By Benjamin Morin — The prestige of a new Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips OGN should instantly capture any reader’s attention. Their collaborations on series such as Criminal and Kill or Be Killed, alongside several OGNs such as My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies and Bad Weekend, have earned their place among some of the greatest works in the crime comics genre. Pulp is no different, as the creative duo deliver an exceptional entry into their ever-expanding repertoire of standalone graphic novels. As a relative neophyte to their works, this book served as my first foray into Brubaker’s seedy underbelly of society, and I found all the praises well-deserved.

Pulp’s overarching narrative follows Max, a retired outlaw seeking the solace of a quiet life in 1930s New York. The book intertwines Max’s struggle to find his place in society with the stories  of outlaws he writes in the “Six Gun Western” magazine. I grew up watching westerns with my dad, so for this book to blend a western story into an engaging crime narrative instantly grabbed my attention and did not let go.

Brubaker’s writing paired with Phillips’ art crafts an almost cinematic experience. The closest comparison I could make would be a Scorcese film perfectly encapsulated in comic form. Brubaker’s dialogue breathes life into his characters while Phillips’ art fleshes out the world. Everything from the realistic dialogue and visceral narration to the expertly laid out paneling reads as a wonderfully cohesive creative vision.

The coloring is another standout addition to the work. Both the old West and New York are given their own respective color palettes with the former characterized by sandy oranges and dusty reds, and the latter given muted greys and blues. Through this, Phillips creates a unique visual queue to distinguish each time period. This is especially effective when the reds and oranges of the old west encroach into modern society’s color palette during the pulse pounding action scenes.

As someone who has not read many crime comics I found this to be a good way to “test the waters” so to speak. I enjoy a good mystery and found the central plot engaging all the way to the end. However, when it came to the dark and gritty thematic thrust of the book I was a bit put off. I now have a better understanding of Brubaker's style of storytelling and its larger appeal to the crime audience but found it was not for me. Regardless of my personal tastes, I cannot ignore the excellent quality of this work.

Pulp lives up to its namesake by telling an engaging narrative infused with the pulp genre trappings. Brubaker’s writing is sharp and creative in his portrayal of a man out of time, and Phillips’ linework and coloring pair together perfectly to add to the level of quality on display.

Overall: Pulp delivers an engrossing story with a cinematic flair. This book serves as a great distillation of Brubaker and Phillips’ creative talents in one cohesive package. 9/10

Pulp OGN Review

Pulp
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Philips
Colorist: Jacob Philips
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $16.99
A gorgeous original graphic novel from the bestselling creators of KILL OR BE KILLED, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES, and CRIMINAL.Max Winters, a pulp writer in 1930s New York, finds himself drawn into a story not unlike the tales he churns out at five cents a word—tales of a Wild West outlaw dispensing justice with a six-gun. But will Max be able to do the same when pursued by bank robbers, Nazi spies, and enemies from his past?One part thriller, one part meditation on a life of violence, PULP is unlike anything award-winning BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS have ever done before. This celebration of pulp fiction set in a world on the brink is another must-have hardcover from one of comics’ most acclaimed teams.
Release Date: July 29, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Pulp by Brubaker and Phillips

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Benjamin Morin currently studies Journalism/Mass Media at Johnson University. He is a comic book enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker.