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Fatale
Fatale, Vol. 5: Curse the Demon
The final book in ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS's best-selling horror-noir epic. The secrets of the immortal Femme Fatale and her adversary come to light before their final explosive confrontation. Collects FATALE #20-24.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2014
11 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,794 books3,019 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
September 16, 2019
I was kind of disappointed in the conclusion, but I couldn't pinpoint why until I talked to my kid about it. <--that was a weird moment in and of itself. The day your child explains something about you to you - yikes!
Anyway. He said I was upset with the conclusion because Crime/Mystery stories always explain things at the end. There's that big whodunnit? ta-da! at the last page. And Lovecraftian stuff is, by its nature, always vague and incomprehensible.
The ending was never going to be completely explained in the same way a detective comic would be, and therein lies the reason I wasn't satisfied.
BECAUSE OF THE FUCKING TENTACLE MONSTERS.
However, I think now that I'm a bit more self-aware (thanks, kid!) of my reasons for feeling a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth when I closed the book, I'm less dissatisfied.
Ish.
Looking back, it does answer a lot of the questions that were swirling around in my head. Just maybe not completely and maybe not the way I wanted them answered.
Ok. In this final showdown, Josie and Nick, along with a mysterious figure called The Librarian, head out to take on the Cthulhu cult and free Josephine from her curse.
And ohmygod the shit this poor woman has been through. That thing with her son?
You were reeeeeeeeally hoping that it wasn't what it was, but deep down you just knew. Ooof!
Yeah, I would want to die, too.
Anyway, spoilery stuff happened and the series is over. And I can honestly say I'm not sorry I read it. Your personal mileage may vary, but I think it's a solid series that only slips a teeny bit at the finish line.
This won't be something that everyone likes, but I think most fans of the Brubaker/Phillips team will mostly enjoy this one.
Anyway. He said I was upset with the conclusion because Crime/Mystery stories always explain things at the end. There's that big whodunnit? ta-da! at the last page. And Lovecraftian stuff is, by its nature, always vague and incomprehensible.
The ending was never going to be completely explained in the same way a detective comic would be, and therein lies the reason I wasn't satisfied.
BECAUSE OF THE FUCKING TENTACLE MONSTERS.
However, I think now that I'm a bit more self-aware (thanks, kid!) of my reasons for feeling a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth when I closed the book, I'm less dissatisfied.
Ish.
Looking back, it does answer a lot of the questions that were swirling around in my head. Just maybe not completely and maybe not the way I wanted them answered.
Ok. In this final showdown, Josie and Nick, along with a mysterious figure called The Librarian, head out to take on the Cthulhu cult and free Josephine from her curse.
And ohmygod the shit this poor woman has been through. That thing with her son?
You were reeeeeeeeally hoping that it wasn't what it was, but deep down you just knew. Ooof!
Yeah, I would want to die, too.
Anyway, spoilery stuff happened and the series is over. And I can honestly say I'm not sorry I read it. Your personal mileage may vary, but I think it's a solid series that only slips a teeny bit at the finish line.
This won't be something that everyone likes, but I think most fans of the Brubaker/Phillips team will mostly enjoy this one.
March 23, 2018
Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen
who are mature enough to read this story because this is the last call!
In Curse the Demon, the story has finally caught up with time and reached the present. The cliffhanger from preceding volume is quickly resolved and the story starts its final journey to hell.
Nash and Josephine are finally together, and as always, Nash is completely under the charms of our femme fatale. He will do anything and everything to please her, just like hundreds of men before him. As for Josephine, she intends to end this century-old cat and mouse game, at any cost.
The story features some great moments and excellent art as always. There is even an issue featuring Bishop's story arc! Yet, the final volume failed to satisfy as it forgot to solve most of the odd mysteries of the tale. One could argue that the story needs no explanations, and some mysteries are meant to be worked out by the readers themselves. BUT, Brubaker didn't even explain the basic premise or the rituals. He just jumped from one point to another conveniently, never explaining the full degree of situation. Questions like how the hell forever.
At one point, I even suspected that Brubaker was channeling his inner Morrison as the story slipped into cosmic craziness.
Nevertheless, Fatale was a fun and uneven ride, and the high points of the series are Sean Phillips's gorgeous art and Brubaker's characters.
Overall, 3 stars for this installment and 3.5 for the whole series.
P.S: Is it just me or does this owl looks like Nicholas Cage to you? O.o
In Curse the Demon, the story has finally caught up with time and reached the present. The cliffhanger from preceding volume is quickly resolved and the story starts its final journey to hell.
Nash and Josephine are finally together, and as always, Nash is completely under the charms of our femme fatale. He will do anything and everything to please her, just like hundreds of men before him. As for Josephine, she intends to end this century-old cat and mouse game, at any cost.
The story features some great moments and excellent art as always. There is even an issue featuring Bishop's story arc! Yet, the final volume failed to satisfy as it forgot to solve most of the odd mysteries of the tale. One could argue that the story needs no explanations, and some mysteries are meant to be worked out by the readers themselves. BUT, Brubaker didn't even explain the basic premise or the rituals. He just jumped from one point to another conveniently, never explaining the full degree of situation. Questions like how the hell forever.
At one point, I even suspected that Brubaker was channeling his inner Morrison as the story slipped into cosmic craziness.
Nevertheless, Fatale was a fun and uneven ride, and the high points of the series are Sean Phillips's gorgeous art and Brubaker's characters.
Overall, 3 stars for this installment and 3.5 for the whole series.
P.S: Is it just me or does this owl looks like Nicholas Cage to you? O.o
February 12, 2016
So that was it, the final volume of Fatale, a series that – for better or worse – lasted much longer than originally intended. It was certainly not the most conceptually sound and organic series in the world, but Brubaker and Phillips nevertheless manage to bring things to a… well, let’s call it a more or less satisfying conclusion. If you were hoping for some kind of brilliant masterplan to be unveiled, you will likely be disappointed. For me, though, the charms of Fatale lie in the details, most notably in the spot-on depiction of human frailty. One of our heroine’s many willing victims describes his situation like this: “Questions repeat in my head until I’m ready to scream them at her the next time she returns… But when she does, it’s like I can’t hold onto those thoughts. Like even worrying at all seems ridiculous.” Amour fou in a nutshell – can you think of a more accurate or beautiful description?
September 15, 2015
As many of you know, I'm a huge Wisconsin Badgers fan, no matter the sport. I'm an alumnus, one of my kids attends UW, and I live in Madison, where we've raised our kids in the shadow of Camp Randall, the Kohl Center, and the rest of campus - Okay, a five minute drive away, but you get what I mean. The University is really an integral part of our life.
Madison is routinely rated among the best college sports towns in America. But it wasn't always that way. Before I arrived in '96, the nation was stunned by the sudden emergence of the Badger football program from the shadows (many a veteran mentions "the Morton era" with a wince). And while the basketball team was always good, it's only since I arrived that it's been truly great. Of course, I can attribute that to my arrival . . . no, not really.
In any case, last year was a special year for Bo Ryan's basketball team. Those of us who watch closely knew it was coming. I recall watching Sam Dekker singlehandedly win the Wisconsin state high school basketball championship and thinking: "Hey, wait - this kid is special!" Then, all of a sudden, a few others emerge: Frank Kaminsky, Duje Dukan, Josh Gasser, Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig - watching them, you knew this, the 2014-15 squad, was the proverbial "team of destiny". THIS was the team Badger fans had been waiting for. They tore through opponents with a combination of steady discipline, stalwart defense, better-than-average outside shooting, and a bit of luck. Yes, they lost a few, most notably, they suffered their first loss at the hand of perennial powerhouse, Duke. They had a few unexplainable hiccups against inferior opponents, but they entered the NCAA tournament strong, beating Michigan State for the outright Big Ten title.
They had been to the Final Four the previous year, but this year, they went into the tournament even stronger. They were not a young team dazzled by the lights, this was a group of grizzled veterans who trudged through some difficult games, beating one after another, maybe not comfortably, but convincingly. Then, in the Final Four, they faced the always-dangerous Kentucky - and utterly dominated them. They won 71-64, then turned to play in the National Championship game against . . . uh-oh . . . the Duke Blue Devils . . . again! Duke is like herpes. You just can't get rid of them! And though the Badgers fought tooth and nail, they ultimately lost to the very young, very talented Duke.
It was a disappointment to all of us Badger fans. We knew that this was our best shot - we had never assembled such talent that played so well together as a team! When one person was down or injured, two others stepped up their game to compensate, all the while getting stronger and stronger as they pushed toward that ultimate finish.
But it just wasn't enough. No matter how hard they tried, it just wasn't enough. They found, in the end, that they were out of gas.
Still, it was a good ride. Nothing to be ashamed of, by any means. But the thought continues to haunt fans and players alike - what could have beeen? What . . . should have been . . .? How could the story have ended? And what of those dreams of final glory? Where did they disappear to? Yes the 2014-15 season will always be remembered with fondness as something special. But they didn't quite make it over the top.
We were almost there. So close. So incredibly close. But . . . not.
This book, the final in the series, is a lot like that.
Madison is routinely rated among the best college sports towns in America. But it wasn't always that way. Before I arrived in '96, the nation was stunned by the sudden emergence of the Badger football program from the shadows (many a veteran mentions "the Morton era" with a wince). And while the basketball team was always good, it's only since I arrived that it's been truly great. Of course, I can attribute that to my arrival . . . no, not really.
In any case, last year was a special year for Bo Ryan's basketball team. Those of us who watch closely knew it was coming. I recall watching Sam Dekker singlehandedly win the Wisconsin state high school basketball championship and thinking: "Hey, wait - this kid is special!" Then, all of a sudden, a few others emerge: Frank Kaminsky, Duje Dukan, Josh Gasser, Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig - watching them, you knew this, the 2014-15 squad, was the proverbial "team of destiny". THIS was the team Badger fans had been waiting for. They tore through opponents with a combination of steady discipline, stalwart defense, better-than-average outside shooting, and a bit of luck. Yes, they lost a few, most notably, they suffered their first loss at the hand of perennial powerhouse, Duke. They had a few unexplainable hiccups against inferior opponents, but they entered the NCAA tournament strong, beating Michigan State for the outright Big Ten title.
They had been to the Final Four the previous year, but this year, they went into the tournament even stronger. They were not a young team dazzled by the lights, this was a group of grizzled veterans who trudged through some difficult games, beating one after another, maybe not comfortably, but convincingly. Then, in the Final Four, they faced the always-dangerous Kentucky - and utterly dominated them. They won 71-64, then turned to play in the National Championship game against . . . uh-oh . . . the Duke Blue Devils . . . again! Duke is like herpes. You just can't get rid of them! And though the Badgers fought tooth and nail, they ultimately lost to the very young, very talented Duke.
It was a disappointment to all of us Badger fans. We knew that this was our best shot - we had never assembled such talent that played so well together as a team! When one person was down or injured, two others stepped up their game to compensate, all the while getting stronger and stronger as they pushed toward that ultimate finish.
But it just wasn't enough. No matter how hard they tried, it just wasn't enough. They found, in the end, that they were out of gas.
Still, it was a good ride. Nothing to be ashamed of, by any means. But the thought continues to haunt fans and players alike - what could have beeen? What . . . should have been . . .? How could the story have ended? And what of those dreams of final glory? Where did they disappear to? Yes the 2014-15 season will always be remembered with fondness as something special. But they didn't quite make it over the top.
We were almost there. So close. So incredibly close. But . . . not.
This book, the final in the series, is a lot like that.
August 12, 2015
Bullet Review:
Huh. And what was all THAT about?
I think this was too deep for me. Or something. I liked the individual stories leading up to Volume 5, but for a conclusion to this series, I'm left wondering what to take away from it - and more questions than when I started.
What is Josephine? A demon? A succubus? Where did she come from? How can she die and yet not stay dead?
Where do the baddies come from? What is their goal?
The art was nice. And it's got a great horror-noir vibe. I think it's just me.
Huh. And what was all THAT about?
I think this was too deep for me. Or something. I liked the individual stories leading up to Volume 5, but for a conclusion to this series, I'm left wondering what to take away from it - and more questions than when I started.
What is Josephine? A demon? A succubus? Where did she come from? How can she die and yet not stay dead?
Where do the baddies come from? What is their goal?
The art was nice. And it's got a great horror-noir vibe. I think it's just me.
October 30, 2021
Now what was that ending?
We dont even find the real origins of Jo and how she came to be but get a short story about why and how the bishop came to be but why did he hate Jo is not revealed here and well there are some interesting stuff between Nick and Jo and well i guess the ending means she grows old or the curse is removed because some magic?
This was the worst ending I have ever read after so much build up its just a disappointment. Its super bad and I wont recommend this series to anyone based on how it ends. Sure most things are answered but its so bad. Ugh.
We dont even find the real origins of Jo and how she came to be but get a short story about why and how the bishop came to be but why did he hate Jo is not revealed here and well there are some interesting stuff between Nick and Jo and well i guess the ending means she grows old or the curse is removed because some magic?
This was the worst ending I have ever read after so much build up its just a disappointment. Its super bad and I wont recommend this series to anyone based on how it ends. Sure most things are answered but its so bad. Ugh.
November 5, 2024
“She pulls a razor from her boot, and a thousand pigeons fall around her feet”--Tom Waits, “Time”
So this, Fatale, Vol. 5, concludes the short series. The dreamy cover attracts: a femme fatale kissing a man who he has caused to lose his wife and family and job and leg, but sweet pic! The volume opens with a quote by none other than Friedrich Nietzsche that is a perfect commentary and framework for their approach to this series: ". . . the eternal hourglass of existence being turned upside down again and again and again, and with you in it. . .would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus?”
"Their lust will be a hunger that will leave them empty. . ."
Pull out all the stops for an appropriately over-the-top resolution to the series. Not all questions are answered in this conclusion, but we do get Real Romance (of a kind, where Nick willingly, tragically sacrifices himself yet again to save Jo), cosmic horror, sex cults, a librarian immune to Jo's wiles, and so much more.
Somerset, the sightless Bishop:“He hears the scream of a thousand terrified slaves, all waiting to be sacrificed. . . and he wondered how many of them he could kill before dawn.” The Bishop saw the true horrors of WWI as a soldier and saw that the promises of Christianity were lies, only evil reigns, so he chooses the demon occult, logically following the bloody ground of war
Okay, I was several times, as things proceeded, thinking,"Oh, this is too much! Come on!" but you know, if you have been reading a noir series that is mashed up with Chthuluean horror, you really have to just let those ol' reservations go and enjoy the crazy ride, I guess. The cosmic horror script is matched by the fantastic fantasy/horror art from Phillips, with explosions of color, layouts of fire.
And now I am selling my house to get on the road and search for Jo, as I know she will love me forever.
So this, Fatale, Vol. 5, concludes the short series. The dreamy cover attracts: a femme fatale kissing a man who he has caused to lose his wife and family and job and leg, but sweet pic! The volume opens with a quote by none other than Friedrich Nietzsche that is a perfect commentary and framework for their approach to this series: ". . . the eternal hourglass of existence being turned upside down again and again and again, and with you in it. . .would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus?”
"Their lust will be a hunger that will leave them empty. . ."
Pull out all the stops for an appropriately over-the-top resolution to the series. Not all questions are answered in this conclusion, but we do get Real Romance (of a kind, where Nick willingly, tragically sacrifices himself yet again to save Jo), cosmic horror, sex cults, a librarian immune to Jo's wiles, and so much more.
Somerset, the sightless Bishop:“He hears the scream of a thousand terrified slaves, all waiting to be sacrificed. . . and he wondered how many of them he could kill before dawn.” The Bishop saw the true horrors of WWI as a soldier and saw that the promises of Christianity were lies, only evil reigns, so he chooses the demon occult, logically following the bloody ground of war
Okay, I was several times, as things proceeded, thinking,"Oh, this is too much! Come on!" but you know, if you have been reading a noir series that is mashed up with Chthuluean horror, you really have to just let those ol' reservations go and enjoy the crazy ride, I guess. The cosmic horror script is matched by the fantastic fantasy/horror art from Phillips, with explosions of color, layouts of fire.
And now I am selling my house to get on the road and search for Jo, as I know she will love me forever.
January 8, 2016
I dunno...maybe it's been too long since I read the last volume, and maybe it just took waaaay too much time to finish the series, but I was left with a kinda meh feeling I didn't have after I finished the Criminal series.
Don't get me wrong, Ed and Sean are still the dynamic duo of indie, and I will read nearly anything they do, but this just felt a little flat to me.
Jo just seemed tired and ready for it to end, and I think that echoes my mindset, and maybe that of the creative team too? I hope that doesn't sound snarky, but I think it shows.
I'm glad she takes accountability for her actions, but in the end, she still uses Nicholas and everyone else for her own ends. There's much more I'd rather read about, and maybe they will revisit this down the road, but for now, I'm happy to move on.
A quality series, never dull or boring, even though the last bit wasn't as wow as the rest...I wonder how it would read all in one sitting?
Don't get me wrong, Ed and Sean are still the dynamic duo of indie, and I will read nearly anything they do, but this just felt a little flat to me.
Jo just seemed tired and ready for it to end, and I think that echoes my mindset, and maybe that of the creative team too? I hope that doesn't sound snarky, but I think it shows.
I'm glad she takes accountability for her actions, but in the end, she still uses Nicholas and everyone else for her own ends. There's much more I'd rather read about, and maybe they will revisit this down the road, but for now, I'm happy to move on.
A quality series, never dull or boring, even though the last bit wasn't as wow as the rest...I wonder how it would read all in one sitting?
May 11, 2025
It’s always a little sad to see a series that I have grown to love end, but it’s satisfying when the series ends on a good note and doesn’t succumb to a rushed, sloppy, or cop-out ending.
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s five-book series “Fatale” wraps up the story of Josephine, the woman literally cursed with an eternity of seeing the many men she loves come to bad ends, in Book Five, “Curse the Demon”.
I really can’t, in good conscience, say much about the storyline without giving away spoilers, so I won’t, other than to say that, if, like me, you have followed Josephine’s sad and tragic tale with the hopes that she inevitably finds a much-needed closure, then you won’t be disappointed.
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s five-book series “Fatale” wraps up the story of Josephine, the woman literally cursed with an eternity of seeing the many men she loves come to bad ends, in Book Five, “Curse the Demon”.
I really can’t, in good conscience, say much about the storyline without giving away spoilers, so I won’t, other than to say that, if, like me, you have followed Josephine’s sad and tragic tale with the hopes that she inevitably finds a much-needed closure, then you won’t be disappointed.
November 22, 2017
This is the final volume in the immortal femme fatale saga noir horror graphic novel. Fine artwork but the storyline got a bit confusing and felt disjointed.
September 1, 2016
It has always seemed to me that the build-up part of a story is easier than a satisfying ending.
That said, Brubaker and Phillips have done an excellent job of taking things to the next level in the concluding chapter of this dark and wonderful series.
That said, Brubaker and Phillips have done an excellent job of taking things to the next level in the concluding chapter of this dark and wonderful series.
