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Vertigo Crime
Filthy Rich
Richard "JUNK" Junkin has always lived on the edge of trouble. A former professional football star who's career was cut short by injury (and gambling problems), he now finds himself selling cars in New Jersey, dreaming of what-might-have-been and lusting after his boss's unbelievably spoiled, unbelievably sexy and unbelievably rich daughter, Victoria.
So when the boss asks him to be her personal bodyguard as she tears up the New York City club scene, he leaps at the chance. But before long Junk becomes more of a lapdog than a chaperone, doing all of Victoria's dirty work...up to, and including, murder.
This is the story of FILTHY RICH--the story of a disgraced man with a chip on his shoulder whose best years are behind him, dropped in the middle of a group of over-privileged rich girls ruthlessly competing with each other. For the love of a filthy rich girl (that he knows in his heart won't redeem him), he'll do whatever it takes because he just can't resist the hell of a ride she takes him on...in the fast lane. Without any brakes.
So when the boss asks him to be her personal bodyguard as she tears up the New York City club scene, he leaps at the chance. But before long Junk becomes more of a lapdog than a chaperone, doing all of Victoria's dirty work...up to, and including, murder.
This is the story of FILTHY RICH--the story of a disgraced man with a chip on his shoulder whose best years are behind him, dropped in the middle of a group of over-privileged rich girls ruthlessly competing with each other. For the love of a filthy rich girl (that he knows in his heart won't redeem him), he'll do whatever it takes because he just can't resist the hell of a ride she takes him on...in the fast lane. Without any brakes.
Paperback
First published August 25, 2009
2 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,288 books1,106 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
February 27, 2022
2.5 stars
"'Once upon a time' . . . That's how a good story starts, right? No, 'once upon a time' is how a fairy tale begins. Followed by 'there was a handsome prince, that everyone loved.' That would be me . . . But then like in every one of those stories, something came out of nowhere and ****ed it all up." -- our protagonist
The Vertigo label's pulpy graphic crime novels appear to be an attempt at (violently) mixing the classic hardboiled style of scribe Raymond Chandler with the exaggeratedly vicious style of Frank Miller's Sin City series. Does it work? Well, sort of. Set in 1959 or 1960 (judging from the appearance of cars with large tail fins, male characters who dress like they're starring on the first season of Mad Men, and that absolutely everyone depicted has a smoking habit), we follow the disgraced former collegiate and NFL star Richard 'Junk' Junkin - a horrible name, but then 'Moose Malloy' was already taken in Farewell, My Lovely - as he picks up some body-guarding work after he fails in a stint as a 'celebrity' Cadillac salesman. Of course, he then quickly gets himself into a murderous jam while 'protecting' a flirtatious young socialite . . . and from then on the story gets pretty wobbly. Sure, it flaunted the necessary duplicitous dames and some occasional tough-guy patter that is common for this genre. But it just seemed like the plot was crowded with one or two supporting characters too many, and the build up to the conclusion did not generate enough required suspense, although I will admit the ending subverted my expectations with the way things usually shake out.
"'Once upon a time' . . . That's how a good story starts, right? No, 'once upon a time' is how a fairy tale begins. Followed by 'there was a handsome prince, that everyone loved.' That would be me . . . But then like in every one of those stories, something came out of nowhere and ****ed it all up." -- our protagonist
The Vertigo label's pulpy graphic crime novels appear to be an attempt at (violently) mixing the classic hardboiled style of scribe Raymond Chandler with the exaggeratedly vicious style of Frank Miller's Sin City series. Does it work? Well, sort of. Set in 1959 or 1960 (judging from the appearance of cars with large tail fins, male characters who dress like they're starring on the first season of Mad Men, and that absolutely everyone depicted has a smoking habit), we follow the disgraced former collegiate and NFL star Richard 'Junk' Junkin - a horrible name, but then 'Moose Malloy' was already taken in Farewell, My Lovely - as he picks up some body-guarding work after he fails in a stint as a 'celebrity' Cadillac salesman. Of course, he then quickly gets himself into a murderous jam while 'protecting' a flirtatious young socialite . . . and from then on the story gets pretty wobbly. Sure, it flaunted the necessary duplicitous dames and some occasional tough-guy patter that is common for this genre. But it just seemed like the plot was crowded with one or two supporting characters too many, and the build up to the conclusion did not generate enough required suspense, although I will admit the ending subverted my expectations with the way things usually shake out.
October 16, 2024
Is Victoria a 'poor little rich girl' or is it just an act? Bodyguard Richard 'Junk' Junkin better find out - real soon. If you have ever seen the movie U Turn with Sean Penn and Jennifer Lopez then you should be able to get the general 'vibe' of this book. Actually think that this GN could be adapted into a really good movie!
March 12, 2011
Bad, bad, bad. This book lives on the corner of Awful Boulevard and Bad Avenue. I love comics and I love noir, but this is just junk, in fact the lead character is an ex-football hero called Junk! What an omen. Static, messy artwork in the Frank Miller style with laughable dialogue. Here's a few lines of that flophouse dialogue, courtesy of Brian "Cheddah" Azzarello:
"I used to think something was enough...but then I became somebody. And let me tell you - being somebody is a full time job."
"What does my Dad do? He counts his blessings!!"
"It hurts being on this end of goodbye."
"Ever feel that life was pulling up its trousers...that it was done shitting on you?"
"My bum knee. Prayers and bubblegum are all that's holding it together!"
Cheddah, cheese, cheesy, cheesiest.
"I used to think something was enough...but then I became somebody. And let me tell you - being somebody is a full time job."
"What does my Dad do? He counts his blessings!!"
"It hurts being on this end of goodbye."
"Ever feel that life was pulling up its trousers...that it was done shitting on you?"
"My bum knee. Prayers and bubblegum are all that's holding it together!"
Cheddah, cheese, cheesy, cheesiest.
March 4, 2017
Azzarello writes another decent crime story
June 14, 2012
I was really looking forward to seeing what Azzarello would do with another story--after having read his JOKER and quite enjoying it. Plus, I like this whole "pulp/crime" venue that Vertigo has set up, since I tend to like these stories quite a bit.
That being said, this one was nothing short of a disappointment. There were interesting elements and the start of some fun twists on the old tropes, but I didn't feel like it came together in the end.
Add that to the artwork--which just really wasn't for me, as it looked like an unsuccessful attempt at Frank Miller's style--and the book became one that was only readable. There are some interesting elements, and there are even the few good-looking panels here and there, but ultimately, it seemed as if neither the writer or artist were working at the tops of their games.
That being said, this one was nothing short of a disappointment. There were interesting elements and the start of some fun twists on the old tropes, but I didn't feel like it came together in the end.
Add that to the artwork--which just really wasn't for me, as it looked like an unsuccessful attempt at Frank Miller's style--and the book became one that was only readable. There are some interesting elements, and there are even the few good-looking panels here and there, but ultimately, it seemed as if neither the writer or artist were working at the tops of their games.
November 30, 2014
This one was middle of the road as far as the Vertigo Crime line went. Not the best, but also not the worst. I find Brian Azzarello's writing confusing at times, but this was one of his more straightforward stories. The art was a bit similar to Eduardo Risso, so fans of 100 Bullets would probably enjoy this one. Dark crime story with a bit of an unsatisfying ending, but the story did have some twists I didn't see coming and never got boring.
If you like the other Vertigo Crime graphic novels, you'll like this one, and if you like 100 Bullets you'll enjoy this one as well. However, if you didn't enjoy those books, this one probably won't change your mind. Good overall, just not great.
If you like the other Vertigo Crime graphic novels, you'll like this one, and if you like 100 Bullets you'll enjoy this one as well. However, if you didn't enjoy those books, this one probably won't change your mind. Good overall, just not great.
November 10, 2012
Me molestan las historias de género negro donde los editores, prologadores o los autores (mediante entrevistas) aseguran que se embarcaron en una saga oscura, decadente, que busca llegar a lo más bajo del alma humana. Y terminan contando una historia con gente más bien malosa, situaciones un poco fuleras. Y listo. Eso me pasó con este libro en casi toda su extensión.
July 11, 2018
More semi-experimental noir from Vertigo - and another great tale
Vertigo Crime graphic novellas tend to have a high success rate - prob about 100%. They are short, they take a few risks, and then end before those risks can go the wrong way.
In Filthy Rich, the main character is flawed - to the point of unlikeability. He is more of an anti-hero than Richard Stark's Parker in the The Hunter.
And with every page - he gets slightly worse.
But that is what makes Brian Azzarello's book so interesting. And just when you are sick of the main character - it's over, and then you want another tale from Vertigo.
Just great - I recommend it!
Vertigo Crime graphic novellas tend to have a high success rate - prob about 100%. They are short, they take a few risks, and then end before those risks can go the wrong way.
In Filthy Rich, the main character is flawed - to the point of unlikeability. He is more of an anti-hero than Richard Stark's Parker in the The Hunter.
And with every page - he gets slightly worse.
But that is what makes Brian Azzarello's book so interesting. And just when you are sick of the main character - it's over, and then you want another tale from Vertigo.
Just great - I recommend it!
April 2, 2022
Duro y crudo, sin concesiones. Engancha y mantiene el interés hasta la última viñeta.
August 24, 2019
This one just never got going for me. It's a cool set up with a washed up football player turned shitty car salesman brought in to watch the boss's wild daughter. And while there's some killer Chandleresque dialogue and happenings going on, it never really came together well enough for me to love it.
July 2, 2012
Rich Junkin had the promise of a stellar career in pro football ahead of him when a knee injury squelched those dreams and landed "Junk" on a New Jersey car lot, selling Caddies and diddling buyers' wives on his lunch break. Being "somewhat of a sports star," Junk helps business, but he's a lousy salesman, so his boss gives him a new job: babysitter. Junk is ordered to keep the boss's wildchild daughter out of the newspaper gossip columns.
Through night after night and party after party among New York's high society, Junk keeps his eye on Vicki until it's caught by actress Sally Petri and goes a-wandering. And so does Vicki. When Junk realizes he's lost his charge, he goes looking for Vicki and interrupts a private bout of reefer madness and attempted rape. Junk retaliates against Vicki's attacker, "and when he stopped breathing, I started to again." And now there's a murder to cover up. And maybe a couple more to be committed.
Perhaps it's overly familiar, but there's nothing really wrong with "Filthy Rich" as a story. It's a throwback to seminal back-pocket tough guy reads such as "The Hot Spot." I have many a stack of vintage Gold Medal paperbacks at home, and although the sex and language have become more explicit, "Filthy Rich" could slip comfortably in with those hardboiled titles of the '50s. Brian Azzarello has been staking out his territory in noir and crime fiction for years, and by now, he sees perfectly in the shadows and rarely misses a step. But Azzarello has been abetted in past projects by stellar art from Eduardo Risso, Lee Bermejo and Richard Corben. "Filthy Rich" artist Victor Santos is not ready to take a seat alongside those talents.
DC's Vertigo imprint has been going out of its way to commission substandard art (R.M. Guera and Jock over at "Scalped" being much appreciated exceptions), as if ugliness in some way equates to hipster, underground cred. Santos imitates -- badly -- the chiaroscuro of Frank Miller's "Sin City" and the retro character designs of Darwyn Cooke. His guys n' dolls have squat little monkey bodies with swollen balloon heads. His art is bad enough to distract and detract from Azzarello's otherwise fine story. There's a panel on Page 14 in which a character appears to have four hands. I've stared at it and stared at it and stared at it, but damned if I can figure out where those hands are coming from or to whom they're attached. And for someone who apparently loves drawing hands so much, Santos doesn't seem to have studied them much in real-life. These are some of the strangest, most warped appendages I've ever seen.
Lee Bermejo did nice work on the cover of "Filthy Rich." It's a shame he didn't do the interiors as well. With skillful art and a few more story touch-ups, Azzarello might have had another winner -- maybe even a minor crime classic -- to go on his shelf. Instead, a decent script was terminally sabotaged by eyesore visuals. It's hard to read when you keep wincing.
Through night after night and party after party among New York's high society, Junk keeps his eye on Vicki until it's caught by actress Sally Petri and goes a-wandering. And so does Vicki. When Junk realizes he's lost his charge, he goes looking for Vicki and interrupts a private bout of reefer madness and attempted rape. Junk retaliates against Vicki's attacker, "and when he stopped breathing, I started to again." And now there's a murder to cover up. And maybe a couple more to be committed.
Perhaps it's overly familiar, but there's nothing really wrong with "Filthy Rich" as a story. It's a throwback to seminal back-pocket tough guy reads such as "The Hot Spot." I have many a stack of vintage Gold Medal paperbacks at home, and although the sex and language have become more explicit, "Filthy Rich" could slip comfortably in with those hardboiled titles of the '50s. Brian Azzarello has been staking out his territory in noir and crime fiction for years, and by now, he sees perfectly in the shadows and rarely misses a step. But Azzarello has been abetted in past projects by stellar art from Eduardo Risso, Lee Bermejo and Richard Corben. "Filthy Rich" artist Victor Santos is not ready to take a seat alongside those talents.
DC's Vertigo imprint has been going out of its way to commission substandard art (R.M. Guera and Jock over at "Scalped" being much appreciated exceptions), as if ugliness in some way equates to hipster, underground cred. Santos imitates -- badly -- the chiaroscuro of Frank Miller's "Sin City" and the retro character designs of Darwyn Cooke. His guys n' dolls have squat little monkey bodies with swollen balloon heads. His art is bad enough to distract and detract from Azzarello's otherwise fine story. There's a panel on Page 14 in which a character appears to have four hands. I've stared at it and stared at it and stared at it, but damned if I can figure out where those hands are coming from or to whom they're attached. And for someone who apparently loves drawing hands so much, Santos doesn't seem to have studied them much in real-life. These are some of the strangest, most warped appendages I've ever seen.
Lee Bermejo did nice work on the cover of "Filthy Rich." It's a shame he didn't do the interiors as well. With skillful art and a few more story touch-ups, Azzarello might have had another winner -- maybe even a minor crime classic -- to go on his shelf. Instead, a decent script was terminally sabotaged by eyesore visuals. It's hard to read when you keep wincing.
August 29, 2009
While his 100-issue piece de resistance 100 Bullets may have ended a bit too anticlimactically for me, Azzarello’s latest crime noir offering – one of the first in the new Vertigo Crime line – is a tightly woven mini-masterpiece. It starts off simply enough, as it incorporates many of the standards of the genre: the tired protagonist who has been long down-on-his-luck, the femme fatale (many of them, actually), and the proverbial “in the wrong place at the wrong time” routine that makes this genre so wonderfully gritty.
Richard Junkin – who goes by either “Rich” or “Junk” (a clever sophomoric play on words) – is a former college and flash-in-the-pan pro football starter who, after a serious injury, has been permanently sidelined into a crappy job as a car salesman. But when he comes to the harsh realization that even his car-selling days are numbered, Rich’s boss assigns him to watch over his (the boss’s) estranged daughter, who lives a dubious life on the NYC nightlife fringe amidst the johns, hookers, drug users, and the various losers who cling to them. In not time, Junk’s pathetic life spirals down the rabbit hole, as he becomes embroiled in shenanigans beyond his control. And the only way out is through stooping to the lowest common demoninator.
If Filthy Rich is any indication, Azzarello is -- thankfully for us graphic novel crime noir enthusiasts -- still in his prime.
Richard Junkin – who goes by either “Rich” or “Junk” (a clever sophomoric play on words) – is a former college and flash-in-the-pan pro football starter who, after a serious injury, has been permanently sidelined into a crappy job as a car salesman. But when he comes to the harsh realization that even his car-selling days are numbered, Rich’s boss assigns him to watch over his (the boss’s) estranged daughter, who lives a dubious life on the NYC nightlife fringe amidst the johns, hookers, drug users, and the various losers who cling to them. In not time, Junk’s pathetic life spirals down the rabbit hole, as he becomes embroiled in shenanigans beyond his control. And the only way out is through stooping to the lowest common demoninator.
If Filthy Rich is any indication, Azzarello is -- thankfully for us graphic novel crime noir enthusiasts -- still in his prime.
March 25, 2010
Good gangster/ car dealership yarn. What do I mean by that ? Actually that simplifies it, but it is about gangsters and hitman types that clash over a seductress whose daddy wants protection for his slutty daughter. This book is from DC/Vertigo and their new crime imprint. I actually liked this quite a bit,it is certainly for mature readers though cause it has some sex, violence and many bad words. Even the cover is suggestive. Is it hot in here ?
January 28, 2022
It's noir, and I like noir.
The art is cool and the story works and is surprising. It's a quick read. Just what I wanted it to be.
The art is cool and the story works and is surprising. It's a quick read. Just what I wanted it to be.
November 7, 2019
Well, it's definitely noir. Beautiful dangerous women, corrupt and disgusting men, a lunkhead of a lead who thinks he's smarter than he is, and a bevy of bad decisions. But being noir doesn't mean it's good. To really get that feel, you have to be invested in the protagonist, to feel for him even as he makes his mistakes, and to understand why he makes them. And I never felt any affection for Junk; he's a stooge who has no sense of tragedy to him. Car dealers and paparazzi don't make for high stakes. And the women end up being interchangeable, which is not a good look.
And speaking of looks; the art didn't work for me at all. There's not a whole lot of shading, and there is a whole lot of white in the black and white, which both seem a little off for the genre. And the women are all drawn in an almost anime fashion that manages to fetishize their young age and make them feel like they're in a completely different book than the male characters.
I like a lot of Azzarello's work, but this one didn't connect with me at all. If you want his stuff, look elsewhere. If you want Noir/Criminal comics, look to Brubaker. There's nothing here that makes it worth finding.
And speaking of looks; the art didn't work for me at all. There's not a whole lot of shading, and there is a whole lot of white in the black and white, which both seem a little off for the genre. And the women are all drawn in an almost anime fashion that manages to fetishize their young age and make them feel like they're in a completely different book than the male characters.
I like a lot of Azzarello's work, but this one didn't connect with me at all. If you want his stuff, look elsewhere. If you want Noir/Criminal comics, look to Brubaker. There's nothing here that makes it worth finding.
October 4, 2023
This is the 'Mom: We have Sin City at home' comic. The art style is at time pretty good but just feels like a bad version of Frank Miller's work. There's a lot of characters that aren't very distinct and the art varies quite a bit making it confusing at times. Azzarello writes a pretty interesting crime tale. The twists at the end were good but perhaps a bit too obvious.
We follow an ex-Football prospect who got injured before his NFL debut. Now he's a bad car salesman. The owner asks him to monitor his daughter to ensure she doesn't make it in the papers. Later he starts to fall for the woman and they get into all sorts of trouble and he gets deeper and deeper into the shit.
Lots of drinking in this one. It seems like the characters can't help themselves. Even when in peril they'll stop for a few beers at the local bar for lunch.
We follow an ex-Football prospect who got injured before his NFL debut. Now he's a bad car salesman. The owner asks him to monitor his daughter to ensure she doesn't make it in the papers. Later he starts to fall for the woman and they get into all sorts of trouble and he gets deeper and deeper into the shit.
Lots of drinking in this one. It seems like the characters can't help themselves. Even when in peril they'll stop for a few beers at the local bar for lunch.
May 17, 2022
Sorry Brian Azzarello, from what I've gathered based on other reader's opinions; it's not you, it's me.
I have tried to enjoy your writing. I've tried 100 Bullets, Wonder Woman, and now this Sin City knock-off. They just... Aren't my cup of tea. Your affinity for progressive crime drama is great, and sometimes your characters are interesting, but most of the time the dialogue comes off as forced sillouetes of the genre you are attempting.
I'm sorry. Maybe I'll try something of yours in the future that really 'clicks', but for now I'll leave your works to your existing fan-base.
1.5 stars/5
P.s. I actually really liked Dark Knight: The Master Race. Good job. Do more of that.
I have tried to enjoy your writing. I've tried 100 Bullets, Wonder Woman, and now this Sin City knock-off. They just... Aren't my cup of tea. Your affinity for progressive crime drama is great, and sometimes your characters are interesting, but most of the time the dialogue comes off as forced sillouetes of the genre you are attempting.
I'm sorry. Maybe I'll try something of yours in the future that really 'clicks', but for now I'll leave your works to your existing fan-base.
1.5 stars/5
P.s. I actually really liked Dark Knight: The Master Race. Good job. Do more of that.
February 23, 2020
The story of a disgraced man with a chip on his shoulder whose best years are behind him, dropped in the middle of a group of over-privileged rich girls. For the love of a filthy rich girl (that he knows in his heart won't redeem him), he'll do whatever it takes because he just can't resist the hell of a ride she takes him on...in the fast lane. Without any brakes. The illustrations here give the dark content a film noir feel. Very well done.
March 27, 2024
Reread this after buying it years ago, and it's not staying in my collection. I have found that it's rare for me to like an Azzarello comics story without Eduardo Risso doing the illustrations, and that's definitely true here --- the art by Santos is often muddled, with indistinct male characters and almost identical female characters. The plot, while quite noir, didn't give me anybody I really wanted to follow.
March 10, 2018
I'm not sure there was anything I actually liked about this book, the characters were really stereotypical and flat and there was chauvinism throughout as the women seemed to be there solely to satisfy whatever needs the men had. The story itself wasn't too bad but for me it was let down by the characters. The graphics are good though.
December 10, 2018
This is a solid "crime noir" comic book: high-quality black & white art and a fast-moving story full of sex, violence, and double-crosses. It was a quick read and just what I was looking for today.
Perhaps not a wise investment, but I had store credit at the local used bookshop and spent it all yesterday. And then some!
3.5 stars, except GR won't allow such gradations.
Perhaps not a wise investment, but I had store credit at the local used bookshop and spent it all yesterday. And then some!
3.5 stars, except GR won't allow such gradations.
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October 28, 2020Black-and-white noir pastiche a la Sin City. It’s not as good as Sin City though. The art is appropriately seedy and imperfect, and the story’s not bad. It’s just nothing special, not something I’m going to remember a month from now. It could have been more bombastic.
February 6, 2018
I enjoyed it. The art was a little wonky, but the writing did what it set out to do.
January 13, 2020
Intriguing!!Noir!!Hard-boiled!!
May 25, 2020
Not bad at all but too many common places of the genre
August 26, 2020
Meh. Not a big fan
Some good parts, but nothing I would read again
Some good parts, but nothing I would read again
August 9, 2021
This took me a while to get into, but it got me turning pages once I realized it was just an old-school, pulpy noir tale, which I forever love.
March 24, 2022
Demasiado "convencional"
January 17, 2023
Great crime story Brian azzarello is a great artist but with this and his joker book he has proven in my opinion to make a great writer as well
February 16, 2023
Sub-par noir with pretty weak art and unsympathetic characters. Just so you know, artists of the world, "noir" doesn't mean it has to be black and white. Rise above the cliche, ok?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews