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Sam and Twitch: The Complete Collection #2
Sam & Twitch Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects SAM and TWITCH #14-26
The Spawn Universe's favorite detectives come at you full-force in their own ground breaking series. Featuring an all-star cast of creators, the bar was set high for gritty crime fiction when Sam and Twitch first came on the scene. Follow the exploits of NYPD's two most dedicated public servants as they try to uncover the secrets behind the 'Bounty Hunter Wars'. Also includes the never before reprinted 'John Doe Affair' story arc by TODD MCFARLANE (story), with ALEX MALEEV (art) and PAUL LEE (art). Collected in an all-new size and format, SAM AND TWITCH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, VOL. 2 brings you the art and stories that made this series a classic. Extra features include an ASHLEY WOOD cover gallery and behind-the-scenes art.
The Spawn Universe's favorite detectives come at you full-force in their own ground breaking series. Featuring an all-star cast of creators, the bar was set high for gritty crime fiction when Sam and Twitch first came on the scene. Follow the exploits of NYPD's two most dedicated public servants as they try to uncover the secrets behind the 'Bounty Hunter Wars'. Also includes the never before reprinted 'John Doe Affair' story arc by TODD MCFARLANE (story), with ALEX MALEEV (art) and PAUL LEE (art). Collected in an all-new size and format, SAM AND TWITCH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, VOL. 2 brings you the art and stories that made this series a classic. Extra features include an ASHLEY WOOD cover gallery and behind-the-scenes art.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2012
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,417 books2,569 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 7, 2017
This review is for the actual comic issues collected in this series.
I can only imagine that reading this series when it first came out would have been incredibly frustrating and one I would not have stuck with. The letters pages indicate that the book was always late, with a one year gap occurring between issues 24 and 25. For a mystery series (which is usually my least favorite genre in comics due to the long time between issues) that would have been a deal breaker.
On top of that, the series had a major creative change, going from Brian Michael Bendis and Angel Medina to Bendis and Alex Maleev, to finally writer Todd McFarlane and artist Paul Lee. The most jarring change in in the writing, which went from solid, very Bendis style dialogue to an overwritten McFarlane style that frequently used every available inch of panel space to cram in dialogue. On top of that, the editing appears to have slipped as well at the creative transition, as typos routinely slip through (I noticed a few "you're" instead of "yours") and lettering issues where spaces are missing and apostrophe's dangle away from their words. I'll probably draw ire for saying this, but I actually prefer the simpler Paul Lee art to either of the prior two guys, and think the best drawn segment of the entire series was the two detectives exploring the killer's property in issue 26.
The two storylines collected in this volume include a bounty hunter storyline where Twitch's girlfriend is shot in a random act of bad luck by a visiting bounty hunter and a serial killer who targets Sam and sends him videotapes of all his killings. The first story is fine, though it seemed like an excuse for Bendis to have his Jinx character crossover into this book. The concluding storyline not only completely brushes the ending of the previous arc under the rug and ignores exploring Twitch leaving the force, but then ends up feeling like so many police story cliches strung together. Besides enjoying the art in this final story, I did also appreciate that we finally get a sense of Sam as a human being outside of work. I enjoyed this series overall when read in a few sittings, though the quality was up then down in terms of writing and inconsistent in terms of art.
I can only imagine that reading this series when it first came out would have been incredibly frustrating and one I would not have stuck with. The letters pages indicate that the book was always late, with a one year gap occurring between issues 24 and 25. For a mystery series (which is usually my least favorite genre in comics due to the long time between issues) that would have been a deal breaker.
On top of that, the series had a major creative change, going from Brian Michael Bendis and Angel Medina to Bendis and Alex Maleev, to finally writer Todd McFarlane and artist Paul Lee. The most jarring change in in the writing, which went from solid, very Bendis style dialogue to an overwritten McFarlane style that frequently used every available inch of panel space to cram in dialogue. On top of that, the editing appears to have slipped as well at the creative transition, as typos routinely slip through (I noticed a few "you're" instead of "yours") and lettering issues where spaces are missing and apostrophe's dangle away from their words. I'll probably draw ire for saying this, but I actually prefer the simpler Paul Lee art to either of the prior two guys, and think the best drawn segment of the entire series was the two detectives exploring the killer's property in issue 26.
The two storylines collected in this volume include a bounty hunter storyline where Twitch's girlfriend is shot in a random act of bad luck by a visiting bounty hunter and a serial killer who targets Sam and sends him videotapes of all his killings. The first story is fine, though it seemed like an excuse for Bendis to have his Jinx character crossover into this book. The concluding storyline not only completely brushes the ending of the previous arc under the rug and ignores exploring Twitch leaving the force, but then ends up feeling like so many police story cliches strung together. Besides enjoying the art in this final story, I did also appreciate that we finally get a sense of Sam as a human being outside of work. I enjoyed this series overall when read in a few sittings, though the quality was up then down in terms of writing and inconsistent in terms of art.
September 1, 2023
After first book, that left kind of mixed feelings, second was great surprise. Three stories, one short, two longer, are set in more realistic plane, without any occult or fantasy elements. And it works great. Almost each page is lesson in depression. Police work from dark, unseen side. Sam and Twitch are not heroes. Just ordinary guys, with own problems, non existent social life, and troubled past. Living by their believes, trying to do some good in rotten police precinct in even more rotten city of NY. Sometimes it seems they want to stop, but at the end of the they, that's all they've got...
February 2, 2014
The Brian Michael Bendis first half of this is great. The Todd McFarlane second half is okay. McFarlane's story has an extremely similar feel to the major arc of volume 1, but is otherwise fairly interesting. Spoiler alert (or complete lack of spoilers alert?): The main problem I have with it is that it ends without even telling you who the actual killer is.
November 27, 2014
Two more arcs in this second and final collection of Sam and Twitch - "The Bounty Hunter Wars" and "The John Doe Affair." Contrary to popular opinion around here, I actually enjoyed the John Doe Affair (written not by Bendis, but McFarlane himself) quite a bit, and it was my favorite piece in the series. Sure there were a lot of loose ends, but that's life in the detective business and we don't always get the answers or outcomes we desire. I also think that "The John Doe Affair" did the most in the way of character development of each of the four major arcs. The tragedy visited upon Twitch in "Bounty Hunters" seemed like a device to have him sink into himself and become more sullen, a change I didn't necessarily appreciate. It ruined the dynamic between the partners in ways that made for much less enjoyable reading. I liked how the ending was kind of a mixed bag of feelings - hope for redemption and second chances and despair at how the more things change, the more they stay the same. All communicated through the gritty art style, which, although not up to the standards of the first volume, was still a spectacular fit for the this type of tale.
November 10, 2024
A book of two halves.
The first half finished bendis story pretty well despite the many times art has changed at this point. The story was pretty bland compared to the earlier ’weird’ cases that drew me to the book but the stories do fit the characters.
Then the second half kinda ignored bendis ending and told a crime story that never truly gets solved. Like many of these tales, they either kill the suspect or find the victim and just end the story. No mop up, no reflection.
The speech is still difficult to read without any balloons and the pages still randomly read across the spread without anything to indicate this is happening.
So overall. This series starts out with the premise of ‘strange cases’, but ends up being just another generic crime book by the end.
Still left wondering how those men in coats came to be from book one? That would have been an interesting story.
The first half finished bendis story pretty well despite the many times art has changed at this point. The story was pretty bland compared to the earlier ’weird’ cases that drew me to the book but the stories do fit the characters.
Then the second half kinda ignored bendis ending and told a crime story that never truly gets solved. Like many of these tales, they either kill the suspect or find the victim and just end the story. No mop up, no reflection.
The speech is still difficult to read without any balloons and the pages still randomly read across the spread without anything to indicate this is happening.
So overall. This series starts out with the premise of ‘strange cases’, but ends up being just another generic crime book by the end.
Still left wondering how those men in coats came to be from book one? That would have been an interesting story.
December 9, 2015
Actually only read The John Doe Affair. Can't find it by itself on goodreads. Adding this instead :)
March 19, 2024
This was headed for five stars until I got to the ending. This was a great noir story, very dark and there were always twists and turns. However, for such a great build up, the ending was too abrupt. It wasn't a bad ending, just left some things unsaid. It's like the story needed one more issue in order to wrap things up correctly.
That being said, this was still a very good read, and very different for a comic story as well. There were still plenty of stories left for these two, it's too bad the series ended so soon.
That being said, this was still a very good read, and very different for a comic story as well. There were still plenty of stories left for these two, it's too bad the series ended so soon.
July 18, 2014
I didn't think this was all that amazing. I do think I may have reached my Bendis limit for awhile, though. Something about his writing/dialog...it gets tedious in large doses. The MacFarlane run at the end of this collection didn't do much for me either. Not bad. Not amazing.
March 10, 2018
Esto es justo lo que quería leer.
Ahora sí, basado en lo que hizo previamente Bendis en la serie, llega un buen guión de McFarlane que une todo haciendo uso de su mejor conocimiento de ambos personajes, quebrándolos de donde más cojean.
Las dos historias, hacen gala de la acción y misterio que querríamos ver en este tipo de cómics sobre detectives, no se extraña a Spawn ni un poquito. Incluso con un par de grandes sorpresas que vienen de la nada.
Y Alex Maleev, dios mío, Alex Maleev. Perfecto como siempre. Hace gala del storytelling y muestra unos detectives mucho más humanos que los que hemos visto en las entregas pasadas.
Vale mucho la pena y me ha gustado bastante, buen spin-off de Spawn y geniales adversarios a los que tuvieron que enfrentarse en este volumen Sam & Twitch.
Ahora sí, basado en lo que hizo previamente Bendis en la serie, llega un buen guión de McFarlane que une todo haciendo uso de su mejor conocimiento de ambos personajes, quebrándolos de donde más cojean.
Las dos historias, hacen gala de la acción y misterio que querríamos ver en este tipo de cómics sobre detectives, no se extraña a Spawn ni un poquito. Incluso con un par de grandes sorpresas que vienen de la nada.
Y Alex Maleev, dios mío, Alex Maleev. Perfecto como siempre. Hace gala del storytelling y muestra unos detectives mucho más humanos que los que hemos visto en las entregas pasadas.
Vale mucho la pena y me ha gustado bastante, buen spin-off de Spawn y geniales adversarios a los que tuvieron que enfrentarse en este volumen Sam & Twitch.
July 21, 2025
The second volume, with two long story arcs, is a riveting read too. Less magic, but more darker and series and personalised issues are explored here.
The first arc begins with a bounty hunter shooting KC, Twitch's recent friend and partner and we go on a chase.
The ending of the John Doe affair was certainly a let down. To actually peak up the pace until the moment of finding the killer and then ending without revealing what's what, who's who & why's why - turned out to be a let down.
The first arc begins with a bounty hunter shooting KC, Twitch's recent friend and partner and we go on a chase.
The ending of the John Doe affair was certainly a let down. To actually peak up the pace until the moment of finding the killer and then ending without revealing what's what, who's who & why's why - turned out to be a let down.
January 9, 2021
Seriously SO good. Very dark and gritty but genuinely great.
May 29, 2016
3-3.5 stars. Not really as good as the previous book.
The story goes a little more brooding mood in this book. The fun part of the first book is completely missing. I understand, that both the story arcs in this book is deeply personal for either of the characters, and hence it is not easy to incorporate the fun bantering. But still I missed the wisecracking Sam in this book.
The story arcs in this book are more and more grounded in reality. This reads like a crime comic book at the end than the supernatural feeling of the first. Which I like very much. The art by Alex Maleev is top notch.
All said and done, if Image decides to publish any more Sam & Twitch mysteries in the future, I will definitely get in line to get my hands on it. (May be hire, Brubaker to write. Bendis/Rucka/Azarello/Aaron will do fine too).
Book Quality:
Overall quality wise, it is a nice book. Nice Hardcovers. Good/tasteful art on the covers. Thick good stock glossy paper. But the major complain I have with both the volumes is, its binding. It is glued!! I mean, who glue binds hardcover premium cost comic books?! Come on Image, you can do better. Due to this binding, a lot of gorgeous double page art got lost in the gutter. I will probably try to get them customized bound. Thanks a lot Image!
The story goes a little more brooding mood in this book. The fun part of the first book is completely missing. I understand, that both the story arcs in this book is deeply personal for either of the characters, and hence it is not easy to incorporate the fun bantering. But still I missed the wisecracking Sam in this book.
The story arcs in this book are more and more grounded in reality. This reads like a crime comic book at the end than the supernatural feeling of the first. Which I like very much. The art by Alex Maleev is top notch.
All said and done, if Image decides to publish any more Sam & Twitch mysteries in the future, I will definitely get in line to get my hands on it. (May be hire, Brubaker to write. Bendis/Rucka/Azarello/Aaron will do fine too).
Book Quality:
Overall quality wise, it is a nice book. Nice Hardcovers. Good/tasteful art on the covers. Thick good stock glossy paper. But the major complain I have with both the volumes is, its binding. It is glued!! I mean, who glue binds hardcover premium cost comic books?! Come on Image, you can do better. Due to this binding, a lot of gorgeous double page art got lost in the gutter. I will probably try to get them customized bound. Thanks a lot Image!
February 18, 2016
Sam and Twitch Vol. 2!!! Man, they went out with a bang on this one. It's like one bad luck after another for our lovable detectives. First, they get involved with a dick of a bounty hunter determined to piss off everyone, just as Twitch was settling in with his girlfriend; And next, Sam gets sick snuff films hand delivered to his desk and apartment by a mask serial killer, right when he met some girl that actually likes him. I kinda feel for these guys. Bendis and McFarlane really played these characters well, pushing them right over the edge, yet staying grounded within the boundaries of a detective story. You wouldn't even think that they came from a comic book about a superhero from hell.
Awesome work! Bendis should make more of these kind of stories.
Awesome work! Bendis should make more of these kind of stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2014
Near perfect crime noir with Bendis ' unerring dialogue throughout and the perfect atmospheric art by meisters Crain, Maleev and Wood.
Superb stories of punishing crime and the grey between.
Superb stories of punishing crime and the grey between.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews