It's Criminal ... With A Twist

Fatale 1-3
Image Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Sean Phillips, artist
***mature content warning***

This is the same creative team that produced Sleeper in 2003 and 2004 from DC Comics and the more recent Criminal stories from Marvel Icon. Like Criminal, this story focuses on a collection of ne'er-do-wells with nary a cape or superpower in sight. In fact, the story so far focuses on three distinct time periods' worth of folks -- the first in a contemporary framing sequence story, the second events from the 1950s which preceded the modern occurrences, and the third, and so far area where the least has been revealed, a fictional manuscript written by one of the players from the 1950s drama and discovered in the modern sequence of events.

So what sets Fatale apart from the other Criminal story arcs produced by this pair? The addition of a supernatural element to the story, not limited to but certainly focused on the character of Josephine, the titular femme fatale, who plays a role in all three settings so far.

The modern hero is Nicolas Lash, the godson of recently deceased crime noir author Dominic Raines. Lash meets Josephine at Raines' funeral, and in less than a day, Lash finds the previously hidden manuscript and has his life threatened multiple times, each time being saved by the mysterious Josephine, often in ways Lash cannot explain.

The flashback sequences to the 1950s focus on Raines' early life as a journalist, newlywed and soon-to-be father. Raines is trying to bring down a pair of corrupt police officers and enlists the help of one of those officer's girlfriend -- you guessed it -- Josephine. Raines becomes involved with Josephine romantically, though he isn't certain why, and though she is helping him to bring down the corrupt officers, one gets the sense it is more for her own benefit than for justice.

Mixed in with all of the noirish crime-drama, however, are a trio of enforcers who seem to appear out of thin air. They answer to a boss they refer to as "the bishop," who has oddly glowing red eyes, has promised one individual a cure for his life-threatening cancer, and seeks to control Josephine.

I opted to try this series based on the Criminal work by Brubaker and Phillips. I am intrigued enough to continue with this series even though it isn't quite the same flavor of story. The supernatural elements, at least so far, have been downplayed somewhat, and I'm enjoying the mystery of what exactly is going on.