October 17, 2014
A very good ending to a very good series. In many ways, it was an unexpected way to close things out, but it's also fitting. There are a lot of unanswered questions and threads left dangling, but I got the sense that it was intentional. Some things we just weren't meant to know the answers to, and I'm ok with that, because it felt purposeful. Perhaps Brubaker is leaving the door open for more stories in the same world. I'd be fine with that, too. But the lingering mysteries suit the series, too.
September 28, 2017
A lot of folks say that they don't like the ending of this series but I have to disagree. This final volume is fantastic and the best volume of the series.
What's it about?
It's the final volume of Fatale, how specific do you want me to be? I don't have time to sit here explaining 4 volumes of something as crazy as this series.
Why this gets 5 stars:
The story has been great throughout the entire book and this final volume keeps that going!
The art is fantastic! Phillips always does a good job and this is some of his best work!
It's unpredictable.
This volume has a lot of action. It's the most intense volume.
Very interesting characters.
The ending is the perfect way to end this series.
Interesting villain who has some similarities to a lot of IRL people out there. I'll leave it for those reading the review to figure out, the thing I'm thinking about is not political, don't worry.
Overall:
This series is fantastic, probably my favorite Brubaker book (and that's saying something). I see a lot of people act like it has a terrible ending, they must be on crack because this is the best way they could have ended this series. If you haven't read this series you definitely should, I can't recommend it enough. If you haven't read the final volume, be prepared for amazing things, even more amazing than the fantastic rest of the series. Fatale is one of the best comics ever and the final volume really shows me that Brubaker and Phillips definitely saved the best for last.
5/5
What's it about?
It's the final volume of Fatale, how specific do you want me to be? I don't have time to sit here explaining 4 volumes of something as crazy as this series.
Why this gets 5 stars:
The story has been great throughout the entire book and this final volume keeps that going!
The art is fantastic! Phillips always does a good job and this is some of his best work!
It's unpredictable.
This volume has a lot of action. It's the most intense volume.
Very interesting characters.
The ending is the perfect way to end this series.
Interesting villain who has some similarities to a lot of IRL people out there. I'll leave it for those reading the review to figure out, the thing I'm thinking about is not political, don't worry.
Overall:
This series is fantastic, probably my favorite Brubaker book (and that's saying something). I see a lot of people act like it has a terrible ending, they must be on crack because this is the best way they could have ended this series. If you haven't read this series you definitely should, I can't recommend it enough. If you haven't read the final volume, be prepared for amazing things, even more amazing than the fantastic rest of the series. Fatale is one of the best comics ever and the final volume really shows me that Brubaker and Phillips definitely saved the best for last.
5/5
June 6, 2015
A fantastic finale to a great series!
In this final volume, after rescuing Nick from the psychotic killer who had imprisoned him at the end of volume four, Jo brings Nicolas to her friend Otto, the librarian. She and Otto have created plans for dealing with the cult, plans which require Nicolas’ help. But the bishop of the cult has his own plans and only their final confrontation will determine whose plans win out in the end.
This volume ties together the loose ends left from the other volumes and brings them to an end in a very satisfying fashion. It’s certainly not the ending I was expecting but it fits perfectly.
While the series started out heavily noir, the Lovecraftian influences take over in this volume as well. The themes of sanity being overwhelmed by the sheer terror of the existence of the brutal, implacable elder gods runs throughout the series and Brubaker pulls no punches as he wraps up this great saga. Best of all, at least for me, Brubaker doesn’t answer all your questions. No Lovecraft story ever fully explains its monsters and Brubaker continues that tradition.
The artwork for this volume is truly amazing and I’m still impressed at how well Phillips adapts his style from noir to Lovecraftian horror. While the noir artwork gave that gritty, 1950s feel to the story, the way Phillips draws the supernatural, otherworldly aspects of this part of the story really complements Brubaker’s horror writing. It’s just fantastic all around.
Brubaker and Phillips are one of my absolute favorite duos in comics ever and I honestly cannot recommend this series and particularly this volume highly enough.
In this final volume, after rescuing Nick from the psychotic killer who had imprisoned him at the end of volume four, Jo brings Nicolas to her friend Otto, the librarian. She and Otto have created plans for dealing with the cult, plans which require Nicolas’ help. But the bishop of the cult has his own plans and only their final confrontation will determine whose plans win out in the end.
This volume ties together the loose ends left from the other volumes and brings them to an end in a very satisfying fashion. It’s certainly not the ending I was expecting but it fits perfectly.
While the series started out heavily noir, the Lovecraftian influences take over in this volume as well. The themes of sanity being overwhelmed by the sheer terror of the existence of the brutal, implacable elder gods runs throughout the series and Brubaker pulls no punches as he wraps up this great saga. Best of all, at least for me, Brubaker doesn’t answer all your questions. No Lovecraft story ever fully explains its monsters and Brubaker continues that tradition.
The artwork for this volume is truly amazing and I’m still impressed at how well Phillips adapts his style from noir to Lovecraftian horror. While the noir artwork gave that gritty, 1950s feel to the story, the way Phillips draws the supernatural, otherworldly aspects of this part of the story really complements Brubaker’s horror writing. It’s just fantastic all around.
Brubaker and Phillips are one of my absolute favorite duos in comics ever and I honestly cannot recommend this series and particularly this volume highly enough.
May 14, 2021
Tak nevím, finále bylo dost prazvláštní až jsem se místy extrémně nudil a spíš si jen užíval art se kterým se tu naše dvojka P+B snaží hodně pracovat. Tak nějak necítím satisfakci za cestu kterou jsme s Jo strávili, je tu sice pár referencí na předchozí dění ale jako celek to na mě moc nepůsobí a mám pocit, že Brubaker ani nevěděl jak to dobře zakončit. Furt je to dobrý a má to své momenty, jenom jsem nedostal co jsem tak nějak očekával, ve své podstatě jsem přečetl 5 knížek toho stejného dokola.
I tak průchod hodnotím kladně, rozhodně to za přečtení stojí komplet.
I tak průchod hodnotím kladně, rozhodně to za přečtení stojí komplet.
December 24, 2015
The finale to Fatale wasn't quite as compelling as some of the other books in this series but the entire series is excellent. Three stars for this book and four + stars for the series.
August 19, 2020
This is the spoiler free review of Fatale, the full series, a Lovecraftian noir graphic novel from the minds of Brubaker and Phillips. If you would like to read the spoiler full version complete with all of the weird monsters and revelations please visit https://amanjareads.com/2020/08/19/fa...
This was my introduction to the works of Brubaker and Phillips. And a solid one at that! I am excited to keep reading their dark noir graphic novels after this one.
Fatale is about a woman named Jo. She is mysterious, might be immortal, and definitely has a strong power over any man she meets. She also has ties to a monstrous cult that does all the classic sacrifices and blood pacts.
The series moves back and forth along a time line that is longer than Jo's youthful appearance would suggest. We get to see Jo's present, past, and ultimately what happens to her.
There are twists and turns, revelations, myths, and lots of sex and violence. There is absolutely no shortage of entertainment on these pages. If you are expecting to read this casually, reconsider. There is a ton packed on these pages.
Jo is an incredibly complex female protagonist. Yes, she is sexy, but she is so much more. She's haunted, powerful yet vulnerable, brave yet tired, and above all else she just wants to find a way out.
Fatale is a disturbing mystery that takes the reader across at least three generations as well as locations both grounded and mystical.
The art is absolutely stunning. Phillips really matches Brubaker's prose in both mood and intensity. They compliment each other seamlessly.
The main issue with this book is that it could be a little confusing at times. Particularly at the beginning when you still have no idea about the mythos surround Jo and the cult. It felt like there were a bunch of characters that I had no idea who they were or what their relationships were for at least three issues.
Additionally, volume 3 of Fatale is a weak middle run. It features several loosely connected stories surrounding women similar to Jo throughout history but it ultimately didn't add to the series overall.
Despite those couple of flaws I can still strongly recommend this book. I am very interested to read more from this pair and see how much more complex and dark they can get. It's always good to read anything new and they seem to have captured a mix of old style with new content.
Any noir fan should take a step out of their comfort zone to explore this graphic novel series.
This was my introduction to the works of Brubaker and Phillips. And a solid one at that! I am excited to keep reading their dark noir graphic novels after this one.
Fatale is about a woman named Jo. She is mysterious, might be immortal, and definitely has a strong power over any man she meets. She also has ties to a monstrous cult that does all the classic sacrifices and blood pacts.
The series moves back and forth along a time line that is longer than Jo's youthful appearance would suggest. We get to see Jo's present, past, and ultimately what happens to her.
There are twists and turns, revelations, myths, and lots of sex and violence. There is absolutely no shortage of entertainment on these pages. If you are expecting to read this casually, reconsider. There is a ton packed on these pages.
Jo is an incredibly complex female protagonist. Yes, she is sexy, but she is so much more. She's haunted, powerful yet vulnerable, brave yet tired, and above all else she just wants to find a way out.
Fatale is a disturbing mystery that takes the reader across at least three generations as well as locations both grounded and mystical.
The art is absolutely stunning. Phillips really matches Brubaker's prose in both mood and intensity. They compliment each other seamlessly.
The main issue with this book is that it could be a little confusing at times. Particularly at the beginning when you still have no idea about the mythos surround Jo and the cult. It felt like there were a bunch of characters that I had no idea who they were or what their relationships were for at least three issues.
Additionally, volume 3 of Fatale is a weak middle run. It features several loosely connected stories surrounding women similar to Jo throughout history but it ultimately didn't add to the series overall.
Despite those couple of flaws I can still strongly recommend this book. I am very interested to read more from this pair and see how much more complex and dark they can get. It's always good to read anything new and they seem to have captured a mix of old style with new content.
Any noir fan should take a step out of their comfort zone to explore this graphic novel series.
September 15, 2015
Wow, I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but this last volume for me was a blast to read. No, not much is explained plot-wise, but the way this volume was written, the experience of reading it was just incredible. I devoured it in one sitting in probably half an hour.
So, Fatale managed to win me over after all. It did get much better with each new volume, and the finale was great. I have to say though, I think it should be read all in bulk. I read all the volumes except the first one in a day and a half, and I feel like it had a greater effect on me that way.
So, Fatale managed to win me over after all. It did get much better with each new volume, and the finale was great. I have to say though, I think it should be read all in bulk. I read all the volumes except the first one in a day and a half, and I feel like it had a greater effect on me that way.
December 14, 2016
Uma conclusão muito satisfatória para uma saga bizarra e viciante, «Fatale» encerra no quinto volume com chave de ouro, não cumprindo a sensação deixada pelo tomo anterior (o melhor da série) mas deixando o leitor no final como se tivesse degustado uma refeição deliciosa e bastante proveitosa. Um exemplo do génio visual de Phillips e narrativo de Brubaker.
May 4, 2021
Review is for the entire series (five collected volumes)
Ed Brubaker to me is synonyms with crime graphic novels, even his superhero work (that I've read) was grounded in that reality - the excellent Gotham Central run that focused on the shields and not the capes - so I went into this with a set of expectations that were blown away. It's a crime story, certainly, but EB layers in horror fiction so deftly that the marriage of the two is seamless, resulting in a read that is entirely like his previous work and uniquely different simultaneously.
Ed Brubaker to me is synonyms with crime graphic novels, even his superhero work (that I've read) was grounded in that reality - the excellent Gotham Central run that focused on the shields and not the capes - so I went into this with a set of expectations that were blown away. It's a crime story, certainly, but EB layers in horror fiction so deftly that the marriage of the two is seamless, resulting in a read that is entirely like his previous work and uniquely different simultaneously.
February 25, 2017
I love Brubaker and Philips as a collaborative team, and I like both genres matched up here. For all my love of these pairing, Fatale has never quite lived up to what I wanted it to be. The mythology was never quite fleshed out, but too much of it was shown for it be effectively shrouded in mystery. This confounds it as Nicholas Lash frame story becomes the story which elements of all the other flash backs since the 1940s story beginning to add up to something clear. However, most of the central mysteries of the book, including the actual nature of the antagonists and Josephine herself simply aren't really wrapped up. Jo is given a satisfying ending as is Nicholas in the terms of their arc, but not in the terms of the central mythology that Brubaker builds.
That said, as anti-climatic as this book was, the final confrontation allows Philips to go nuts with some of the horror elements of the story. This changes the feel of the book, but some of the sex and violence are draw more weirdly, and this is in complete keeping with the genre.
That said, as anti-climatic as this book was, the final confrontation allows Philips to go nuts with some of the horror elements of the story. This changes the feel of the book, but some of the sex and violence are draw more weirdly, and this is in complete keeping with the genre.
February 18, 2016
Well. That was a thing. Like my previously-reviewed "Bodies", I felt like the series built up more than the ending could really sustain - so we get the "anime moment." Suddenly - Bam! - huge cosmic naked people, intimations of hyperborean rituals and weird conspiracies. I'm not sure I really got what everything meant in the end, but it was a fun ride getting there.
It seems like lately it's been a theme in stories I've read that the author wants you to think a character is "good" or "noble" without really giving evidence of that fact. Lash mentions how "pure" Josephine is, as if that's the source of her allure, but she has literally RUINED HUNDREDS OF LIVES, some accidentally, yes - but some intentionally, or through willful neglect.
It seems like lately it's been a theme in stories I've read that the author wants you to think a character is "good" or "noble" without really giving evidence of that fact. Lash mentions how "pure" Josephine is, as if that's the source of her allure, but she has literally RUINED HUNDREDS OF LIVES, some accidentally, yes - but some intentionally, or through willful neglect.
October 22, 2020
(4,1 of 5 for the Fatale's finale, which is awesome even if I expected little bit ominous ending)
Fatale is a splendid noir horror-ish comics series. Brubaker, Phillips and Breitweiser are a brilliant team and results very clearly show that. Fatale has it's ups and few (small) downs. One of them is rather rushed and stereotypical finish and soft ending. I could imagine something grimmer, but that's my personal preference. But how the rushed to the finale was a bit uneasy for me. Fatale was ready to wrap it up with the fifth book. But this felt like they changed their mind, pushing the story to higher tempo but still forward, but few dozens of pages later they changed their mind again. But it is a little smudge on otherwise great series. Maybe the overall quality made me into wanting some ending what will cut deep into my memory and feelings. I got a nice ending, but not with that memorable punch. Still, I will hold Fatale very high.
Fatale is a splendid noir horror-ish comics series. Brubaker, Phillips and Breitweiser are a brilliant team and results very clearly show that. Fatale has it's ups and few (small) downs. One of them is rather rushed and stereotypical finish and soft ending. I could imagine something grimmer, but that's my personal preference. But how the rushed to the finale was a bit uneasy for me. Fatale was ready to wrap it up with the fifth book. But this felt like they changed their mind, pushing the story to higher tempo but still forward, but few dozens of pages later they changed their mind again. But it is a little smudge on otherwise great series. Maybe the overall quality made me into wanting some ending what will cut deep into my memory and feelings. I got a nice ending, but not with that memorable punch. Still, I will hold Fatale very high.
December 21, 2020
Volume 5, the final volume, finally goes full-out into the cosmic horror. I've come to expect a certain visual style in the Brubaker/Phillips comics, and Phillips stuck to that for most of this series. But some scenes in this volume get as wild and crazy as some of Jack Kirby's interstellar art.
Lots of disturbing violence and gore, but a compelling story overall.
Lots of disturbing violence and gore, but a compelling story overall.
September 2, 2022
BKV has a blurb on the back of this book saying "Brubaker and Philips have always been 8 years ahead of their time" which times perfectly with my reading. I'd say this book could have been released today with no issues at all. It's better than the other horror titles I've read published this year by people like Lemire and Tynion.
This was as satisfying a conclusion as I could hope to expect. Vol3 and Vol4 didn't really move the story forward much but did give some much needed insight into Jo. This book is the first one that humanizes her a bit. She actually shows some remorse and some regret over the use of her gift.
Damn our narrator had a rough go of things.
This was as satisfying a conclusion as I could hope to expect. Vol3 and Vol4 didn't really move the story forward much but did give some much needed insight into Jo. This book is the first one that humanizes her a bit. She actually shows some remorse and some regret over the use of her gift.
Damn our narrator had a rough go of things.
October 6, 2021
A review for the series:
Brubaker is one of my favorites, but this isn't high on my list of preferred titles for him. That's not to say it's bad, but just a little boring compared to his other stuff that I find so brilliant.
The 3rd volume is definitely the low point here, being almost completely unnecessary in comparison to everything else.
However, even saying all that, there's a lot of cool narrative going on here. It can be a lot of fun when it sticks to the action and leans into the horror elements.
In all, I like some other Brubaker way more, but even a middling effort from him is still a recommend from me.
Brubaker is one of my favorites, but this isn't high on my list of preferred titles for him. That's not to say it's bad, but just a little boring compared to his other stuff that I find so brilliant.
The 3rd volume is definitely the low point here, being almost completely unnecessary in comparison to everything else.
However, even saying all that, there's a lot of cool narrative going on here. It can be a lot of fun when it sticks to the action and leans into the horror elements.
In all, I like some other Brubaker way more, but even a middling effort from him is still a recommend from me.
July 14, 2024
So this functions as a review of the series as a whole, not just the fifth volume. And as a series, Fatale kind of overstayed its welcome for me. The concept is great and full of potential, and with Brullips, I would have thought it was in the right hands. I generally love their work. However, instead of capitalizing on this chance to break out of their usual mold, they decided to dig in even deeper and repeat themselves on a meta level—the series' tone ended up very similar to that of their other work—as well as on an issue-by-issue basis. There simply is not much forward momentum, and each arc plays out in much the same way as the others, right up until volume five here, when they can't stretch the material any more and have to bring it home. To be fair, they manage that landing mostly very well, and this last volume is pretty much the strongest. But they literally had a cosmos of possibilities for putting a twist on their usual shtick and seem to have decided to … just not do that, I guess?
This doesn't mean that Fatale overall is bad, of course. These are very talented craftspeople with decades of experience under their belts. Even at his most routine, Brubaker still has an intuitive understanding of pacing and tone, Phillips has a good feeling for when to add detail and when to leave that to the reader, and Breitweiser's colors will always be some of my favorites in all of comics. So on a moment-to-moment basis, this is great stuff. It's just that I think they should have either stuck to 12 issues with this one or gone way harder on the cosmic horror aspects. As it stands, it's surprisingly unremarkable.
This doesn't mean that Fatale overall is bad, of course. These are very talented craftspeople with decades of experience under their belts. Even at his most routine, Brubaker still has an intuitive understanding of pacing and tone, Phillips has a good feeling for when to add detail and when to leave that to the reader, and Breitweiser's colors will always be some of my favorites in all of comics. So on a moment-to-moment basis, this is great stuff. It's just that I think they should have either stuck to 12 issues with this one or gone way harder on the cosmic horror aspects. As it stands, it's surprisingly unremarkable.
December 22, 2019
That was fun.
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