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Dry County #1-5
Dry County
Meet Lou Rossi--a Generation X slacker--out of step with the rave culture of Miami, 1990. Freelance newspaper artist, aspiring author, 21-year-old virgin, and...amateur detective. What begins as a fairly hum-drum narrative, slowly builds into an exciting story of a young man hell-bent on tracking down the woman who he's recently, and quite quickly, fallen in love with--the young and beautiful Janet Laughton, a Texan-born gal new to the wilds of Florida. Where could she be? Did someone kidnap her? If so, was it her recent ex-boyfriend, Earl Beacon? Or her previous ex-boyfriend, Cliff Terhune? Does she love Lou as he loves her? Or is he only stalking Janet just as her two previous boyfriends once had? Find out in the newest series by SHE WOLF & SPY SEAL author, Rich Tommaso.
Collects DRY COUNTY #1-5
Collects DRY COUNTY #1-5
136 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2018
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Rich Tommaso
76 books25 followersRich Tommaso is an American comic book artist.
He studied comics at the Joe Kubert Art School, but dropped out after the end of his first year.
He then spent many years making pizza while working on his art projects.
His first comic book was published in 1997 by Fantagraphics, and he subsequently produced numerous works published by Dark Horse.
He studied comics at the Joe Kubert Art School, but dropped out after the end of his first year.
He then spent many years making pizza while working on his art projects.
His first comic book was published in 1997 by Fantagraphics, and he subsequently produced numerous works published by Dark Horse.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 30, 2019
Daniel Clowes without the tantalising quirkiness. A mystery story that moves like molasses. A truly terrible ending, including a huge explanatory info-dump.
Two stars for the art, which I quite liked.
(Read as five single issues)
Two stars for the art, which I quite liked.
(Read as five single issues)
August 11, 2021
I picked up this TPB on a whim.
It's not an outstanding graphic novel, but it kept me going, and very much curious, right till the end.
I'm not really sure if this tale is autobiographical or just fiction.
In any case it has mystery, passion, dread, dissapointment, action, a bit of violence and even some unexpected humor.
The art is rather clean and organized, if I may say so, similar to some famous european comics.
I enjoyed this one, and was surprised by the ending.
You will be too.
It's not an outstanding graphic novel, but it kept me going, and very much curious, right till the end.
I'm not really sure if this tale is autobiographical or just fiction.
In any case it has mystery, passion, dread, dissapointment, action, a bit of violence and even some unexpected humor.
The art is rather clean and organized, if I may say so, similar to some famous european comics.
I enjoyed this one, and was surprised by the ending.
You will be too.
March 29, 2024
Couldn’t agree more with Alexander’s Review: ”moves like molasses. A truly terrible ending, including a huge explanatory into-dump. Two stars for the art, which I quite liked.” Disappointing.
March 14, 2021
Fun little read, except for the dissatisfying ending.
September 5, 2018
This was fun, but I think it lacks a little something to keep it stuck in my mind. An average schmo, who writes comic yucks for the local paper, is besotted with saving the girl of his dreams – but doesn't even know who he has to save her from. Add to that a carload of dodgy blonde babes, someone trying to run him over – all is settled by the end (in fact, you could argue the close ties too much up), but I don't think the oddity amounted to a great deal. Still, I don't like what I've read of Carl Hiaasen, and his bright daylight noir has a lot of the same DNA and settings. I don't object to the fact I've read it one bit – but if I remember doing so it will be a surprise. Three and a half stars to be generous.
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September 13, 2018A slice of life comic, presumably autobiographical, about a newspaper cartoonist in early nineties Florida, which turns into a low-rent detective story when the girl he likes get kidnapped. Despite neither of those being a genre I especially like, and the faces on the women in particular being oddly unconvincing (the horny teenage neighbour would already have been an awkward enough character without looking like she was far older and from two decades previous), there was something which kept me interested. The eerie flatness of the backdrops, perhaps, or the all too life-like proliferation of dead ends and plans which go nowhere.
Also, it's yet another addition to the long list of reasons I never want to go to Florida.
(Edelweiss ARC)
Also, it's yet another addition to the long list of reasons I never want to go to Florida.
(Edelweiss ARC)
December 21, 2019
After six months in Miami, cartoonist Lou Rossi is finding he’s not cut out for the night club lifestyle, no matter how often he goes. Tonight, he’s going to do laundry instead. At the laundromat, he meets an attractive woman named Janet Laughton, and they hit it off. Having some encouragement convinces Janet to leave her deadbeat boyfriend Earl when he decides they should move to Fort Myers.
Before Lou can start seriously romancing Janet, however, she’s abducted by a violent attacker, and the only witness is left in a coma. Lou takes the “tell the cops and she’s dead” note seriously, so doesn’t tell them about Janet and starts trying to track her down himself with the aid of his record store clerk best friend and the jailbait girl from across the street.
Who’s the kidnapper? Is it Earl? Janet’s even worse ex, Cliff? The Christian gangbangers that have been prowling the neighborhood? Or someone you’d never suspect?
This crime noir graphic novel is set in the early 1990s, which is a reminder of how quickly some aspects of technology have changed in the last couple of decades. It’s unlikely Lou would be going in to the newspaper’s office to draw his comic strip nowadays, even assuming he could find a newspaper that would run a non-syndicated local feature.
The art is a touch cartoony and a bit stiff, but works well for this kind of story. I’m wondering if it was a deliberate choice to make Michelle’s (the sixteen year old “jailbait” neighbor) face look to be in her thirties, older than some of the grown women in the story.
Robert, the best friend, is more sexist than Lou, and uses some unpleasant language.
Not knowing the twists ahead of time is part of the attraction of mysteries, so I will just say that some people make bad decisions in a mostly believable way and that this is the first installment of what could be a series about Lou Rossi. Oh, and eventually the title makes sense.
Content note: As hinted at above, domestic abuse. This is a “mature readers” title, so plenty of rough language.
Recommended to noir fans.
Before Lou can start seriously romancing Janet, however, she’s abducted by a violent attacker, and the only witness is left in a coma. Lou takes the “tell the cops and she’s dead” note seriously, so doesn’t tell them about Janet and starts trying to track her down himself with the aid of his record store clerk best friend and the jailbait girl from across the street.
Who’s the kidnapper? Is it Earl? Janet’s even worse ex, Cliff? The Christian gangbangers that have been prowling the neighborhood? Or someone you’d never suspect?
This crime noir graphic novel is set in the early 1990s, which is a reminder of how quickly some aspects of technology have changed in the last couple of decades. It’s unlikely Lou would be going in to the newspaper’s office to draw his comic strip nowadays, even assuming he could find a newspaper that would run a non-syndicated local feature.
The art is a touch cartoony and a bit stiff, but works well for this kind of story. I’m wondering if it was a deliberate choice to make Michelle’s (the sixteen year old “jailbait” neighbor) face look to be in her thirties, older than some of the grown women in the story.
Robert, the best friend, is more sexist than Lou, and uses some unpleasant language.
Not knowing the twists ahead of time is part of the attraction of mysteries, so I will just say that some people make bad decisions in a mostly believable way and that this is the first installment of what could be a series about Lou Rossi. Oh, and eventually the title makes sense.
Content note: As hinted at above, domestic abuse. This is a “mature readers” title, so plenty of rough language.
Recommended to noir fans.
March 14, 2022
A cartoonist becomes swept up in the disappearance of a woman he'd only known for a few days. It's mostly about the main character fumbling around, taking a beating, and not really knowing what he's doing. The story itself is strange and some may find the ending unsatisfactory, but it fit the tone of the tale. In a very real sense the protagonist is really just a spectator. His actions do not in any way affect the action of the story or unravel the mystery. If the main character was completely removed from the plot, everything would have played out exactly the same. Which is an odd thing for a book.
October 5, 2021
I think it’d be great if there were 20 Lou Rossi graphic novels. And, it sort of seems like that is what Tommaso is setting up, even if just in a meta way, by putting “A Lou Rossi Novel” and “The Everyman Crime Series” on the cover. Sometimes I think part of the appeal of reading something like Brubaker and Phillip’s Criminal is that there is so much of it. A lot of comic material in the same world. Maybe that is the appeal of super hero comics. Maybe bingeing culture is terrible, but it is also satisfying.
January 13, 2019
Mystery thriller in modern times – quite interesting
This series involves Lou Rossi, a newspaper cartoonist, falling for Janet and then trying to rescue her once she has been kidnapped. There are a few subplots involving some diverse characters which add to the intrigue. The artwork is relatively simple as is par for the course for Rich Tommaso. The end result is quite light and easy to read, taking little time.
This series involves Lou Rossi, a newspaper cartoonist, falling for Janet and then trying to rescue her once she has been kidnapped. There are a few subplots involving some diverse characters which add to the intrigue. The artwork is relatively simple as is par for the course for Rich Tommaso. The end result is quite light and easy to read, taking little time.
September 27, 2023
Not something I would recommend or read again. The art is very simplistic and the story is very simple and sad. It’s almost like a vent from an unemployed stay at home middle aged man who doesn’t take the effort to get his life together and blames the world around him for his troubles. Nothing worth talking about or remembering for. Lucky this was a library borrow. Won’t go on my shelf even if it eternally remains in the bath in bin at the book or comic shop.
July 17, 2020
I wanted to like this. The crude artwork worked well with the bright colouring and easily captured the readers attention. The main character just wasn’t likeable, and the supporting characters really weren’t either. It was a fast and easy read, but it really wasn’t for me.
September 8, 2021
Probably my least favorite Tommaso so far, the narration felt a bit overwhelming and the mystery wasn’t the greatest. I did like the characters and the craft that went into it however. Love Tommaso’s style. Still worth the read.
6/10
6/10
August 7, 2023
A complete dud of a mystery. The only part of this mystery I cared about was how to get my time back. It's about a guy who starts dating a girl who is kidnapped and then gets absolutely nowhere trying to locate her.
February 4, 2019
Entertaining, and I liked the writing on legal pad format.
March 25, 2019
Kidnap mystery graphic novel. Didn't really click for me. The art style is good but the plot didn't really go anywhere and the ending wasn't much of a payoff.
January 15, 2020
More please.
August 12, 2021
Pluses:
The colors
The style
The paneling
Minuses:
The plot was boring to me.
The colors
The style
The paneling
Minuses:
The plot was boring to me.
September 7, 2024
Simple
Great art. Good tale woven.
Great art. Good tale woven.
January 14, 2025
Not one of Image's finest hours. Tries to hard to be like Daniel Clowes but to no avail.
May 18, 2025
Nice tribute to the late '80s. Funny, noire-ish.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews