, aren't very good people. However, when a old lover comes to visit Dwight telling him terrible things are happening to her he decides to help her despite knowing better. IN doing so the twist and turns the characters make ends up in a bloody hell of a time.

Good: I enjoyed Dwight as a character, foolish but not completely dumb. I also enjoyed the first half a lot. Built up pace and the fighting really well. The ending too was satisfying and so far it's 2 for 2 on good endings.

Bad: The woman in this series seem either placed for plot points or just always slutty or downright shitty. I guess so are the men but man oh man, need a little inbetween on these. Also the art style still isn't to my liking. It's hard to tell what's happening sometimes even.

Overall another solid entry into this series. I've been enjoying them as a good "gritty" style fun. Not as high quality as say Criminal but good old fashion crime fun. A 3 out of 5.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have seen the Sin City movie, then you have a pretty good idea of what A Dame to Kill For is all about. It's based very closely on the story told here. The Sin City books are known for their stark black and white illustrations, the well-developed plot-lines, and the swagger of noir. This one explores the idea of a femme fatale, Ava.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second read and I liked it more than I had the first time. Macho dialogue and script, curvy babes, noir-on-steroids for the late twentieth century, all stereotypes, sure, but the artwork is pretty amazing, and it's finally pretty darned entertaining for updating the genre. I'll see the movie.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Not quite as good as the first one, but still damn good.

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Sin City: A Dame To Kill For the comic with its killer artwork, the gloomy smokey crime-noir atmosphere, the style, the character design, the no-nonsense dialogues. So I checked out the movie trailer for the movie adaptation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvAvE...

But......damn...what the hell had I just watched!? The soundtrack is TERRIBLE, the visual is quite DULL comparing with Sin City 1, even with Eva Green as the beautiful, seductive femme fatale, this movie still looks kind of SUCKY!

Still...the scene with Gail and Dwight are still worth watching. (But I dislike this version of Miho)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iP4n...

And the Dwight meets Ava again scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85d6G...

What a pity, the comic is great, despite of letdowns such as the male lead thinking with his dick instead of his brain for most of the time, the stereotyped Japanese female assassin, and the most stereotyped bad woman, blah blah blah.

[Wonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely enjoying these more than I though I would, considering the length is very small! This one was part of the story the first movie alludes to, which was nice! On to the next one...

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)

From the June 1998 edition with a theme of "Crime Comics II":

INTRODUCTION

It's time to return to the mean streets.

Yes, let's get down into the gutter with the gray- and black-hearted souls that inhabit the world of crime comics. These are stories told from the criminal's point of view, be he a petty thief or a cold-blooded killer. "Crime doesn't pay," goes the old saying, but it sure can entertain.

In case the tough guys of ROAD TO PERDITION, STRAY BULLETS, and SIN CITY glorify crime a little too much and give some of my readers inappropriate ideas, I'm throwing in CUCKOO to give everyone a reminder that crime has consequences that echo through society long after the clank of the cell door and the final sizzle of the electric chair have faded away.

FROM THE BACKLIST

STRAY BULLETS #1-14 (El Capitan)
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR #1-6 (Dark Horse Comics/Legend)

Two of the better crime comics being produced today happen to be polar opposites in approach: substance versus style. Comparing David Lapham's STRAY BULLETS to Frank Miller's SIN CITY is not dissimilar from comparing Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION to John Woo's FACE/OFF. But hey, I review comics not movies, so I'm not supposed to compare PULP FICTION to FACE/OFF. Instead, I shall compare STRAY BULLETS to PULP FICTION and SIN CITY to FACE/OFF, then compare STRAY BULLETS to SIN CITY. These are all legitimate, comic-centric comparisons. I, the comic reviewer, hereby deny any responsibility for conclusions drawn by readers with an understanding of the transitive property.

Though I'm sure Lapham must be sick of the comparison by now, the parallels to be drawn between STRAY BULLETS and PULP FICTION are irresistible to reviewers such as myself. How am I supposed to ignore the fact that two incredibly talented individuals have chosen the same genre and techniques to tell a slew of riveting stories? Both Tarantino and Lapham use non-linear chronology to tell closely interwoven tales of crimes and the people who perpetrate them. Just as Tarantino's three stories jumped hypnotically back and forth through time -- allowing a character killed in the middle of the movie to appear hale and hearty later in the film -- the fourteen issues of STRAY BULLETS skip all over the calendar: starting in 1997 with #1, jumping back to 1977 with #2, and erratically staggering through the late '70s and '80s as Lapham slowly works his way back to the '90s. That Lapham and Tarantino both write rat-a-tat dialogue, create vivid and complex characters, and use shocking violence to maintain a heightened tension simply clinches the comparison for me.

Woo and Miller, on the other hand, share more intangible qualities. They are masters of larger-than-life, style-over-substance maelstroms of action and violence. Both employ fantastic plot elements or outlandish coincidences to keep the story racing at a fever pitch, and both feature heroes who, while presented as everyday joes with down-to-earth concerns, are capable of nearly superhuman feats in a running firefight. Both Woo and Miller utilize tough guy talk and action sequences so over-the-top as to nearly fall into the abyss of campiness, but the grim seriousness of the characters and situations keep Woo and Miller from plunging over that edge. Ultimately, the plots and character are secondary to the charged atmosphere and dazzling visuals these two artisans create. Just as Woo redefines action thrillers with his ballet of bullets in FACE/OFF and his earlier films, Miller pushes black-and-white comics to a whole new level with his stark penwork on A DAME TO KILL FOR and his other SIN CITY sagas.

Whenever I think of Miller's work on SIN CITY (or any of his other comics for that matter), immediately several extremely cool images pop into my head. Only later do I start dwelling on some interesting bits of dialogue or an engaging plotline. This is probably because Miller started out as a superb artist (DAREDEVIL) and then turned out to be a rather good writer and writer/artist (DAREDEVIL, ELEKTRA, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, BATMAN: YEAR ONE). On the other hand, when I think of STRAY BULLETS I immediately start thinking of the characters and the plot. This is probably because Lapham started out as a good artist (SHADOWMAN, HARBINGER, RAI, WARRIORS OF PLASM) and then turned out to be a rather superb writer . . . though still only a good artist.

STRAY BULLETS began with a bang. Come to think of it, STRAY BULLETS #1 may be the one of the best first issues ever, telling a chilling and brutal tale of murder, insanity, and unrequited love. I don't want to tell any more about it, for fear of ruining it for any newbies in the audience. Suffice it to say, the story is set in 1997 and features a character, Joey, who appears as a boy throughout the rest of the series. In some ways, the series is about this lad and the unfortunate events that shape the man he becomes.

The main character of STRAY BULLETS, however, is Virginia Applejack. Introduced as a young girl, Virginia's life becomes a long sequence of escalating troubles after witnessing an alleyway murder. Schoolyard violence, sexual molestation, domestic abuse, and family tragedy all contribute to Virginia's need to run away from home. Her wanderings bring her into contact with Orson, Beth and Nina. This trio, whose backstory gets as much "screen time" as Virginia's, consists of three young, confused adults on the lam from a crime boss and his thugs with two suitcases of stolen cocaine. Obviously, involvement with the trio is not going to improve Virginia's quality of life. Virginia's only outlet from her awful reality is through stories she writes of her futuristic outlaw doppelganger, Amy Racecar. (Feature-length Amy Racecar stories appear in issues #6, #10 and a color special.) For me, the point of the series boils down to one question: Will Amy Racecar and Virginia's own sensibility keep Virginia from travelling the same troubled path as Joey?

The story in SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is not nearly as hard to describe. A down-on-his-luck photographer, Dwight McCarthy is lured by a married ex-girlfriend into a plot full of sex, betrayal, murder and more betrayal. I'm talking tons of hot babes and hotter action here, boys. Literally every other issue features defenestration. (Before those without dictionaries get too hot and bothered, I should point out that defenestration is an act of violence and not a sex act.) For fans of the original SIN CITY mini-series, its protagonist Marv shows up in a supporting role since A DAME TO KILL FOR takes place in time just before and during the events of Marv's own ultra-violent feature. The story is actually pretty irrelevant, but the artwork looks amazing, the narration features wonderfully hard-boiled monologues, and the dialogue is crisp and biting. While the plot is not entirely riveting, Miller's obvious love for the material is sufficiently compelling.

Visceral or cerebral? Which is your pleasure? Frankly, I want them both whenever possible. For me, that's why PULP FICT- . . . um, STRAY BULLETS, I mean, wins in this showdown. Sure FACE/O- . . . ahem, SIN CITY is exciting to look at while I'm reading it, but once I've put it away in a box I don't dwell on it. STRAY BULLETS, however, stays with me. It has the thrills and violence to keep me on the edge of my seat while I'm reading it, it has the complexity that challenges me to unravel its secrets, and it has the themes and ideas which linger in my brain long into the night. Now, if only Frank Miller would consent to draw STRAY BULLETS under Lapham's scripting I think I'd be in heaven. (Tarantino and Woo together might not be too bad either . . . )

STRAY BULLETS Grade: A+
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR Grade: B

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sin City, Vol. 2: A Dame to Kill For: The ultimate femme fatale
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature
Frank Miller’s SIN CITY series is famous for its hard-boiled crime noir stories, characters and black-and-white artwork. In the second volume, A Dame To Kill For , Miller gleefully tackles that most classic of noir tropes, the seductive and deadly femme fatale. Ava is her name, and when she beckons, men cannot resist. Our lead this time is Dwight McCarthy, a photographer who is trying to live a clean, modest life in that cesspool of vice, crime, and violence known as Sin City. But four years ago he was involved with Ava, a dame with a perfect body and hypnotic eyes who can make men do her bidding with ease. But she dumped him for a wealthy and powerful man named Damien Lord, breaking his heart. So when she suddenly calls him and begs to meet him, he knows he should hang up the phone. But he can’t resist the siren’s call, agreeing to meet at a seedy saloon (where Marv happens to doing his usual drinking and brawling). She tells him she needs him and begs to get back together, before a giant bruiser of a chaperone named Manute shows up to tell her it’s time to go back home. The hook has been placed, setting in motion a series of ever more violent confrontations, as Ava lays her web of seduction and manipulation on every man who falls in her crosshairs.


The story here is not complicated, so you know what to expect. Dwight is a sympathetic character, a guy who is trying to put his past behind him and control his demons. And of course it’s hard not to like the hapless lug Marv with his own code of justice and disregard for his own safety. So when they team up, it’s fun to see them get nasty with the badguys. But Ava is too stereotyped for my taste, just a completely devious and manipulative type that has men twirled around her fingers. She is constantly in a state of undress throughout the comic, with her voluptuous and naked body on display, made more dramatic with the black and white artwork and play of light and shadows. You can’t fault Frank Miller for admiring the idealized female form, but after dozens of panels of Ava it actually loses its impact, and it’s a fine line between admiration and objectification.

The women in A Dame to Kill For are basically all whores, strippers, bar hostesses, or the playthings of rich and powerful men. Ironically, Ava is able to control of these men by offering her body, but it’s a sad sort of power, fully dependent on men. She chafes at this state of affairs, but accepts it as inevitable. The only other version of strong women are the prostitutes of Old Town, who protect their own with their own brand of lethal justice. But they too are dependent on men for their livelihood, which is still selling their bodies. Miller has gotten plenty of flack for his portrayal of women in SIN CITY, and I have to agree. It’s fine to pay tribute to the genre conventions of noir, and focus on the violence and seedy criminal denizens, but he could do a lot more with the female characters than he has in this volume.

Movie Version (2014; directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller)

Strangely enough, I held off watching this film until I re-read A Dame to Kill For . So having just watched the film, I can say that the main story "A Dame to Kill For" featuring Dwight, Marv, and Ava is very faithfully portrayed. Scene by scene, line by line, the dramatic mono-chromatic atmosphere of the comic comes alive on the screen with some judicious splashes of red blood, green eyes, yellow skin, etc. The classic cars also gets some loving color paint jobs.

