What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blacklist #1-5
The Blacklist Vol. 1: The Gambler
The Gambler. Collecting together the first five issue story arc of the comic and introducing a brand new villain, created exclusively for the comic by the writers of the TV show.
Someone is targeting the FBI with a series of planned attacks including framing them for the murder of a leading political activist. Red at first suspects that a dangerous, media-manipulating Blacklister know as the Lobbyist is responsible, but comes to realise that there is someone far more sinister and deadly behind the scenes manipulating events for his own nefarious purposes...
Collects The Blacklist #1-5
Someone is targeting the FBI with a series of planned attacks including framing them for the murder of a leading political activist. Red at first suspects that a dangerous, media-manipulating Blacklister know as the Lobbyist is responsible, but comes to realise that there is someone far more sinister and deadly behind the scenes manipulating events for his own nefarious purposes...
Collects The Blacklist #1-5
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
19 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 12, 2022
I enjoyed the books, and the author keeps me guessing the entire time. Wonderful plot with a good amount of mystery which keeps you guessing all the way through.
December 19, 2018
I was a few years late to The Blacklist party. The only reason I joined it was Raymond Reddington. He kept drawing my attention until it got to a point I had to find out who he was. The Blacklist was never just background noise again.
My enthusiasm for the show has waned since then for numerous reasons, but I started off loving it. It was entertaining... Well, Reddington was. So when I found out about the graphic novels, I knew exactly what my next book order would be.
Both Blacklist graphic novels are like episodes of the series. The Arsonist is set in season three, and The Gambler in season two. I'm currently watching re-runs of the second season, so I figured I should do a re-read too. And I did.
The Gambler started off with Reddington pointing Elizabeth and the task force to a new blacklister who'd been targeting the FBI, and helping them catch him. Then when that blacklister lead them to a bigger threat, the Gambler from the title, Red urged the team to back off and let him handle it. Reddington and the Gambler had history and unfinished business. It was that history and the glimpses into Red's past that were my favorite part.
All in all, my first experience with graphic novels was a good one. The story would've made for a great episode of the show, and the artwork — I stopped reading the story so many times just to admire it. Everything about the story line, and the characters — what they did and said — was spot-on with the TV series.
It's a shame there aren't more of the Blacklist graphic novels, though at this point I'd settle for the show finally offering more answers than questions. It's getting tiresome.
October 8, 2016
I got this in my monthly Comic Bento box. It wasn't bad, what with the writer being someone who actually works on the show, but since I've only seen one episode, I think I may have enjoyed it more if I was a fan of the show. As it is, the Red character struck me now as it did when I watched the pilot on Netflix: a suave, urbane, supersmart criminal type with the taste for the finer things, and who has a young FBI agent fresh out of the academy as a weakness but also gives advice to the Bureau to catch various bad guys, sure does sound an awful lot like a less murderous Hannibal Lecter.
Besides, the villain's plot made no sense. Yes, the first attack would cause people to distrust the FBI, but the ones after it? I didn't see why the sudden change in victims made the FBI less sympathetic rather than more.
Besides, the villain's plot made no sense. Yes, the first attack would cause people to distrust the FBI, but the ones after it? I didn't see why the sudden change in victims made the FBI less sympathetic rather than more.
March 19, 2021
Number 148 on The Blacklist is called "The Gambler", a criminal mastermind who provides thrills for the rich and bored by gambling with human life. He manufactures events so his clients can bet on them -- a plane crash (who will survive?); the release of a killer from prison (how many deaths before his capture), etc. Now, he turns his attention to disrupting and discrediting the FBI as a political activist is murdered and a federal agent is publicly framed for the deed. Bombs are set against the FBI with players picking the odds that they can be defused in time, or calculating how many casualties.
It takes the charismatic informant to the FBI, Raymond "Red" Reddington, working in conjunction with agent Elizabeth Keen and the special team to uncover the Gambler's true identity and secret history.
Readers without familiarity with The Blacklist television series can still follow the story here, and it's an especially good one. Written by a member of the creative team on the series, this graphic novel plays out like an entertaining pair of episodes. This is just as intense as the television show, and features the same depth of characterization. The artist's renditions of facial features of these familiar characters is very accurate and captures their nuances and body language.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of story and art here. Recommended.
It takes the charismatic informant to the FBI, Raymond "Red" Reddington, working in conjunction with agent Elizabeth Keen and the special team to uncover the Gambler's true identity and secret history.
Readers without familiarity with The Blacklist television series can still follow the story here, and it's an especially good one. Written by a member of the creative team on the series, this graphic novel plays out like an entertaining pair of episodes. This is just as intense as the television show, and features the same depth of characterization. The artist's renditions of facial features of these familiar characters is very accurate and captures their nuances and body language.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of story and art here. Recommended.
July 2, 2018
A criminal helps the FBI in this graphic short story.
Some of the characters were good, but overall the plot was a bit too far-fetched for me and the action / dialogue didn't really grab me.
Some of the characters were good, but overall the plot was a bit too far-fetched for me and the action / dialogue didn't really grab me.
February 15, 2017
Originally posted on To Read or Not to Read?
NEW FAVORITE ALERT, BOOK DRAGONS
PG-13 for action/violence, moderate language
Recommend to fans of The Blacklist.
NBC
First off, Titan Comics is freaking AMAZING, you guys. The artwork here is incredible. Lobel has obviously taken great pains to capture the exact features of the characters and the effect is absolutely breathtaking. So many of their most recognizable expressions are perfectly captured on the ink and page!
Really, I knew this was going to be epic when I read the foreward from showrunners John Eisendrath and Jon Bokenkamp:
So how did Red's story really begin? Who were his allies? His enemies? What were the pivotal moments in his life that transformed Raymond Reddington into the Concierge of Crime?
With this comic series, we're attempting to answer some of those questions.
Uh, Happy Birthday. And Happy Hannukah. FOR ALL ETERNITY
Because not only do they promise us insight into the past exploits key to the development of one of the most fascinating anti-heroes ever, they actually deliver. We get a significant event of Red's backstory, veins of it running all through the story, until it suddenly takes over. Granted, we don't get answers to big questions like 'Why did Red turn to crime?' or 'What IS his connection to Liz?' but we don't really expect that. This is developmental stuff, how Red came to be, what really makes Red Red and I love every panel of it. (Seriously, I've read it twice already.)
Red really gets into the action on this one and those are always my favorite stories. (Remember my Top Ten episodes?) This Blacklister is personal and Red lays it all on the line. While the story leaves us asking more questions than it answers -in the grand tradition of The Blacklist- it's one heck of a ride and worth every minute. It's a high-energy story, convoluted and delicious, with fantastic twists, great interactions between Red and Liz, and a phenomenal Blacklister -created exclusively by the TV writers for this comic, I might add. It's explosive and addictive, just like the episodes. I finished it and immediately wanted to read it again. (Which I did.)
Nicole Phillips -said by Eisendrath and Bokenkamp to possess an 'encyclopedic knowledge of the world'- does a phenomenal writing job. The artwork, the dialog, even the pacing and ambiance of the story is so harmonious with the show that it immediately became inseparable in my mind. The transformation from screen to comic is so seamless, the script so in-sync with the series -this is magic right here, guys, and not the Hollywood variety. This is the magic of an amazing story and characters; the magic of artists so inspired by their subject that their work shines. I didn't spot a single inconsistency with the canon in these pages. My gosh, even the inflections of the characters were spot-on!
I really can't give The Gambler enough praise -and I'm totally burying the lead!
Two words for you:
Young. Red.
What unfurls here is a wonderful, deep-probing arc fully worthy of the show, and seeing young Red running around the world up to no good made it even better -and that part would never make it on screen. Seriously, who could play a young Red and measure up to Spader?
So, is The Gambler a To Read or a Not To Read?
NBC
NEW FAVORITE ALERT, BOOK DRAGONS
PG-13 for action/violence, moderate language
Recommend to fans of The Blacklist.
NBCFirst off, Titan Comics is freaking AMAZING, you guys. The artwork here is incredible. Lobel has obviously taken great pains to capture the exact features of the characters and the effect is absolutely breathtaking. So many of their most recognizable expressions are perfectly captured on the ink and page!
Really, I knew this was going to be epic when I read the foreward from showrunners John Eisendrath and Jon Bokenkamp:
So how did Red's story really begin? Who were his allies? His enemies? What were the pivotal moments in his life that transformed Raymond Reddington into the Concierge of Crime?
With this comic series, we're attempting to answer some of those questions.
Uh, Happy Birthday. And Happy Hannukah. FOR ALL ETERNITY
Because not only do they promise us insight into the past exploits key to the development of one of the most fascinating anti-heroes ever, they actually deliver. We get a significant event of Red's backstory, veins of it running all through the story, until it suddenly takes over. Granted, we don't get answers to big questions like 'Why did Red turn to crime?' or 'What IS his connection to Liz?' but we don't really expect that. This is developmental stuff, how Red came to be, what really makes Red Red and I love every panel of it. (Seriously, I've read it twice already.)
Red really gets into the action on this one and those are always my favorite stories. (Remember my Top Ten episodes?) This Blacklister is personal and Red lays it all on the line. While the story leaves us asking more questions than it answers -in the grand tradition of The Blacklist- it's one heck of a ride and worth every minute. It's a high-energy story, convoluted and delicious, with fantastic twists, great interactions between Red and Liz, and a phenomenal Blacklister -created exclusively by the TV writers for this comic, I might add. It's explosive and addictive, just like the episodes. I finished it and immediately wanted to read it again. (Which I did.)
Nicole Phillips -said by Eisendrath and Bokenkamp to possess an 'encyclopedic knowledge of the world'- does a phenomenal writing job. The artwork, the dialog, even the pacing and ambiance of the story is so harmonious with the show that it immediately became inseparable in my mind. The transformation from screen to comic is so seamless, the script so in-sync with the series -this is magic right here, guys, and not the Hollywood variety. This is the magic of an amazing story and characters; the magic of artists so inspired by their subject that their work shines. I didn't spot a single inconsistency with the canon in these pages. My gosh, even the inflections of the characters were spot-on!
I really can't give The Gambler enough praise -and I'm totally burying the lead!
Two words for you:
Young. Red.
What unfurls here is a wonderful, deep-probing arc fully worthy of the show, and seeing young Red running around the world up to no good made it even better -and that part would never make it on screen. Seriously, who could play a young Red and measure up to Spader?
So, is The Gambler a To Read or a Not To Read?
NBCMarch 28, 2019
There comes a line in every couple's marriage which can never be crossed. For my wife, it's being a fan of James Spader. I can like him but I'm not allow to watch anything with him in it. Okay, I can, but my wife doesn't want to watch it with me or even be in the same house if he's on the telly. For some reason, he gives my wife the heebie-jeebies.
Thus, I've never seen an episode of the Blacklist.
So how did I come across this book? Ironically, you can blame my wife for that! I got a Comic Bento Box as a gift from her and this was one of the books in it! Needless to say, I didn't let my wife off the hook without a good ribbing or two about the irony of this.
This volume focuses on one of the bad guys on Red Reddington's Blacklist. It's a complex story of deceit, espionage and double crossing. I'd be lying if I said I understood all the aspects of this story, having never seen the show. But I really enjoyed this book.
The story was written by showrunner Nicole Dawn Phillips. I'm glad that someone so close to the TV show was doing this as I think I would have been really lost without her to guide me along.
The artwork was by True Blood's Beni Lobel. It was a mixed bag. James Spader's Red didn't look anything like the actor. (The cover is great though. Whomever did that did a great job!) But everything else looked really good. Now, whether the other characters looked anything like their real-life counterparts, is beyond me. But I liked most of the art here.
There's one more volume of Blacklist stories. While I am not actively searching them out, if I came across them for the right price, I would definitely give it a read. A nice job at a non-Doctor Who title by Titan.
September 29, 2017
Some of the characters are infuriatingly stupid...but it's got Red in it. Red is the reason to watch the show, and that presence translates just as well over to this comic book.
February 16, 2018
An excellent read. Characters as on the television programme. Nice pacing although sometimes the likenesses aren't exact.
December 7, 2023
Pretty fun read. Almost like an episode of the show. Some backstory about Liz’s days at the academy too.
November 4, 2016
The Blacklist is based on the NBC TV show, and was included in the September 2016 Comic Bento box. I've never seen the show, which is a crime drama. It actually worked really well in the graphic novel format.
This is a brand new story that takes place within the show's setting. The cool thing about it is that one of the writers from the show worked on this book. These lend strength to the book because it isn't just a rehash of the show and it is able to draw on the knowledge of the creators.
As for the story itself, it is pretty solid. It follows Liz Keen, who is an FBI agent, and a criminal informant, Red Reddington, that will only work with her. They are brought onto a case after the FBI is set up for the murder of a politician. Together they have to find out who is behind it and bring him in.
There is a bit of backstory for Liz and Red individually, so people unfamiliar with the show that might be interested in the book can still get something out of it. It does give some information on their working relationship, but it isn't developed too greatly. The supporting characters add some depth to the setting also.
Probably the weakest element of the book is the art. It's good for the most part, although the character faces can be a little off at times. The styling fits the book pretty well though. This wasn't a book I would normally pick up, but I enjoyed it.
This is a brand new story that takes place within the show's setting. The cool thing about it is that one of the writers from the show worked on this book. These lend strength to the book because it isn't just a rehash of the show and it is able to draw on the knowledge of the creators.
As for the story itself, it is pretty solid. It follows Liz Keen, who is an FBI agent, and a criminal informant, Red Reddington, that will only work with her. They are brought onto a case after the FBI is set up for the murder of a politician. Together they have to find out who is behind it and bring him in.
There is a bit of backstory for Liz and Red individually, so people unfamiliar with the show that might be interested in the book can still get something out of it. It does give some information on their working relationship, but it isn't developed too greatly. The supporting characters add some depth to the setting also.
Probably the weakest element of the book is the art. It's good for the most part, although the character faces can be a little off at times. The styling fits the book pretty well though. This wasn't a book I would normally pick up, but I enjoyed it.
May 13, 2016
The artwork could've been a lot cleaner. Some of the faces look mangled and didn't look like the TV characters at all even though that's what they were shooting for. Storyline was still really good and had fun reading it.
May 27, 2017
Not being used to reading comic books, I found this a little confusing to follow at times, but overall I really enjoyed it. I like how they introduced a new Blacklister, adding to the enjoyment of the tv show.
May 16, 2016
Loved this! The characters were portrayed perfectly and acted (and looked) just like how they would in the tv show. Definitely recommend for all Blacklist fans.
January 9, 2017
4.5 stars
If you love the TV series like I do; you will love this comic. It is set out the same way, and the characters are drawn to look like their TV Characters.
If you love the TV series like I do; you will love this comic. It is set out the same way, and the characters are drawn to look like their TV Characters.
January 29, 2017
Has the feel of the show perfectly.
November 7, 2017
Good read
It's good to know the back story.
Reading this on kindle app is better than on the criminology app which strangely has no Amazon integration.
It's good to know the back story.
Reading this on kindle app is better than on the criminology app which strangely has no Amazon integration.
Want to read
January 18, 2019The Blacklist comic book... I need it now.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews