Bibliophilia: Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 4: Slayground – Darwyn Cooke

Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 4: Slayground – Darwyn Cooke

I really hated the character in the first two books, warmed up to him in the third adaptation, and didn’t mind him at all in this fourth one.

Set in late 60’s wintry Buffalo, N.Y., Parker and his crew crash their getaway car as they make their escape after a heist. He’s the only survivor and thinking to lie low, he makes his way into a closed for the season theme park. Two crooked cops observe all this and inform a local mob boss who thinks he has found an easy score. But Parker is no fool and engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse. 

I enjoyed this story, and as always, Darwyn Cooke’s two tone artwork suits the era and material nicely.

Bibliophilia: Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 3: The Score – Darwyn Cooke

Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 3: The Score – Darwyn Cooke

I really hated the character in the first two graphic adaptations, but I didn’t find him quite so cretinous in this noir/heist story. And I absolutely loved the stark monochromatic artwork by Darwyn Cooke. It really helped to give it a period feel. His ability to nail the clothes, architecture and cars of the late 50s, early 60s helped a lot too.

Bibliophilia: Richard Stark’s Parker, The Hunter & The Outfit – Darwyn Cooke

Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 1: The Hunter – Darwyn Cooke

Richard Stark’s Parker, Vol. 2: The Outfit – Darwyn Cooke 

A late 50’s, early 60’s noir crime pulp. Absolutely loathed the character. An evil, misogynistic, murdering thief, out to recover money that he stole (murdering a bunch of people in the process) that was then stolen from him. Sometimes bad guys can be likable, but this cretin just deserves to be shot and pissed on.