It’s been nine years since the first film, so there are a number of new actors, most notably Josh Brolin replacing Clive Owens as Dwight, Dennis Haybert replacing Michael Clarke Duncan as Manute. Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, and Jessica Alba reprise their roles as John Hartigan, Marv, and Nancy Callahan. It’s a bit ironic that the main story takes place before the “Hard Goodbye” and “A Big Fat Kill” stories of the first film, but the actors are older. Of course Mickey Rourke has no problem since he is covered in heavy facial prosthetics and Jessica Alba still looks great, but Bruce Willis is looking pretty grizzled.

The most important newcomer is Eva Green, who plays the ultimate temptress Ava. Knowing that the role requires that Ava be naked or nearly so in at least half the scenes, I’m sure that a number of actresses must have hesitated, but Eva Green has never shied away from that. She certainly attacks the role with intensity and confidence, but I had the same reservations of believability that any femme fatale could so easily manipulate men so completely. But then again, I’ve never been faced by the gorgeous Eva Green smoking a languid cigarette on the bed before me. I’m sure I could resist…


The movie features a short opening vignette called “Just Another Saturday Night” from Vol 6 ( Booze, Broads, & Bullets ) in which Marv pursues some badly-behaved college kids into Old Town. It seemed a bit superfluous, and I’m not sure the college kids deserved quite the punishment they got, compared to the usual hardened criminals of Sin City.

The most problematic parts of A Dame to Kill are the two new stories “The Long Bad Night (Part 1 & 2)” and “Nancy’s Last Dance”, which were written specially for the film by Frank Miller. The first story is about a young and brash gambler Johnny (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who decides try his luck with the powerful and ruthless Senator Roark (played by Powers Boothe) in the backroom of Kadie’s Bar. After cleaning out Roark, he waltzes out of the bar with a bag full of money and a girl on his arm. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess that things will soon turn sour, so I have to question just how stupid Johnny is to think he can antagonize Roark without any backlash. In Part 2, Johnny seeks his revenge on Roark, getting himself in position to challenge him in another poker game. Despite having a special reason for playing with fire again, it’s still mystifying why such a clever gambler would have such a suicidal urge.

The second new story, “Nancy’s Last Dance”, takes place after “That Yellow Bastard” in the first film. Nancy is back to dancing at Kadie’s Bar, missing Hartigan and feeling betrayed by him. She turns to drinking and vows revenge on Roark. As everyone in Sin City seems to, she enlists the help of Marv, who is always happy to get involved in fighting and killing. Frankly, this segment just wasn’t that good and made me sad. I have no idea why it was tacked on, as they film could have ended on a better dramatic note with “A Dame to Kill For”. Basically, it seems like the producers wanted to have more scenes of Jessica Alba dancing in a cowboy outfit (understandable), Marv cracking more skulls, and Jessica Alba finally getting to do some shooting and ass-kicking of her own. But it could have been removed with no big loss. Even the fighting seemed a bit tired and predictable.

[Vinicius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Em Sin City Dama Fatal, somos apresentados novamente à cidade de Sin City. Uma cidade sombria, violenta, decadente e corrupta. E é nessa cidade que somos apresentados ao protagonista desse segundo volume, o Dwight.

Dwight é um homem solitário, que aceita trabalhos com espécie de fotógrafo voltado a registrar os podres de seus alvos. E ao que parece, ele possui um passado violento que ele abandonou faz um tempo.

Na trama, acompanhamos Dwight revivendo paixões do seu passado ao se deparar com Ava, uma ex-namorada que o trocou por um ricaço. Porém, agora no presente, Dwight está limpo e superou seu namoro com Ava e demonstra não querer reviver esse passado.

No entanto, Ava utiliza-se da lábia e da sedução para conquistar Dwight novamente, principalmente indicando que ela sofre abusos de seu atual marido.

Ao saber disso, Dwight traça um plano, e com ajuda de Marv (protagonista da primeira edição) invade a casa de Ava para resgata-la, mas a recepção não acontece da maneira que ele esperava.

Falar mais que isso seria Spoiler, pois o Miller trabalha muito bem a expectativa do leitor e o plot twist do gibi. Mas novamente, a trama é muito bem escrita, com aquele clima noir que ele sabe escrever muito bem, com violência e vingança muito bem desenvolvidos.

Ainda, é interessante observar durante a leitura, cenas que acontecem em paralelo com a edição anterior de Sin City, mas agora vemos por outra perspectiva.

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[André · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second volume, Frank Miller presents us with another tale from Sin City. "A Dame to kill" centres around a love story, but, Sin city style: Betrayal, faithlessness, adultery, lies, street violence, gangs of prostitutes, and strippers are the main components for this black and white (or white and black) tale.

The story starts with Dwight McCarthy, (one of the main characters of Miller's universe) who reunites with Ava Green, a woman who broke Dwight's heart four years ago by running off with another richer man. In a seedy bar called Kadie's Club Pecos where both Dwight and Ava are reunited, Ava tries to convince Dwight to take her back, claiming that her life is "a living Hell", but with no success. Ava's husband's valet arrives and takes Ava away. Marv, another important key role, is also there and greets Dwight. After witnessing the scene, Marv states that Ava is definitely "a dame to kill for". Dwight, the protagonist doesn't forget his old lover, and he will return back to Ava's home to check on her. Ava is more than a simple dame. She's utterly problematic, manipulative, and deadly. Consequently, this love story will take new dimensions when Dwight and Marv will tag team to face the upcoming events caused by this lady.

Dwight and Ava



Miller's second volume brings additional details about the tainted town that attracts so many people to sin. Aristocratic and influential characters take part in the action of this tale, as well as mad prostitute gangs who hate the Police. Marv, the protagonist of the first volume, has a second-hand role, but at the same time, an important role that backs-up Dwight in his personal tale. The classic Nancy couldn't miss too!
Dwight's journey regarding her "dame" is a flammable tale between love and hate. Manipulative and Dangerous, Ava, the dame, is just another victim of this rotten town, Sin City.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

[Mykhailo Gasyuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Традиційно у головного героя життя покотилося вниз, та це не завадило йому вляпатися в пригоди зі своєю старою знайомою хвойдою, яку до печінок дістав теперішній коханець-садист. Та на те він і герой-невдаха, щоб вталяпуватись у різне лайно. Тож у історії є, так скажімо, “півот”, аби головний герой не забував, хто він насправді. Нуар, яким він має бути. Секс та чорно-біле насильство в комплекті.

В українській версії основний шрифт став жирнішим, тож читається це без напруги на очі. До перекладу ніяких питань, текст дуже органічний, але позбавлений нецензурної лайки. Не знаю, як там було в оригіналі, але у нас тут історія 18+, тож є певні підозри. Раніше я не купував цю серію класичних коміксів саме через російський переклад, з його дегенеративним перекладом від одного відомого недоумка. Тепер можна наздогнати втрачене.

Дуже рекомендую. Це чи не найкраща серія від Френка Міллера, збалансована, брутальна та неординарна у виконанні, з сигнатурними кадрами, які цитуються у величезній купі сучасних графічних романів.

[Matěj Komiksumec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Druhý volume Sin City je o poznání ukecanější než to první což mu i dost ubírá na dynamice. Když Marv zažíval svou cestu za vendettou tak tam bylo vše od deprese, přes humor až k akci. Ženská pro kterou bych vraždil je spíš taková depresivní jízda což není nutně zlé ale místy se nám Frankie opakuje. Ale věc která tady funguje strašně dobře je zápletka, ze začátku se zdá, že půjde o hodně podobný příběh jako v Hard Goodbye ale Miller udělá zvrat čímž otáčí dynamiku kterou známe a je to cool. Kresba je samozřejmě pořád dokonalá stejně jako prostředí. Jenom si nám ten Frank mohl odpustil do cpaní Marva všude ke konci. ANO FRANKU POCHOPIL JSEM DĚJE SE TO PARALELNĚ S HARD GOODBYE TAK TAM NEDÁVEJ UŽ PÁTÝ ODKAZ NA TO ŽE TO TAK JE, díky.