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The Assignment #1-3
The Assignment
In The Assignment, hitman Frank Kitchen takes a job to eliminate a celebrated fashion designer who's fallen behind on his debts to the mob. The story takes a savage turn when the victim's sister, a sociopathic surgeon, decides to punish Frank in a unique way. Abducted and operated on against his will, Frank Kitchen awakens in an altered condition – but still with a hitman's hunger for revenge...
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2016
10 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Matz
176 books47 followers"Matz" is the pseudonym for French writer Alexis Nolent. He has written scripts for video games, a novel, and as Matz, a number of comics including Triggerman by Walter Hill. His graphic novel, Du plombe dan la tete a.k.a. Headshot, was adapted into the 2012 film, Bullet To The Head.
See http://www.dargaud.com/bd/Auteurs/Matz for a bio in French.
See http://www.dargaud.com/bd/Auteurs/Matz for a bio in French.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 29, 2017
Most fans of crime fiction are familiar with the solid work put out by Hard Case Crime. But fewer might know that they've just recently started delving into the comic book world with the intention of bringing the same high quality work to the graphic fiction world, so far recruiting great authors like Christa Faust, Megan Abbott, Max Allan Collins, and legendary filmmaker Walter Hill. One of the Walter Hill stories is now the first complete graphic novel release from the company.
The story here is pure pulp, following a smooth hitman named Frank Kitchen who is kidnapped by the batshit crazy sister of his latest victim whose intention is to (umm, let's see, how should I say this?...)...permanently "transition" him. He is released into the world as a "changed" man but with a grudge and the will to track down the people responsible. Cue the bullets!
It's an action-packed tale similar to an entertaining B-movie that you can't help but finish. It's interesting to see Frank trying to deal with his new life, although it takes a bit of suspension of disbelief. The way that the writers treat the villain and the hospital scenes are a little awkward as well but the art pays a great attention to detail and this graphic novel is definitely worth a look! FYI, there's a reportedly-shitty movie adaptation of this directed by Hill and starring Michelle Rodriguez.
The story here is pure pulp, following a smooth hitman named Frank Kitchen who is kidnapped by the batshit crazy sister of his latest victim whose intention is to (umm, let's see, how should I say this?...)...permanently "transition" him. He is released into the world as a "changed" man but with a grudge and the will to track down the people responsible. Cue the bullets!
It's an action-packed tale similar to an entertaining B-movie that you can't help but finish. It's interesting to see Frank trying to deal with his new life, although it takes a bit of suspension of disbelief. The way that the writers treat the villain and the hospital scenes are a little awkward as well but the art pays a great attention to detail and this graphic novel is definitely worth a look! FYI, there's a reportedly-shitty movie adaptation of this directed by Hill and starring Michelle Rodriguez.
November 13, 2024
J'ai adoré la page 20
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October 18, 2019Co-writer Walter Hill was responsible for The Warriors, and if this had come out in the seventies too I can see it also being a cult favourite; problematic, sure, and definitely trashy, but of its time, and as such regarded fondly. Alas, it came out in the latter half of the 2010s, when you'd have to put rather more thought into the story of a hitman undergoing forced gender reassignment. This is not even to say it can't be done – Gail Simone and Cat Staggs' Crosswind managed it, more or less, albeit with a mystical rather than medical method of transition; it was a fun body-swap thriller but also one aware of the scenario's pitfalls and trying its best to steer around them. This, though, mostly feels a bit icky, not least in the way the protagonist's boobs so frequently end up out during fight scenes for one flimsy reason or another. Although in terms of Jef's art, at least when there's a conventionally attractive female-presenting body to ogle the pages look a bit like old Playboy cartoons; the rest of the time, especially on the faces of men or less favoured women, it's just a bit weird and wonky. All in all, a bit of a clusterfuck.
December 20, 2017
A hitman gets setup and wakes up in a new gender. They set out for revenge against who wronged them to end up as a vigilante against people who wronged women. Kind of lame though that this is a the same story of a movie by the same writer.
November 7, 2020
Very different. Caught me off guard. I will be looking into more Hard Case stories. I am woman, hear me roar!
December 3, 2021
Great story, good enough art, a few good twists and an awesome ending.
A good protagonist, a villain to match, and quite a few interesting supporting roles.
Noir at its best.
A good protagonist, a villain to match, and quite a few interesting supporting roles.
Noir at its best.
May 25, 2020
If I remember correctly, I came across this graphic novel because some activist or something ranting about the movie adaptation being transphobic... or was it mysogynistic? I don't even get why as the story looks rather hyperfeminist to me. Doesn't matter, because I did get why in either way. In fact, even after finishing and reflecting on this story, I still do not get one thing:
Why was the protagonist changed into a woman? Especially since she looks like extensive surgery has been performed, of a sort that is usually not possible, it seems almost magical.
