Slots

by Dan Panosian

You can say this about the life of Stanley Dance: he did it his way. Unfortunately, his way never took getting old into account. Now, the former boxer is on his last legs, looking for redemption... but he'll settle for going down swinging.

Roll the dice with superstar artist Dan Panosian as he creates a bold and breathtaking vision of Las Vegas, where everything old can become new, and superstition influences just how the chips fall.

Collects SLOTS #1-6

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2018

Reviews

[Newly Wardell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kinda sick of these weird redemptions stories for fathers especially pos like this guy. He abandons his wife and child, sleeps with his best friends wife, and its a user in every sense of the word but it's okay because he fixes it. Admitting a problem is only the first step in solving the problem. The 3 stars is just for the illustrations alone. The story is unoriginal but the art is visceral.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Panosian crafted both the story and the art on this one. It’s an ode to Las Vegas, gambling, revenge, grudge matches, nightclubs, and most of all to the science of boxing 🥊.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boxing books' one-last-fight stereotypes? Check. Sleazy Vegas venue runners against each other? Check. Twisty story examining how bad a man has to get before any good comes out of it? Check. Yes, this is fairly by-the-numbers, but it's not all that bad really. Little to fault here, if you like the bitty structuring, and some meh characters here and there. Worth a look. Three and a half goodreads stars.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lady Luck and Stan dance like the devil in the pale moonlight

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les is not really a scumbag, as he was presented to me before reading. He's rather a charismatic freeloader, lucky person who somehow swims through the life like there are no consequences. He's the only one who matters. He's not really an evil person, he just loves to enjoy the life with a minimum struggle - most of all he's irresponsible. He's a misfit. But Les want to change that and that's the story of Slots. Coming back and sorting out both his "loved ones" and enemies.
Looking back, the story is not really creative. And it gets a bit tasteless from time to time. The main characters are accurate archetypes with little to none finesse. But it works. The story is well spread trough six issues and I enjoyed it. Together with looking "screen printing" style of art it works and looks well and fresh. Only still regrettable thing is ending. Too rushed and too happy for my taste and my expectation.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gambling, boxing, nightclubs, double-crosses, all kinds of shenanigans and over-the-top-characters. I was expecting noir and gritty, but this is actually more madcap and ridiculous. It won't change your life, but I had a good time reading it.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a quirky little story. It had some interesting surprises. The characters all seemed a little too much like stock characters from an old Vegas movie, but I found this entertaining nonetheless.

[Jacopo Giuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Slots” è un vero e proprio romanzo urbano che, pur sfruttando la narrazione grafico-letteraria del fumetto, si impegna a presentare una storia di decadenza e riscatto. Ogni protagonista di Dan Panosian ha un background ben delineato e delle caratteristiche che lo rendono unico. Indipendentemente dallo spazio occupato sulla pagina o dalle battute riservategli, i protagonisti (eroi o antagonisti che siano) rimarranno impressi nell’immaginario del lettore risultando perfettamente bilanciati nell’economia complessiva della storia. Quella di “Slots” è una narrazione senza fronzoli, eppure in grado di colpire come pochi il lettore. Testi e disegni creano un’amalgama perfetto che accontenterà tutti i palati, da quelli di chi è abituato a leggere fumetti solo quanto vi sono presentate all’interno le avventure dei più colorati supereroi, ai più incalliti amanti del noir. Arriverete in fondo alla storia con un amaro sorriso sulle labbra e tanta voglia di riflettere, sensazioni che la letteratura moderna non sempre riesce a regalare, nemmeno alla fine dei libri maggiormente curati…

[Carlo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ottimo fumetto di Dan Panosian, perfettamente calato nell'immaginario americano.
Questa è la storia di un ex pugile ormai ultracinquantenne che decide di tornare a combattere per salvare il locale di una sua vecchia amica di Las Vegas.
In questo scenario ritroviamo personaggi tipici di una Las Vegas border line, fra mezzi criminali, situazioni familiari particolari, officine meccaniche, vecchie palestre, locali e casinò.
Per quanto la storia sia abbastanza banale i disegni di Dan Panosian sono davvero spettacolari e molto dinamici.
Lettura piacevole e molto veloce

[Paul Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at some lowlife types in the boxing and gambling worlds. Nicely delivered.

Stan is an ex-boxer trying to reconnect with friends and family and make up for past mistakes. He has plans which have to change as the other characters interact in a variety of ways. The plot is enjoyable and fast-paced, the characters well-developed and the artwork clear, detailed and fun.
This comic collection is recommended to all lovers of a well-told story.

[Jakub Kvíz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stanley Dance je vyslouzilej boxer a typek, kterej v zivote podelal spoustu lidi, vcetne svy rodiny. I tak je to ale sympatak a kdyz se vraci do Vegas, aby vsechno srovnal a naposled vlezl do ringu, tak mu vlastne clovek fandite. Oddechova zabava s fajn postavama a paradni, neokoukanou kresbou.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grabbed a digital ARC from Image on a whim. This isn't really my normal speed but the art was consistently well-drawn and I think anyone who likes Vegas or a "middle-aged sleazeball tries to make good" narrative would enjoy this. It wasn't deep but it was engaging.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pulpy tale with some humour. Enjoyable.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is nothing new. Luggable loser tries to make amends even tho it all would have worked out without him. I liked the art most. Like some of MAD magazines...

[James Koppert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but just left wanting a little bit more

[Alan Caldwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Martin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art’s nice but the story doesn’t really work. Too cluttered with thin, characters and not well paced.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good story, and a complete one, it just feels like there could have been more to it. A handful of storylines that had potential are just dropped and the finale comes out of nowhere.

[Alex Sarll]

An ageing boxer and con-man, having decided his luck is running out, decides it may be time to rebuild some of the bridges he's burned over the years...but that involves going back to Vegas, and tangling with a former friend who seems disinclined to forgive and forget, and pushing his luck one last time. It's not the sort of story I normally go for, and even within that it sometimes seemed to have too many plotlines going for the mood to breathe. But the old bastard had enough asshole charm to keep me interested in the mess he was getting himself into, and I love the art - reminiscent of Frank Miller, Chaykin and even Sean Murphy in places, yet weathered and world-weary in a quiet way I don't really associate with any of them.

(Edelweiss ARC)