>There are a lot of nuanced situations when it comes to recommending a book or series to someone. Everyone has different tastes and there are so many genres that it’s hard to pin one down that everyone will like. That being said, I’m focusing on my favorite genre for reading; Hard-boiled noir.

Noir is a certain kind of fiction flavor that got it’s start in the pulp novels and movies of the 1930’s. Thank Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, and so many other masters of the style for making the morally ambiguous detective archetype such a staple in American mythos. Hard-boiled noir is nothing new to the comic book world, but it seems that lately it’s been really good. Here’s a breakdown of some of my fav hard-boiled crime stories:

100 Bullets- Brian Azzerello have just recently concluded a crime story of operatic proportions. This has all the sex, violence, booze, drugs, and conspiracy you could ask for. The artwork of Eduardo Risso combined with the story within a story narrative makes this a fun and smart read.

Criminal- When it comes to modern noir comic writers, no one does it better than Ed Brubaker. Each chapter seemingly tops the last, while each standing as a masterpiece by itself. I can’t tell you about what happens in the newest installment titled Sinners, because this is a series that I primarily read in trade paper form. I’ll be eagerly awaiting.

Richard Stark’s- Parker, the Hunter- I would bet that by the end of the year, this book will be #1 on my best-of list for 2009. Darwyn Cooke has created what I consider the best noir graphic novel I’ve ever seen. This was originally a novel by mystery fiction master Donald Westlake, who wrote under the pseudonym of Richard Stark for the Parker series back in the 60’s. There are more Darwyn Cook interpreted Parker books on their way.

Sin City- This is of course the original mold for modern noir in comics. This is primarily a work of hard-boiled noir, but has become more widely accepted by folks who may never have been into pulp-y noir. I was one of those folks. Sin City is what got me fascinated with all things noir, especially the story a Dame To Kill For.

Scalped- Probably my favorite still-ongoing series, Jason Aaron’s tale of crime and desperation set on a modern day Indian rez is pure noir with the flavor of modern Native American history and current affairs, giving it a hint of .a western. The main character’s name is Dashiell Bad Horse, which I suspect is an homage to pulp master Dashiell Hammett.

Well, there you have it: My top five favorite noir comics. Since I was limiting myself to only five, I left off some great Daredevil and Batman stories, and I’m sure there are plenty more books out there that someone needs to recommend to me, but for my money, the above five are the best.

-Jim

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