Review of Boston Blackie

The title character, Boston Blackie, is based off of original Jack Boyle stories, though several other reviewers have made mention of this, I don’t think that this weighs too heavily on modern readers getting into the story. Presented in film noir style, this book is a stand-alone tale.

Boston Blackie presents the tale of a failed thief who smokes opium before a major heist and gets sent up the river for three years. The tale is a mystery and is a seedy romp back to classic detective dramas, with less-than-noble characters that defines the film noir genre.

The black-and-white art adds to the pervasive undercurrent of the story, as the tale unravels what truly occurred the night Blackie smoked the opium that clouds his memory of that night. Blackie appears now haunted by the event, and investigates several leads that help him discover more about it.

The book features several despondent characters, all fixated on the failure of the heist; some going so far as to put a man back into the suit he wore that night. Characters appear with their own agendas and the conclusion makes for redemption of sorts for the titular thief.

A brisk read, even though the book’s binding makes a confusing read in places. Though it is presented in a comic format, readers should be comfortable with rampant drug use and sexual violence.