Mugshots

by Jordan Thomas, Chris Matthews (Artist), Lucas Gattoni (Letterer)

Brighton, UK. 2008. The kidnapping of a young woman starts a chain of events that will set con artists, gangsters, killers, and corrupt police on a collision course of violence. Meet John Bannan, self-proclaimed bastard and loving uncle, in this tale of family trauma, betrayal, murder, and revenge that threatens to bring the city’s whole underworld down.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Crime

152 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrific art, with a plot-heavy gang crime story and flat, uninteresting characters. Those underwritten characters just never become likeable, and I found myself barely caring about what happened to them.

A bit of a dud, I'm afraid.

(Thanks to Mad Cave Studios for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve never wanted to be a bastard it’s just all I’ve ever been good at.

I'm at a loss with the missed opportunity here. The art itself has depth and is interesting to look at with its effective use of color helping to establish mood. Unfortunately, great art can't overcome a lackluster story with questionable pacing. There's no emotional investment in any characters other than baseline human decency. It would also help if the characters were a bit more distinctive, as there's a lot of characters who look very similar to one another. The infighting between the crime bosses is set up like it's a massive deal, but the readers don't understand the scope of the situation, so it just feels like you're lazily rooting for the "good" guy with minimal context. If there was more depth to the story, whilst also simplifying some of the less necessary territory dynamics, then more time could be spent on establishing characters and emotionally investing your audience in them. It would be wise to lessen the total amount of characters, too, which would allow the focus to be on the ones that do actually matter the most. Further, what little investment that was created here is completely diminished by how so many storylines are cut short by senseless deaths. Now, within the context of this world, mortality is an ever-present threat, but there is a way to properly balance the reality of their world while also not eliminating half of the cast, because, without that balance, who's even going to care that they're dead anyway?

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley

Mad Cave does it again! Mugshots is an excellent Taken/Guy Ritchie crime story. The art tries for Darwyn Cooke and maybe doesn’t live up to the standard, but still enjoyable.

[Radwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

got this arc from netgalley and was excited for it, and had a somewhat promising start, but it got so convulted very quickly and i dropped it halfway there.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brighton, UK. 2008. John Bannan left town after running afoul of the local Boss, but his niece's kidnapping brings him back and sets off a bloody sequence of events that could spell doom for everyone he loves.

I loved the monochrome, shadowy art. It sets a tone to a pretty standard story that helps it stand out from every noir just like it. You could almost get the story just from the images if you're not in the mood for the very lengthy texts typical to the genre.

There is a bit of an issue with time and location jumps that sometimes made me feel like I jumped a page, but, in the end, I decided it helped with the uneasy feeling of the story. Not ideal, but justifiable.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the pulse-pounding read!

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A teenage girl goes missing, prompting one vengeful uncle to come searching. John Bannan, a criminal fixer of sorts, goes on the hunt for his missing niece in the Brighton underworld. His endeavor has him crossing paths with the biggest local gangster and the encroaching Albanian mob, leading to a ton of violence along the way.

A fairly typical crime story about how a man can bring chaos to the lives of those he loves due to his own desire for wanton violence, Mugshots isn't really reinventing the wheel. But Chris Matthews' slick artwork makes this a rather enjoyable time. Using a minimalistic style similar to that of Darwyn Cooke or Victor Santos, Matthews injects the noir story with a proper aesthetic. Bold, blocky figures mixed with single tone (blue and sometimes orange) accents provides a unique look for the book, and one that works well for this tale of violence in the British criminal underground.

[Mohan Vemulapalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Focusing on the fallout from the abduction of a young woman with ties to the criminal underground, "Mugshots" is a slick, elegant and engaging crime-suspense story that does not pull any punches. Expect a tight, nuanced plot reminiscent of Ed Brubaker, stylized art and a cheerful background awash with criminality, violence and corruption.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mad Cave Studios, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good UK gangster story- a twisted love affair, Albanian pimps moving into merry old England, an aging kingpin and a tough uncle who wants to make right with his family (as best he can).

I had fun reading this, nice twist on the gangster story- as an American it’s all mafia stories or inner city gangs, this felt totally different to my idea of what a gangster story can be and I enjoyed it. The British side of crime isn’t posh, it’s brutal and slimy like everywhere else.

[Laissez Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I like the art style (think Darwyn Cook), the plot was too dense and the number of characters too large to really keep it all strait just based on hairstyle and body shape.

[Dusan Prvacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this ARC - no kidnappings, thugs, or questionable life choices on my end… just me brooding by the window, waiting for the rain to set the perfect noir mood.

At first glance, there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about Mugshots. The artwork is minimalist, with only three colors per page - white, black, and either orange or blue - and most of the characters are forgettable passersby. The plot? It gives major Taken vibes (a fact even acknowledged by one of the characters). Yet despite this, it all somehow works remarkably well, delivering an enjoyable noir experience.

The story follows a protagonist with a history steeped in crime and violence, now caught in a dangerous game of consequences stemming from his and his family's dark past. As expected in any noir tale, we get a gritty look into the seedy underground filled with thugs, human traffickers, killers, and all sorts of bad business. I always find myself wondering - why would anyone choose to live like this, risking their own family while destroying countless other lives? The protagonist wrestles with this very question throughout the narrative, making it a central theme that elevates the story.

The only bigger issue I had was with the transitions between scenes, which often felt choppy and disjointed. At times, it was easy to get lost while reading until you became accustomed to the abrupt jumps. In one instance, the protagonist is speaking with a character, and in the next, he's suddenly talking to an entirely different person - without any clear indication of how we got there or who the new characters even were. This disrupted the otherwise immersive experience.

While Mugshots isn’t a genre-defining masterpiece and probably won’t stick with me long-term, it’s a solid crime drama that’s worth reading for noir lovers looking for a quick, satisfying fix.

[keyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm a big fan of whatever it's called when the art is only black, white, and a third vibrant color so the art in this thing is awesome. the story... was charming for a while, albeit a bit cliche. but the last chapter is so rushed i wonder whether it was planned this way? a lot of the set up and events are kind of like textbook 'crime story' things that you think will go somewhere or mean anything but ... end up ... not doing that. john has tons of badass lines, in a weird maybe perverse way you might feel bad for harry and ian towards the end. but it isn't earned. in the foreword, thomas says, "i also hope that you like being around these characters and that you feel for them when something bad happens, even if subjectively they deserve what they get." instead of that gut wrenching duality, all i get is confused. i don't know. the characters show glimpses of being the other, but there's very clearly good guys and bad guys. they're just kind of flaky about it because things had to be wrapped up.

but the typography on the promos is also cool it's very aesthetically aligned to what i like yeah. also the thing being british? every time someone would say "bollocks" or "bloody" i had to recover

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mugshots" has a distinct visual style that suits its gritty crime story, but overall, it didn’t work for me. The violence felt excessive without enough plot or character depth to balance it out. The author’s note suggests humor was meant to lighten the tone, but… where was it? I genuinely couldn’t tell which parts were supposed to be jokes.

The artwork is strong and fits the mood, but some characters look so similar that I struggled to follow who was who. That said, it does a good job of setting up a universe where bigger and badder villains will challenge the main character in future sequels.

Unfortunately, while it might appeal to some fans of dark crime stories, it wasn’t for me.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grace is kidnapped in Brighton, her mother calls on her brother John Bannan who finally comes back to help the family deal with the situation. John Bannan also has to deal with the mess he left behind when he stayed away from Brighton. And then there is Harry Woods, his son Ian and their issues with the Albanians moving in on them. Will John find a way to prevail? And who ends up paying for the mistakes of the past, An interesting look at crime, criminal enterprises, and the chaos they leave behind in Britain done in primary colors!

Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for the chance to read this title!

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been and always will be a darker side to society.

John Bannan must return to Brighton to find his niece, Grace, that has gone missing. Much to his chagrin, he learns that she was dating an infamous crime lord’s son before she went missing. As John reconnects with old friends to assist in the search for Grace, he must dodge criminals and police alike, that are both after his head.

While I do not condone the actions of the characters in this graphic novel, they are “no different than a thousand other thieves and crooks that have washed up here over the centuries”, but you find yourself hoping for a cathartic ending. It is worth the read.

#ThxNetGalley #JordanThomas #Mugshots

[Paul Baldowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of family and gangsters, killers and corruption. A page-turning read that sometimes had me wincing at the violence. John Bannan returns to Brighton having been on the run for years when his sister's daughter, Grace, goes missing. The good guy is a bad guy, but the bad guys are nasty.

I loved the art and enjoyed the story. I can imagine it would transition quite well to a by-the-numbers streaming series, which would probably disappoint, but in this form, it was an engaging read. I picked it up on a whim and was not disappointed - heck, I'm hoping for more.

[J MaK · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.3) A plot-heavy UK gangster tale that starts strong but gradually becomes weighed down by an ever-expanding cast of characters—many of whom are forgettable or unnecessary. The roster grows so crowded that even the main character, supposedly kidnapped by a rival gang, struggles to leave an impression. The artwork, while fairly simple, is still enjoyable, rendered in a blocky, noir-inspired style dominated by blue and orange tones. Together, it makes for an initially engaging read that ultimately loses some impact under the clutter.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, though rather cliched, story about gangsters fighting over turf and one man coming back home to rescue his niece from the conflict. I like the art. The story is a bit overdone for what it is, and no one's really developed all that well--just stereotypes we've all seen in British crime films before. Still, I enjoyed this one well enough and would read more if Thomas wants to continue the story (the epilogue suggests this is a possibility).

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tight crime thriller about a criminal coming back to Brighton when his niece goes missing. There he has to weave in and out from the crime lord he crossed and the Albanians trying to move in and take over t find her. Good stuff right out of a Guy Ritchie film. I like the stylized art from Chris Matthews too.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

A satisfactory story, but fairly straightforward. Oddly paced, and I found it difficult to tell some of the characters apart. It was also hard to work out who to root for as everybody is compromised

[J Kromrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The cover of this book immediately caught my attention, and the plot and premise seemed interesting - however, for me this one fell short when it came to richness and character development.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. While I liked the art, it didn't help (and occasionally hindered) the story. Characters were confusing, hard to tell apart, and some felt extraneous. There's some good stuff though, and a crime drama is always interesting, but didn't quite sing.

[Matt Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visually striking British crime thriller. I love how the panels are framed. Very cinematic.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Guy Ritchie will love this crime thriller.

[Bryan Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this! Writing and plot were fairly good and I liked the art style. Art style matched the story well. I thought the inclusion of overlapping action was done well throughout too.
I think the only things that I didn’t love was the amount of characters and the Albanian “sub”-plot. Think the story could have been more concise/felt like it was a bit of a bait and switch.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

[Brittany ✨Bookishlyyoursforever✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went back and forth on what rating to give this graphic novel and ultimately settled on a three. The story was interesting and while I didn't 100% love the art style, it really did capture the feeling of the story and what the author was trying to convey. That being said, the pacing was off; some parts were oddly rushed while others dragged on. Still would recommend if you're looking for a Guy Ritchie-esque vibe in graphic novel form!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

The artwork was the strongest part of this. Each panel was done in black and white plus 1 accent color, and I really liked the style of it. The story was fine. It was interesting enough, but the conclusion just felt a bit anticlimactic and was just over with quickly. I also would have liked it to feel a bit more believable. But it was nice that it wasn't just straightforward and had a bit of a twist to it.