Tyler Cross, Vol. 2: Angola

Tyler Cross #2

by Fabien Nury, Brüno (Illustrator)

What seemed like a risk-free gig that should have got him some easy cash turns into a fast-track to Hell for Tyler Cross. A hell called "Angola," the biggest high-security prison in the United States, surrounded by swamps and crushed by the sweltering Louisiana sunshine. And then just to put the cherry on the cake, the Scarfo clan has put a price on his head, and there are a whole load of Sicilians among Tyler's fellow inmates. If Tyler ever manages to get out of this penitentiary hell, it sure won't be for good conduct.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Comics, Graphic Novels, Crime, Graphic Novels Comics, Thriller, Comic Book

96 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2015

About the author

Born in 1976, Fabien Nury began his career by co-writing with Xavier Dorison the script of W.E.S.T (Dargaud), a hit series illustrated by Christian Rossi (six volumes between 2003 and 2011). Nury independently wrote Je suis Légion (2004-2007, Humanoids Associés), a trilogy illustrated by the American John Cassaday. Translated into eight languages, the series continues with several other illustrators under the title Les chroniques de Légion (Glénat). In 2007 he also started working on Le maître de Benson Gate (Dargaud) with Renaud Garreta. From 2007 to 2012, Nury wrote the script for the six volumes of Il était une fois en France (Glénat). The historical series, illustrated by Sylvain Vallée, received wide critical and public acclaim (850,000 copies sold). Amongst other achievements, in 2011 he received an award for best international series at the Angoulême Comics Festival. Since then Fabien Nury has been gaining success in various genres: Mort de Staline (The Death of Stalin, Dargaud/Europe Comics, forthcoming), in historical narrative; Steve Rowland, volume 5 of the XIII Mystery series (Dargaud, art by Richard Guérineau) in thriller; Corey Silas ( Glénat, art by Pierre Alary) in detective series; and Atar Gull (Dargaud, art by Brüno) in literary adaptation, based on the novel by Eugène Sue. In 2013, he created Tyler Cross with Brüno, (Tyler Cross, Dargaud/Europe Comics, 2015) a noir graphic novel. The album was praised by both critics and readers (over 50,000 copies sold) with volume two in August 2015. In 2014, Fabien Nury published the fourth and final volume of L'or et le sang (Glénat), the script by Maurin Defrance and art by Merwan and Fabien Bedouel. With Tierry Robin he created the two-part series Mort au Tsar (Death to the Tsar, Dargaud/Europe Comics, 2015). In 2014, with Eric Henninot he also published Fils du soleil (Dargaud), an adventure album adapted from two novels by Jack London. As for audiovisual, Fabien Nury co-wrote with Dorison the scripts to a feature film Les brigades du Tigre (directed by Jérôme Cornuau, 2006) and a TV movie Pour toi, j'ai tué (directed by Laurent Heynemann, 2012).

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cross is setup during a job and sent to one of the meanest prison camps there are in Angola. Then we get your classic prison story. Cross must evade death at the hands of guards and inmates while determining how to escape. This story was better than volume. It was certainly less misogynistic. Bruno has toned down the caricatures in his art as well. While still stylized like Eddie Rizzo or Mike Mignola, the art here fit the gritty nature of the story.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this second outing, Cross ends up in prison after being betrayed during a robbery and must plan a prison break while evading death at the hands of the guards and the Mafia. On the surface, Nury is doing everything Richard Stark did in his Parker novels, but the protagonist has no charisma and the tale has little excitement.

[George K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Δεύτερος τόμος με ήρωα τον Tyler Cross και μπορώ να πω ότι τον απόλαυσα ακριβώς στον ίδιο βαθμό με τον πρώτο. Σαν λάτρης των παλπ μυθιστορημάτων με νουάρ αισθητική και σκληροτράχηλους χαρακτήρες, δεν θα μπορούσα παρά να περάσω υπέροχα διαβάζοντας τη συγκεκριμένη ιστορία. Γενικά λατρεύω αυτές τις σκληρές ιστορίες εγκλήματος που διαδραματίζονται τα παλιά τα χρόνια στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες (ή και αλλού, εδώ που τα λέμε), ενώ γουστάρω πολύ και ιστορίες/ταινίες που έχουν να κάνουν με τον κόσμο των φυλακών, οπότε η αναγνωστική απόλαυση ήταν δεδομένη. Κακά τα ψέματα, όσον αφορά την πλοκή δεν λες ότι σκίζει και από πρωτοτυπία, μιας και όλο και κάπου τα έχουμε ξαναδεί στον έναν τον ή τον άλλο βαθμό αυτά που θα διαβάσει κανείς στον συγκεκριμένο τόμο (σε βιβλία, σε ταινίες, σε άλλα κόμικς...). Όμως, δεν έχει σημασία, γιατί ο συγγραφέας ξέρει τι να πει και πώς ακριβώς να το πει, για να κρατήσει στην τσίτα τον αναγνώστη από την πρώτη μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα, με την πλοκή να προσφέρει δράση, ωμή βία και ένταση, χωρίς να κολλάει πουθενά. Από την άλλη, το σχέδιο είναι πολύ ωραίο μέσα στην ιδιαιτερότητά του, έχει μια δική του ταυτότητα και ξεφεύγει αρκετά από τα συνηθισμένα, με το κάπως καρτουνίστικο στιλ να να ταιριάζει τελικά με το σκληρό νουάρ. Και, φυσικά, τα χρώματα είναι και πάλι εξαιρετικά και δένουν απόλυτα με το σχέδιο και το όλο ύφος της ιστορίας. Ελπίζω μόνο να μην αργήσει πολύ να κυκλοφορήσει στα εγγλέζικα ο τρίτος τόμος, γιατί θέλω να διαβάσω και άλλες σκληροτράχηλες ιστορίες με ήρωα τον Tyler Cross!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tyler Cross: Angola is a decent hard-edged crime story, a classic prison break tale with a handful of intriguing, broken characters. It's less misogynistic than its predecessor, Tyler Cross, so that's to its credit. But Angola is seriously lacking in coherence.

Tyler Cross returns from retirement to take a job for a crime kingpin...and then abruptly he's in prison and needs to escape. Hints at something having gone wrong with the job abound. Or maybe it was something going right and the prison escape was the plan? Spoiler alert, but things work out for Cross in the end, so I guess something went right. Aside from the prison escape, though, very little makes sense in Angola. The art is great, the plot gritty, but if you glance at the big-picture narrative, it's a baffler.

[Craig Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professional thief Tyler Cross returns in this follow-up to Black Rock. This time around, Tyler is double-crossed by his female partner in a burglary gone wrong (ala Parker in Richard Stark's The Hunter). He is sent up to Angola State Prison where he runs afoul of a sadistic warden (think Paul Newman vs. Strother Martin in Cool Hand Luke) and then stages a thrilling breakout through the swamps of Louisiana. Finally, of course, there is the little matter of getting his money back and getting even with all his enemies.

Not much has changed from the first volume. The artwork is still a fun retro Dick Tracy style. Tyler Cross is still a one-note walking character cliché. Just as in Black Rock, all the interesting backstories and subplots are given to the minor characters. These include an Italian mobster who owes Tyler a great debt and a cellmate who happens to be the nephew of the only person to ever successfully escape Angola. There is also a shady accountant who cooks the books for the mobsters who run the prison. Plus, the warden's wife who forces unwilling inmates into illicit dalliances, then has them killed when she tires of them.

The story is derivative of well-known crime novels and films, but it is still certainly an entertaining way to pass an hour or two.

This is the 9th graphic novel from Hard Case Crime. Their full list is below:

1. The Assignment
2. Walter Hill's Triggerman
3. Peepland
4. Millennium (4 volumes)
5. Normandy Gold
6. Babylon Berlin
7. Quarry's War
8. Minky Woodcock: The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini
9. Tyler Cross (2 volumes)
10. Mike Hammer: The Night I Died
11. The Prague Coup (forthcoming Dec 2018)
12. Breakneck (forthcoming April 2019)

[Koen Claeys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik kan mijn mening over het eerste album van Tyler Cross hier gewoon herhalen : "Consistente klasse van begin tot eind. Zeer sfeervol en de spanning druipt van de pagina's. Behoort tot DE strip-toppers van het jaar." (zie ook : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... )
Je dient het vorige album niet gelezen te hebben, geen enkele voorkennis vereist. TOPPER !!!!!

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2 (biblio)

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antihero. A good bad guy. A killer with a code. All expressions for those characters who, in their own way, aren't straight out evil, but whom no one wants to cross paths with. Tyler Cross is one of those guys. He is, straight-up, a bad ass mother f***er that belongs behind bars. And yet... there is something about him. It may be more apt to say, that if he worked for the government, he would be a good guy, but because he kills people to serve his own ends, he is in the wrong. In any case, his misdeeds get him tossed in a nasty hole known as Angola and it is from there he must avoid the mob and serving his time.

Gritty, moody and harsh describe this book. There is nothing in it that is going to make you laugh. It will ensure you don't break any laws as prisoners 'down south,' do not get an easy time of it. So, once in, Tyler has to find a way out and to survive if he does. His character is thinking two steps ahead and leaves you wondering just what was plan and what was happenstance. Part of what makes this story work is that uncertainty. You meet a variety of supporting roles, most of which are undesirable, but all have their part to play.

If you are searching for a hard look at some hard people, this is a tale for you. I had it recommended by the proprietor of a shop and have now gone back and bought the other Tyler Cross book as well. I think Nury is someone to watch and I may just be a new fan.

[Monika Kilijańska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler trafia do więzienia o zaostrzonym rygorze. Jako nowy ma z góry przechlapane, bo dopiero musi oznaczyć sobie swoje miejsce w więziennej hierarchii. Choć trzyma się raczej z mniej znaczącymi, oczywiście siedzącymi za niewinność, więźniami, to nie brakuje mu odwagi, by sięgnąć wyżej. Nie stosuje się jednak do rozkazów strażników, za co czeka go sroga kara. Czymże jednak jest izolatka, kiedy chodzi o życie: własne i cudze? Trzeba mieć honor i Tyler go ma aż nadto.

Jednak więzienie to nie SPA. Tu, w Angoli, ciężko się pracuje, by oddać państwu to, co zabrało się podczas popełniania przestępstw. Jednak czy państwo, a może raczej ci, którzy wiedzą jakie profity płyną z prawie darmowej siły roboczej, naprawdę jest sprawiedliwe i bierze tyle, ile powinno? Czy może odpłaca sobie z nawiązką? Na dłuższą metę jedynym wyjściem jest uciec z Angoli. Tyler nie jest pierwszym, który wpadł na ten pomysł, więc to może się udać!

Więcej na https://www.monime.pl/tyler-cross-ang...

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stylized art was cool and added to the mood, but our lead character lacked charisma and was generally unlikable and seemed as evil as every other character. There was no reason I should root for him over other unpleasant characters.
If he wasn’t drawn with distinctive cheekbones, he could’ve been switched out for most other characters in any given panel, as they are all bribing people and lying and brandishing weapons. There was nothing that made him interesting or unique, even in an unlikable way, beyond his using a slur for Italians.

Rounded up for the art and style. A few plot moments were unclear, especially suddenly jumping to him being in prison without a connective panel or two indicating the heist failed.
Grabbed this on a whim based on seeing the “hard case crime” label on it at the library. Not planning to read anything else in the series, based on this one.

[William M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writer Fabien Nury and artist Bruno make a hell of a team. Gritty drama with loads of twists and turns. This story really blew me away. The art might appear simple at first, but is perfectly framed with exactly the right details and nuance to express the maximum affect. A superb read and well worth your time. Titan Comics and Hard Case Crime make a great team and I can't wait to read more by these exceptionally talented creators.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one better than the first Tyler Cross book. This time, Tyler winds up in Angola, the victim of a pretty obvious double-cross (if he's so good at what he does, how did he fall for this?). The prison is a hell-hole and pretty soon, Tyler is plotting his escape. And that's about the extent of it. Bruno's art is stripped down and the coloring is effective. I'd read more Tyler Cross adventures if they came my way...

[Paul-Hervé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un scénario bien mené, une histoire palpitante. On ne s'ennuie pas et on passe un très bon moment de lecture. Pourquoi je ne met pas cinq étoiles ? C'est une BD très divertissante, mais non marquante, à la différence d'autres BD de Nury comme "Il était une fois en France" ou "Qui a tué Chris Kyle" (qui sont, il est vrai, des BD s'appuyant sur des faits réels).

[Luca Frasca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continua il felicissimo e consolidato connubio artistico di Fabien Nury e Brüno che, in questo secondo capitolo di Tyler Cross, non tradiscono le aspettative dei lettori. Storia e disegni a livelli sempre altissimi.

[Marek Michalak · Rating 4 out of 5]

An even better story then the first Tyler Cross adventure, this one has once again all the old school tropes you've seen many times, but is done with such style I end up loving it even more. This is pure pulp, done with wonderful colours and flair.

[Charles Eldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful sequel with incredible art and story that evokes - to me - Darwyn Cooke’s “Parker” in the best way. I love the large format but quick pace.

Now if we could just get an English translation printing or Tyler Cross: Miami” to complete the collection.

[Nicolas Ronvel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Du polar, dur. De la prison, extrême. Et une narration réussie, tendue.
On ressent la chaleur et la moiteur des lieux grâce au dessin mais surtout la colorisation.
Un plaisir de lecture.

[Elfo-oscuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buena continuación de cómic. Los tiempos están muy bien estructurados y te mantiene pegado a la trama. Ofrece además un final alternativo tras en final a modo de storyboard

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect art to fit the story, which is outstanding.

[Pascal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vraiment aimé cette suite, le bagne, l'évasion...on se reprend à suivre cette histoire noire...

[zackxdig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read a little disjointed and even though the art was clean it did blur somethings.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love crime comics and this was a great story. Multiple betrayals, people getting what's coming them, and all that other good stuff.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as tight as the first one, but still a good story.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for all three volumes extant as of this writing

It might as well be Parker reincarnate.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing truly original about this.
Which could be fine - lots of stories get re-told.
But there’s not enough character development to make me care how Tyler Cross spends another second of time.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabian Nury is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. He also seems to only work with fabulous artists. Just take a look at Silas Corey for example. But in Tyler Cross he works together again with Brüno, whom he also worked with on Atar Güll and the first volume of Tyler Cross. Bruno's art is in the style of Philippe Berthet, a style I can't get enough of.

In this volume Tyler wants to escape out of prison. He was captured after a bank robbery gone wrong. Angola prison can hardly be called a prison though. Set in the Louisiana heat, Angola's only mission is to make as much money as possible... It won't be an easy task if he wants to succeed escaping.

[Aildiin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch like the first one.
On a side note it's nice to see some authors will actually increase the page count of their book to deliver the story in one go.

[Michaël · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another story about a prison break but...still great!
Dark, violent, a real thrilling page turner.
The art is minimalistic yet beautiful.
Excellent choice of colors.

[Clotilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

J ai préfèré ce tome 2 au tome 1. Je le trouve plus intéressant . On est pas non plus supris par la fin qui est simple , mais ça reste une BD sympa à lire

[Christoph Segers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subliem. Verhaal, tekeningen,... gewoon subliem. Een must-read voor iedere liefhebber van de graphic novel/beeldverhaal.