GRAPHIC NOVELS

Run Like Crazy Run Like Hell

Jacques Tardi (illus.). Fantagraphics. Feb. 2015. 104p. tr. from French by Doug Headline. ISBN 9781606996201. $19.99. LITERARY/CRIME MYS
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OrangeReviewStarRun Like Crazy Run Like Hell is a quick, explosive neo-noir based on Manchette (1942–95) and Tardi's 1972 French novel Ô dingos, ô châteaux! The story revolves around two unique characters: Julie, a newly hired nanny who was just released from an asylum, and Thompson, a hit man who goes beyond sadistic with an actual physical and emotional need to kill. Thompson terrifies when on the page, making the reader cringe for what happens next. Julie is hired to care for the nephew of a wealthy businessman, and the plot immediately goes into overdrive when Thompson and his gang abduct Julie and her charge, Peter, as Julie proves a bit tougher to handle than they might have expected.
VERDICT This well-paced, violent graphic novel grabs readers and doesn't let go until the end. The characters are distinct, horrifying, and intriguing. The art and writing work strongly together and move the narrative along without being overwrought. Recommended for adults who like crime thrillers and noir stories.
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