A History of Violence

 

By John Wagner & Vince Locke (Vertigo)
ISBN 1-84576-212-6

Once again Vertigo reaps the benefits of the experimental exploits of DC’s all but defunct Paradox Press venture when another barely noticed graphic crime thriller got the big-time Hollywood seal of approval. Following on the heels of Road to Perdition, David Cronenberg’s film adaptation furthered the trend away from flashy superhero spectacular movies with this tale of small, brave people who can only be pushed so far. The film itself was nominated for a Palme D’Or at Cannes where it premiered.

Veteran British comics writer John Wagner continues his life-long explorations of human nature with the tale of an ordinary guy who loves his family and runs a diner. When two thugs try to rob the place he manages to subdue them, but that’s where his troubles begin. Seeing his picture in the news, a team of New York Wise Guys turn up, claiming that he’s someone they used to know and they’re disturbingly not keen on taking “no” for an answer.

In typical Wagner tradition, there’s as much action as mystery before the startling and grisly denouement, and the vital, edgy drawing of Vince Locke reinforces the mundane nature of the characters and settings whilst capturing the shock and disorientation as these normal lives of ordinary people are permanently disrupted.

In a time where not one comic-based blockbuster movie has materially increased the readership of the core material, perhaps a few more creators might be enticed to make comics that are to the tastes of the wider world rather than a dwindling die-hard group of unreconstructed post-adolescents. Only so many consumers can handle that fetishistic costuming and power-tripping, but any reader can be sucked in to great story-telling, as long as they’re not put off by ludicrous trappings.

A History of Violence is a tight, dramatic crime-suspense thriller, with subversively sharp visuals, strong but accessible characterisation and a memorable climax. I know, because I read it, and I might even see it eventually. That’s an order of events I urge all comic fans to emulate.

™ & © 1997 John Wagner. All Rights Reserved.
Art © 1997 Vince Locke. All Rights Reserved.