The story started out average enough if a bit stereotypical with its drug snorting designer and the faces of the people looking somewhat odd at times. Like that Jin Tao looking like he has an odd overbite. And that Frank has an almost neanderthal like browridge. And does he have facial scars or not? Really odd.
It took me a bit to realize that the flashbacks actually weren't flashbacks, I just thought it was, because I had no other explanations. The main story is technically the flashback as the ones in the insane asylum happened after the end of the novel.
And I never understood why the sex-change was performed, not even for a plot device. Frank did not kill the woman he resembles now, he is not a mysoginist, so why? Maybe the author chose a sex change as a plot device to make it more shocking how such a world would react differently to a woman than to a man, as a woman probably would not have made the mistakes Frank makes here and would not have become a victim so easily.
If the author actually thought this through. You see, apparently a character named Johnnie recognized Frank's voice. Wouldn't that mean Frank still has a male voice? Then why did not one person comment on that? Frank does not look even remotely male anymore, so wouldn't a male voice coming from a woman not be raising at least some eyebrows.
And I am not even sure why the physician picked him except maybe because he was low enough on the power ladder to get some sort of revenge for herself without some serious hurdles or blow back.
And both Frank and Johnnie seem to have gotten over the sex change pretty quickly and even though Johnnie being the nurse talked about before and was helping the physician would explain a few things, most was not.
And in the end "Frank" is a guardian angel of sorts for women being exploited by men aka he kills men... that sounds so familiar. Familiar and odd. Why does he do that?
In the end, this story was rather confusing because several things do not make sense respectively were not explained and while this is fine for stories who work based on that notion, this here is clearly not one of them.
Why was the protagonist changed into a woman? Especially since she looks like extensive surgery has been performed, of a sort that is usually not possible, it seems almost magical.
The story started out average enough if a bit stereotypical with its drug snorting designer and the faces of the people looking somewhat odd at times. Like that Jin Tao looking like he has an odd overbite. And that Frank has an almost neanderthal like browridge. And does he have facial scars or not? Really odd.
It took me a bit to realize that the flashbacks actually weren't flashbacks, I just thought it was, because I had no other explanations. The main story is technically the flashback as the ones in the insane asylum happened after the end of the novel.
And I never understood why the sex-change was performed, not even for a plot device. Frank did not kill the woman he resembles now, he is not a mysoginist, so why? Maybe the author chose a sex change as a plot device to make it more shocking how such a world would react differently to a woman than to a man, as a woman probably would not have made the mistakes Frank makes here and would not have become a victim so easily.
If the author actually thought this through. You see, apparently a character named Johnnie recognized Frank's voice. Wouldn't that mean Frank still has a male voice? Then why did not one person comment on that? Frank does not look even remotely male anymore, so wouldn't a male voice coming from a woman not be raising at least some eyebrows.
And I am not even sure why the physician picked him except maybe because he was low enough on the power ladder to get some sort of revenge for herself without some serious hurdles or blow back.
And both Frank and Johnnie seem to have gotten over the sex change pretty quickly and even though Johnnie being the nurse talked about before and was helping the physician would explain a few things, most was not.
And in the end "Frank" is a guardian angel of sorts for women being exploited by men aka he kills men... that sounds so familiar. Familiar and odd. Why does he do that?
In the end, this story was rather confusing because several things do not make sense respectively were not explained and while this is fine for stories who work based on that notion, this here is clearly not one of them.
March 22, 2017
Frank Kitchens is a hit man whose last victim was a successful fashion mogul that owed money to the wrong people. Unfortunately, Frank’s boss double-crosses him after the job is complete. He is ambushed, knocked unconscious, and wakes up months later to discover he has been forced to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Now, he has the body of a beautiful woman, and he quickly embarks on a mission to find the deranged surgeon who did this and kill everyone involved.
Yes, the story is as thin as it sounds. However, it is fast-paced and engaging due to the striking artwork, especially on the kindle software which lets you zoom and expand each panel. (Some of the art is not appropriate for children, so be careful where you leave it around the house!)
Do not expect anything political or politically correct. There is no exploration of transgender issues or the gender reassignment process. This is a pulp story inspired by B-movies and fueled by violence and sex. No deeper insights occur than Frank realizing it is wrong to mistreat women or idly wondering if he is now a lesbian.
This graphic novel was first released in France in 2015 under the title Corps Et Âme (Body and Soul). It was based on a then-unproduced screenplay “Tomboy” by Walter Hill and Denis Hamill.
Hill had tried unsuccessfully for more than 15 years to get this movie made and eventually decided to adapt it as graphic novel instead. (This seems to be a popular strategic move because comic books are similar to the Hollywood tradition of storyboarding. Seeing a script in graphic form helps investors and producers visualize the story and estimate its budget before they make a decision to greenlight.)
The move paid off. Tomboy was retitled (Re)Assignment and filmed with Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver in the main roles. Shortly prior to release, the title was changed again to The Assignment to avoid the perception the movie was trying to exploit the transgender community.
Charles Ardai translated the graphic novel to English and released it under his Hard Case Crime imprint in early 2017.
(The Goodreads listing for this Kindle edition is a little confusing. This review is for the compilation of the 3-issue comic series into a single graphic novel. It was co-written by Walter Hill and Matz. This is not the same as The Assignment #1, which is just the first issue by itself.)
Yes, the story is as thin as it sounds. However, it is fast-paced and engaging due to the striking artwork, especially on the kindle software which lets you zoom and expand each panel. (Some of the art is not appropriate for children, so be careful where you leave it around the house!)
Do not expect anything political or politically correct. There is no exploration of transgender issues or the gender reassignment process. This is a pulp story inspired by B-movies and fueled by violence and sex. No deeper insights occur than Frank realizing it is wrong to mistreat women or idly wondering if he is now a lesbian.
This graphic novel was first released in France in 2015 under the title Corps Et Âme (Body and Soul). It was based on a then-unproduced screenplay “Tomboy” by Walter Hill and Denis Hamill.
Hill had tried unsuccessfully for more than 15 years to get this movie made and eventually decided to adapt it as graphic novel instead. (This seems to be a popular strategic move because comic books are similar to the Hollywood tradition of storyboarding. Seeing a script in graphic form helps investors and producers visualize the story and estimate its budget before they make a decision to greenlight.)
The move paid off. Tomboy was retitled (Re)Assignment and filmed with Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver in the main roles. Shortly prior to release, the title was changed again to The Assignment to avoid the perception the movie was trying to exploit the transgender community.
Charles Ardai translated the graphic novel to English and released it under his Hard Case Crime imprint in early 2017.
(The Goodreads listing for this Kindle edition is a little confusing. This review is for the compilation of the 3-issue comic series into a single graphic novel. It was co-written by Walter Hill and Matz. This is not the same as The Assignment #1, which is just the first issue by itself.)
October 1, 2017
Je mehr ich über Tomboy nachdenke, desto weniger gefällt mir das Album. Der "deutsche" Titel ist mehr als irreführend. Der/Die Verantwortliche wusste wohl nicht, was der Begriff bedeutet. Es geht um einen Profikiller (männlich, weiß cis), der eines Tages als trans Frau aufwacht. Es stellt sich heraus, dass die Schwester seines letzten Opfers eine Schönheitschirurgin ist und sich so an ihm gerächt hat...
Ziemlich abstruse Story Idee, die auf einem Drehbuch von Walter Hill beruht. Man merkt, dass weder Hill noch Mats wirklich Ahnung von der Materie Trans* haben. Außerdem hat die crime noir Story Logiklöcher.
Positiv fand ich die recht realistischen Zeichnungen und die Kolorierung von Jef.
War vielleicht gut gemeint, aber ist definitiv nicht gut gemacht.
Ziemlich abstruse Story Idee, die auf einem Drehbuch von Walter Hill beruht. Man merkt, dass weder Hill noch Mats wirklich Ahnung von der Materie Trans* haben. Außerdem hat die crime noir Story Logiklöcher.
Positiv fand ich die recht realistischen Zeichnungen und die Kolorierung von Jef.
War vielleicht gut gemeint, aber ist definitiv nicht gut gemacht.
June 4, 2017
Yay, a story by Walter Hill. About a hired gun who gets... turned into a woman as revenge/punishment? Whoo-boy. Admittedly, some of it was cringe-worthy, and I'm still not sure this entire story isn't hugely offensive.
October 7, 2019
Well drawn and had potential, but the central premise is a bit silly and kinda transphobic.
December 17, 2023
La revanche d'une flingueuse
En croyant avoir décroché un juteux contrat pour Noël, Franck Kitchen, tueur à gage notoire dont la furtivité n'a d'égale que l'élégance, tombe dans un sordide guet-apens.
Après plusieurs semaines de coma, l'assassin de profession se réveille ... dans le corps d'une femme.
Face au miroir, Franck perçoit des traces de bistouris sur son corps transformé, méconnaissable.
L'auteur de ce crime pas comme les autres a tout de même pris la peine de lui laisser des pilules hormonales, quelques vêtements et la photo de Sebastian Kaye, qui n'est autre que son dernier "contrat" "exécuté" quelques mois plus tôt à New York.
S'il s'agit d'un parfait règlement de compte opéré par un cinglé de la chirurgie de transition de genre, alors pourquoi ne pas l'avoir descendu froidement ?
En attendant l'heure de sa revanche et forte de ce seul indice, Franck va devoir dans un premier temps apprendre les bases de sa nouvelle féminité avant de mener son enquête sur la piste du commanditaire de cette opération invraisemblable.
Ainsi commence le parcours de la combattante pour Franck, bien déterminée à se venger de ses ennemis.
Elle réalisera ô combien les femmes doivent redoubler d'habileté pour survivre et réussir dans un monde de misogynie, de chaos et de violence.
Pour ma part,
Plein la vue.
Corps et âme est la narration de Franck Kitchen, un tueur à gage qui se réveille dans la peau d'une femme. Il ne s'agit pas d'une réincarnation, mais bien d'une opération de transition de genre de haute volée.
Le récit de Franck est une façon originale d'aborder le thème de la féminité et du féminisme. Dans son nouveau corps, Franck doit donc se réinventer et casser les préjugés pour s'imposer dans le monde de la pègre et obtenir vengeance. Là dessus, je ne vous en dis pas plus, vous le découvrirez en lisant l'album.
J'ai littéralement été séduite par la grâce des traits des protagonistes et éblouie par la beauté des couleurs variées et contrastées.
Le graphisme ultra réaliste et richement détaillé respecte les codes du genre policier et du thriller psychologique, en mêlant humour noir, violence graphique et émotion profonde.
Il en résulte un album luxuriant aux effets visuels étonnants : explosions, rutilances, effusions de sang, et aux décors variés : de New York à Shangaï , des hôtels luxueux aux quartiers mal famés ... Bref tout et son contraire.
Corps et âme est une BD exceptionnelle captivante dès la première page qui aborde le sujet de la condition féminine avec intelligence.
Je recommande.
https://www.aikadeliredelire.com/2023...
En croyant avoir décroché un juteux contrat pour Noël, Franck Kitchen, tueur à gage notoire dont la furtivité n'a d'égale que l'élégance, tombe dans un sordide guet-apens.
Après plusieurs semaines de coma, l'assassin de profession se réveille ... dans le corps d'une femme.
Face au miroir, Franck perçoit des traces de bistouris sur son corps transformé, méconnaissable.
L'auteur de ce crime pas comme les autres a tout de même pris la peine de lui laisser des pilules hormonales, quelques vêtements et la photo de Sebastian Kaye, qui n'est autre que son dernier "contrat" "exécuté" quelques mois plus tôt à New York.
S'il s'agit d'un parfait règlement de compte opéré par un cinglé de la chirurgie de transition de genre, alors pourquoi ne pas l'avoir descendu froidement ?
En attendant l'heure de sa revanche et forte de ce seul indice, Franck va devoir dans un premier temps apprendre les bases de sa nouvelle féminité avant de mener son enquête sur la piste du commanditaire de cette opération invraisemblable.
Ainsi commence le parcours de la combattante pour Franck, bien déterminée à se venger de ses ennemis.
Elle réalisera ô combien les femmes doivent redoubler d'habileté pour survivre et réussir dans un monde de misogynie, de chaos et de violence.
Pour ma part,
Plein la vue.
Corps et âme est la narration de Franck Kitchen, un tueur à gage qui se réveille dans la peau d'une femme. Il ne s'agit pas d'une réincarnation, mais bien d'une opération de transition de genre de haute volée.
Le récit de Franck est une façon originale d'aborder le thème de la féminité et du féminisme. Dans son nouveau corps, Franck doit donc se réinventer et casser les préjugés pour s'imposer dans le monde de la pègre et obtenir vengeance. Là dessus, je ne vous en dis pas plus, vous le découvrirez en lisant l'album.
J'ai littéralement été séduite par la grâce des traits des protagonistes et éblouie par la beauté des couleurs variées et contrastées.
Le graphisme ultra réaliste et richement détaillé respecte les codes du genre policier et du thriller psychologique, en mêlant humour noir, violence graphique et émotion profonde.
Il en résulte un album luxuriant aux effets visuels étonnants : explosions, rutilances, effusions de sang, et aux décors variés : de New York à Shangaï , des hôtels luxueux aux quartiers mal famés ... Bref tout et son contraire.
Corps et âme est une BD exceptionnelle captivante dès la première page qui aborde le sujet de la condition féminine avec intelligence.
Je recommande.
https://www.aikadeliredelire.com/2023...
December 24, 2023
December 2023. Went in with no knowledge of this beyond an interesting cover and seeing it was a crime genre, grabbed from the library. If i did my research I would’ve skipped. Don’t recommend.
Beyond the issue with the central conceit, which is transphobic and in no way earned, the comic Is pretty boring. Just about every confrontation is the same except for him adopting a dog while murdering the owner, which he then kennels so we don’t see it again.
We don’t really see any emotions in the character before or after, or have any awareness of either his perception as masculine or how he interacts with women, and the whole premise seems completely pointless and thoughtless.
The gimmick/central premise is that a Hitman is kidnapped and forced to go under sexual reassignment surgery by an unhinged surgeon to appear to be a woman (bottom surgery, breast implants) while put under anesthesia for like a month.
Frank never identifies as a woman, so still using “he” pronouns for this.
Then he’s set loose, is homeless for a while, and sad and in hiding. Then he gets sexually harassed a bunch and fends off assaulters, discovers misogyny and sexism are real, etc. finally he goes on a revenge murder spree for the entirety of the mob boss and crew that set him up to get kidnapped (they didn’t know what the surgeon would do but got big bucks for bringing victims).
He ends it by dedicating his life to hunt down evil men like sex traffickers, now that his revenge is complete and he knows from Personal experience now that sexual harassment isn’t fun. Cool thanks Frank.
Skip this one.
Also, it would’ve been nice if there was a panel where the surgeon says “I tattooed permanent makeup on you and did laser hair removal so you’ll have a hairless body and perfect eyebrows appealing to the male gaze 4 months after the surgery when the comic ends” because I don’t believe this Hitman knew how or would put the work in for all that upkeep.
“The Assignment” by Matz, Walter Hill, and Jef.
Beyond the issue with the central conceit, which is transphobic and in no way earned, the comic Is pretty boring. Just about every confrontation is the same except for him adopting a dog while murdering the owner, which he then kennels so we don’t see it again.
We don’t really see any emotions in the character before or after, or have any awareness of either his perception as masculine or how he interacts with women, and the whole premise seems completely pointless and thoughtless.
The gimmick/central premise is that a Hitman is kidnapped and forced to go under sexual reassignment surgery by an unhinged surgeon to appear to be a woman (bottom surgery, breast implants) while put under anesthesia for like a month.
Frank never identifies as a woman, so still using “he” pronouns for this.
Then he’s set loose, is homeless for a while, and sad and in hiding. Then he gets sexually harassed a bunch and fends off assaulters, discovers misogyny and sexism are real, etc. finally he goes on a revenge murder spree for the entirety of the mob boss and crew that set him up to get kidnapped (they didn’t know what the surgeon would do but got big bucks for bringing victims).
He ends it by dedicating his life to hunt down evil men like sex traffickers, now that his revenge is complete and he knows from Personal experience now that sexual harassment isn’t fun. Cool thanks Frank.
Skip this one.
Also, it would’ve been nice if there was a panel where the surgeon says “I tattooed permanent makeup on you and did laser hair removal so you’ll have a hairless body and perfect eyebrows appealing to the male gaze 4 months after the surgery when the comic ends” because I don’t believe this Hitman knew how or would put the work in for all that upkeep.
“The Assignment” by Matz, Walter Hill, and Jef.
October 9, 2024
Excuses... Everybody's got one. For everything. Everything that goes wrong, everything they f*ck up. Everything that f*cks them up. I'm no different. But excuses are worthless. They don't change anything. Maybe I deserved what happened to me...
It takes some time to understand this sort of thing. For me, anyway. My first reaction was, i wanted revenge. It was the one and only thing I cared about. That somebody might want revenge against me, that was predictable. That they might succeed - that too. Nothing surprising, just part of the game. You know you might get taken out...
But I was still alive. I couldn't remember much, but I was still alive.
Having enjoyed some 'Hard Case Crime' recently, in the form of The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini and The Girl Who Electrified Tesla, I decided to finally dive into this graphic novel which has been waiting on my 'to-read' pile for far too long.
It is some story and quite unexpected. When a hitman is double-crossed, their life it turned upside down. Hitting rock-bottom they must pull themselves together and seek revenge against those who betrayed them.
Brutal and voilent. 4 stars.
It takes some time to understand this sort of thing. For me, anyway. My first reaction was, i wanted revenge. It was the one and only thing I cared about. That somebody might want revenge against me, that was predictable. That they might succeed - that too. Nothing surprising, just part of the game. You know you might get taken out...
But I was still alive. I couldn't remember much, but I was still alive.
Having enjoyed some 'Hard Case Crime' recently, in the form of The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini and The Girl Who Electrified Tesla, I decided to finally dive into this graphic novel which has been waiting on my 'to-read' pile for far too long.
It is some story and quite unexpected. When a hitman is double-crossed, their life it turned upside down. Hitting rock-bottom they must pull themselves together and seek revenge against those who betrayed them.
Brutal and voilent. 4 stars.
May 6, 2018
This is a graphic (EXTREMELY graphic) novel based on a movie by the same name (starring Michelle Rodriguez. When I heard the premise, I had to see how this would work. Macho hit man Frank Kitchen wakes up one day and finds himself transformed into a woman. The last thing he remembers before waking up was being double-crossed by the closest thing to a friend he had, a man who funneled a lot of work his way. He was shot and thought he was going to die, but instead he woke up female.
Frank finds an audio recording from a mysterious doctor explaining that she put him through involuntary gender reassignment surgery as revenge for killing someone the doctor cared for, and that he now has the chance for a new beginning as a superior being to what he once was.
Language and extreme nudity notwithstanding, I found this a compelling story. Frank looks for the doctor who did this to him, and his/her search is juxtaposed with the doctor in custody at a mental health facility being interviewed to determine her fitness to stand trial. It's more than just a revenge story- it's a very unique look at someone forced to reevaluate his life under extreme duress and also forced to figure out what said life will be- if he survives searching for the mysterious doctor.
Frank finds an audio recording from a mysterious doctor explaining that she put him through involuntary gender reassignment surgery as revenge for killing someone the doctor cared for, and that he now has the chance for a new beginning as a superior being to what he once was.
Language and extreme nudity notwithstanding, I found this a compelling story. Frank looks for the doctor who did this to him, and his/her search is juxtaposed with the doctor in custody at a mental health facility being interviewed to determine her fitness to stand trial. It's more than just a revenge story- it's a very unique look at someone forced to reevaluate his life under extreme duress and also forced to figure out what said life will be- if he survives searching for the mysterious doctor.
March 18, 2025
It's the extreme logical extension of Richard Stark's The Man with the Getaway Face or Don Pendleton's Battle Mask: if you're getting extensive plastic surgery to hide in plain sight, why not include a gender bending element at the same time? That's kind of what's going on here, but there's the additional layer of mystery as the protagonist was forced into this situation and isn't sure what happened or why. So sort of like D.O.A. but with transitioning (arguably not even the right word, forced transitioning, I guess) into a woman. W.O.A. I suppose.
Plenty of weird body autonomy things, plenty of heavy-handed gender commentary. This is the kind of thing that could very easily be accused of just being the author's poorly-disguised fetish, but it didn't really feel that way to me. I could see this not working for a lot of people, but I'm always excited to read a story that feels fresh while harkening back to the classics of the genre.
If it goes too far, at least it's trying something, and while it might not be truly thought-provoking, it didn't feel particularly exploitative either.
Plenty of weird body autonomy things, plenty of heavy-handed gender commentary. This is the kind of thing that could very easily be accused of just being the author's poorly-disguised fetish, but it didn't really feel that way to me. I could see this not working for a lot of people, but I'm always excited to read a story that feels fresh while harkening back to the classics of the genre.
If it goes too far, at least it's trying something, and while it might not be truly thought-provoking, it didn't feel particularly exploitative either.
November 9, 2022
THE ASSIGNMENT je bio slab film Waltera Hilla. Izašao je i u formi stripa koji kao scenaristi potpisuju Hill i Gemil, sa francuskim strip-autorima koji su upoznali Hilla kada je snimio njihov strip BULLET TO THE HEAD koji je bio njegov prethodni slab film.
I, nažalost, THE ASSIGNMENT je ne samo slab kao film - a filmu je falilo mnogo toga, između ostalog i novca - već je slab i kao strip.
E sad, strip nema neku potrebu za novcem da bi bio uzbudljiviji i bolje dizajniran, ali nažalost priča je u ovom stripu čisto scenaristički loše ispričana. Mnogo prostora se troši na lirske detalje a onda se priča preskače u elipsama koje prenebregavaju važne detalje. Ali, čak i da nema tog problema sa elipsama i uklanjanja bitnih delova zapleta iz grafičke supstance stripa, nažalost sama priča je prosto bezveze. Film sam već malo zaboravio, pamtim više gorčinu gledalačkog utiska, ali čini mi se da je strip možda i oskudniji.
I, nažalost, THE ASSIGNMENT je ne samo slab kao film - a filmu je falilo mnogo toga, između ostalog i novca - već je slab i kao strip.
E sad, strip nema neku potrebu za novcem da bi bio uzbudljiviji i bolje dizajniran, ali nažalost priča je u ovom stripu čisto scenaristički loše ispričana. Mnogo prostora se troši na lirske detalje a onda se priča preskače u elipsama koje prenebregavaju važne detalje. Ali, čak i da nema tog problema sa elipsama i uklanjanja bitnih delova zapleta iz grafičke supstance stripa, nažalost sama priča je prosto bezveze. Film sam već malo zaboravio, pamtim više gorčinu gledalačkog utiska, ali čini mi se da je strip možda i oskudniji.
February 25, 2025
This story is pure pulpy noir. The premise of a hired killer getting revenge against the people who double crossed him is nothing new. What is new is that they turn him into a woman via a surgical sex change. Weird premise? Most definitely. However, it makes for interesting reading.
There are nods to changing Frank's attitude and appreciation towards women after he becomes one. These are done subtle enough to be noticeable, without preaching to the reader.
SPOLIER ALERT: It is noir so ending on a super happy note is not in character for the genre. However, I wanted Frank and Johnnie to work together to get even with the sociopathic surgeon and leave together as lovers and friends to live a better life together away from the violence. Killing off Johnnie fits the genre, but not the ending I wanted.
The art is ugly, but it fits the story perfectly. This is not a beautiful world they live in and it shows in the art work.
There are nods to changing Frank's attitude and appreciation towards women after he becomes one. These are done subtle enough to be noticeable, without preaching to the reader.
SPOLIER ALERT: It is noir so ending on a super happy note is not in character for the genre. However, I wanted Frank and Johnnie to work together to get even with the sociopathic surgeon and leave together as lovers and friends to live a better life together away from the violence. Killing off Johnnie fits the genre, but not the ending I wanted.
The art is ugly, but it fits the story perfectly. This is not a beautiful world they live in and it shows in the art work.
November 20, 2021
Hitman Frank Kitchen’s last assignment went sideways, and he woke up to find that someone had performed a sex-change operation on him. A good one, too. Now, Frank is seeing things from a whole new perspective.
This is the plot of the Hard Case Crime graphic novel “The Assignment”, written by Matz, based on a screenplay by Walter Hill and Denis Hamill, and drawn by Jef.
It’s a story that could have easily devolved into awkward and uncomfortable sexism but, amazingly, doesn’t.
Frank’s forced gender reassignment actually works in his favor, as he begins to see the world from the perspective of the “weaker sex”, a patriarchal label for women that belies the inherent strength and wherewithal of females.
He begins to understand the unconscious sexist bias of men—the mistreatment, the underestimation, the indifference—-and how that can be flipped to his advantage. As a man, he was a decent hitman. As a woman, he is even deadlier.
Is the novel transphobic? As someone who is not transphobic, I can see how transphobic people may interpret it that way, although keep in mind that what is being described in the story isn’t a man who freely decides to switch genders but a man who has forcefully been transformed into a woman against his will. A crime has been perpetrated upon him.
It is like saying that a straight man who is raped by a gay man and complains about it is homophobic. Homophobia has nothing to do with it. Rape is rape, regardless of who is committing it.
The misogynistic argument is that Frank has had his masculinity stripped from him. His new feminine self is, according to misogynists, inherently a negative, owing to the fact that anything feminine is a negative.
But I didn’t get that reading from this book. If anything, I interpreted Frank’s actions and behaviors as completely believable. He had every right to be pissed off, not because he was now a woman but because he was never given the choice. The fact that he makes the best of his new situation and actually learns a little something in the process is actually the opposite of misogynistic.
Apparently, there was a 2016 film adaptation called “Tomboy”, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver, directed by Hill. I have not seen the film, but having read the graphic novel, I probably don’t need to.
This is the plot of the Hard Case Crime graphic novel “The Assignment”, written by Matz, based on a screenplay by Walter Hill and Denis Hamill, and drawn by Jef.
It’s a story that could have easily devolved into awkward and uncomfortable sexism but, amazingly, doesn’t.
Frank’s forced gender reassignment actually works in his favor, as he begins to see the world from the perspective of the “weaker sex”, a patriarchal label for women that belies the inherent strength and wherewithal of females.
He begins to understand the unconscious sexist bias of men—the mistreatment, the underestimation, the indifference—-and how that can be flipped to his advantage. As a man, he was a decent hitman. As a woman, he is even deadlier.
Is the novel transphobic? As someone who is not transphobic, I can see how transphobic people may interpret it that way, although keep in mind that what is being described in the story isn’t a man who freely decides to switch genders but a man who has forcefully been transformed into a woman against his will. A crime has been perpetrated upon him.
It is like saying that a straight man who is raped by a gay man and complains about it is homophobic. Homophobia has nothing to do with it. Rape is rape, regardless of who is committing it.
The misogynistic argument is that Frank has had his masculinity stripped from him. His new feminine self is, according to misogynists, inherently a negative, owing to the fact that anything feminine is a negative.
But I didn’t get that reading from this book. If anything, I interpreted Frank’s actions and behaviors as completely believable. He had every right to be pissed off, not because he was now a woman but because he was never given the choice. The fact that he makes the best of his new situation and actually learns a little something in the process is actually the opposite of misogynistic.
Apparently, there was a 2016 film adaptation called “Tomboy”, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver, directed by Hill. I have not seen the film, but having read the graphic novel, I probably don’t need to.
May 13, 2019
The Assignment is another graphic novel from Walter Hill, who directed 48 Hours. This is the story of a hitman who wakes up and finds himself a hitwoman. Truly outrageous concept no matter what sex is being switched-a sex change against a person's will?!? That is the big fly in the ointment for me-I do not think enough time was spent on the psychological fallout such a forced transformation would engender. And yes that pun was intentional. Frank has to figure out who has done this to him/her and why. He also has to survive in what is really a whole new world. An entertaining and disturbing read.
May 13, 2022
I'm a big fan of Walter Hill movies, and especially the Tales From The Crypt episodes that he directed, so to find out he had written for the comics world and did it ala TFTC style, I had to check this out. Of course, come to find out I had already seen the movie that was made adapted from this comic, BUT I enjoyed this comic a bit more. The artwork is just so good. Walter Hill rules, Hard Case Comics rules, and I hope to see more of these crime comics from this line. Bravo!
June 12, 2024
This could be a controversial one being the subject matter includes forced gender reassignment surgery, but it's packaged in a quite standard revenge thriller.
In the end the main character seems to come to some kind of peace with the gender shift and find a new mission, so it comes with some form of redemption arc.
The art is enjoyable for me, but I think it's not for everyone and JEF has quite a personal style.
In the end the main character seems to come to some kind of peace with the gender shift and find a new mission, so it comes with some form of redemption arc.
The art is enjoyable for me, but I think it's not for everyone and JEF has quite a personal style.
February 15, 2021
4,5... Un tueur à gage qui se fait enlever et se voit faire subir un changement de sexe à son insu entreprend une violente vendetta.
Superbe et extrêmement graphique. L'exécution artistique est à couper le souffle. Il y a une part d'invraisemblance dans cette histoire, mais elle est grandement pardonnée. Jef est vraiment un dessinateur extraordinaire. On en redemande.
Superbe et extrêmement graphique. L'exécution artistique est à couper le souffle. Il y a une part d'invraisemblance dans cette histoire, mais elle est grandement pardonnée. Jef est vraiment un dessinateur extraordinaire. On en redemande.
June 6, 2023
Incredible art and an interesting, almost horror twist on a hitman revenge story. I was worried the reassignment surgery device would lead to some terrible dialogue or story points showing how little the authors understand trans people, but it never seemed to cross that line. Another example of why I wish Goodreads had half ratings, so I could give 3.5.
February 10, 2018
NOTE this review is for the entire Trade Paperback
and is the story in its entirety.
This was an interesting fast-paced
graphic novel, although a bit far
fetched for the "revenge" that befalls
Frank Kitchen. Still it was enjoyable
although the ending is somewhat abrupt
and non-eventful.
and is the story in its entirety.
This was an interesting fast-paced
graphic novel, although a bit far
fetched for the "revenge" that befalls
Frank Kitchen. Still it was enjoyable
although the ending is somewhat abrupt
and non-eventful.
June 7, 2024
It was an interesting concept. The film version was much better, but don’t expect this kind of story to get embraced with the polarized political climate involving cancel culture. I’d say the story is ten years too late.
June 16, 2017
Really loved this book. Artwork and the story line are both gritty, my kind of read.
A strange application of revenge to be certain.
A strange application of revenge to be certain.
October 12, 2018
I'll be honest, based on the synopsis I expected something far bloodier and depraved than it was. This has a lot of heart, and it went in directions i was not expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 23, 2019
One of the most original (and brutal) stories I've ever read, I can't wait to see the movie that this graphic novel inspired!
March 18, 2021
Absolute nonsense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews