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Pistolwhip #1
Pistolwhip
by Matt Kindt & Jason Hall
A naïve bellhop's struggle towards a life's ambition, an expatriate musician on the run, a young woman's battle with her paranoia and her past, and the mysterious figure who wants to control their lives. Set in an exotic atmosphere of a by-gone era, Pistolwhip is a marvelous tale crafted with a crime noir feel and an artistic style reminiscent of the best European graphic novelists.
A naïve bellhop's struggle towards a life's ambition, an expatriate musician on the run, a young woman's battle with her paranoia and her past, and the mysterious figure who wants to control their lives. Set in an exotic atmosphere of a by-gone era, Pistolwhip is a marvelous tale crafted with a crime noir feel and an artistic style reminiscent of the best European graphic novelists.
128 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 17, 2016
The loose, cartoony, experimental, postmodern noir of Matt Kindt's first full graphic novel (co-written by Jason Hall) feels more European than American to me, more interested in mood than in plot. I am still in the process of figuring out Kindt's rather difficult storytelling techniques, but this was surprisingly painless and enjoyable. I'll be back for more.
March 22, 2021
I love Matt Kindt, but I had a pretty tenuous grasp of what the fuck was going on here. Very winding, lots of changing perspectives, and a black and white art style that doesn't do the distinguishing of people and events any favors. Remember how season 04 of Arrested Development spent each episode from the perspective of a different character and shit overlapped in a way that was more trouble than it was worth in terms of fascination? That's how this is.
He did this complicated mystery story much better in Red Handed (a success that occurred in no small part due to the exposition at the end explaining it all) and Super Spy (which was definitely a bit of a mindfuck, but worth it). For me, this one lands in same category as his book 2 Sisters: ambitious but a bit fumbled in the execution.
He did this complicated mystery story much better in Red Handed (a success that occurred in no small part due to the exposition at the end explaining it all) and Super Spy (which was definitely a bit of a mindfuck, but worth it). For me, this one lands in same category as his book 2 Sisters: ambitious but a bit fumbled in the execution.
November 5, 2007
A little Noir, a little disjointed. It was okay.
July 14, 2011
I guess this just wasn't my thing.
May 21, 2025
An old-tyme, radio show-style adventure story about a bellhop who becomes a private dick and tries to solve a murder mystery while a guy who voiced a radio show's superhero character dons the mantle of that character in real life. Mildly entertaining nostalgia trip. Good not great.
January 25, 2011
Fantastic book. Clever, innovative storytelling that shows what happens when a writer (Jason Hall) and artist (Matt Kindt) collaborate so seamlessly. I was thoroughly sucked in by the mystery, which is dished out selectively and methodically, introducing one strange, colorful character after another, until they all collide together in a satisfying resolution. Hall and Kindt masterfully manipulate the reader, but not in a contrived manner. The story unravels organically, and at a pitch-perfect pace. The dialogue is crisp and spot-on for the period, the characters intriguing, and the plot solid. The sequel, "Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace" is also highly recommended.
August 27, 2008
Pulp detective fiction done in an artistically minimal style. The pencils are some of the simplest I've seen, yet convey more emotion and thought than most other working comic artists. The mystery of the book is not in the how or why of the crimes (it's pretty evident in the first half of the book who the murderer is), but in the motivations of the hero and various connected characters.
May 22, 2008
Kind of a strange graphic novel, with an interesting black and white styling of the illustrations. Is a sort of round about story, starting at the ending and then the beginning and doing a full circle story line. Interesting, yet a little confusing.
November 13, 2012
I read this twice in an attempt to better understand the plot. Good development of mood and era. Didn't really 'click' with me, but definitely an interesting project. Maybe the characters are too flat?
November 5, 2007
Er, yeah, that was, um.
September 14, 2009
Solid.
August 13, 2010
A beautiful, noirish book that sweeps you along and keeps you guessing right to the end.
March 16, 2012
Not all that impressed.
December 17, 2012
A little too clever for its own good.
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August 3, 2013I totally only read this, at first, because Andrew Bird is sort of in it. <3
July 17, 2015
Check out my review on my book blog, Reading Rainstorm!
February 6, 2019
I enjoyed this early work from Matt Kindt which he and Jason Hall created. I have enjoyed his recent Mind MGMT series, and it's great to see his early art and storytelling.
This book can be a quick read, but the characters are interesting ones for a noir story. I also enjoyed the interplay between the author and the actors of the radio play. What makes for a good radio drama? You'll find out!
This book can be a quick read, but the characters are interesting ones for a noir story. I also enjoyed the interplay between the author and the actors of the radio play. What makes for a good radio drama? You'll find out!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews