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geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
Turning classic novels into graphic novels can be hit or miss. Darwyn Cooke's graphic novels based on the Parker novels of Richard Stark (aka Donald Westlake) seem to capture the tone and style perfectly. The series takes place in the same timeframe as the novels, and Cooke's style is an eyeful of style details from the late 1960s.
In Slayground, Parker is involved in a botched robbery. He escapes over the fence and into an off-season amusement park, abandoned for the winter. He soon discovers it's a dead end, and that the only way out is being guarded by people who want the money he has stolen. But Parker is deadly and not the kind of person you want to try to trap. It's one of the shorter novels, so there is a short backup story as well, The Seventh.
Darwyn Cooke's adaptation, as stated, is perfect. His choice of art is evocative and stark. It's quite good, and I'd love to read more of these.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In Slayground, Parker is involved in a botched robbery. He escapes over the fence and into an off-season amusement park, abandoned for the winter. He soon discovers it's a dead end, and that the only way out is being guarded by people who want the money he has stolen. But Parker is deadly and not the kind of person you want to try to trap. It's one of the shorter novels, so there is a short backup story as well, The Seventh.
Darwyn Cooke's adaptation, as stated, is perfect. His choice of art is evocative and stark. It's quite good, and I'd love to read more of these.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
stopnodont's review against another edition
5.0
Bittersweet. An untimely end to one of the best series' I've ever read. Sad to see the final page: "Parker will return in 2015." Parker will not return, of course, because Darwyn Cooke is dead.
This final title is quite good, albeit shorter than the others. There is a wonderful fold-out map of a theme park, which is exactly the sort of detail that sets these books so far apart from the average work of graphic literature. It's only about a 20 minute read, but I found myself trying to savor it and truly absorb everything it had to offer, which is tough when the plot is excellent and you can't wait to see what happens next.
I'll certainly come back to this series over the decades to come. There is really nothing else like it out there, and Darwyn Cooke was a huge loss indeed.
This final title is quite good, albeit shorter than the others. There is a wonderful fold-out map of a theme park, which is exactly the sort of detail that sets these books so far apart from the average work of graphic literature. It's only about a 20 minute read, but I found myself trying to savor it and truly absorb everything it had to offer, which is tough when the plot is excellent and you can't wait to see what happens next.
I'll certainly come back to this series over the decades to come. There is really nothing else like it out there, and Darwyn Cooke was a huge loss indeed.
duparker's review
5.0
Solid outing for Parker and for the creativity behind Cooke's artistic skills. The snowy background and the era work so well for the pen and ink art.
rschmidt7's review against another edition
4.0
The art is beautiful, which is to be expected from the late, great Darwyn Cooke. However, the story and the length of the book were a little disappointing. This felt like an abridged edition of what should have been a longer and more fleshed out book. If you're interested in the Parker books, definitely read the original novels first, then start with Cooke's version of "The Hunter."
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
This particular Parker story is an interesting one because it takes place entirely after a heist. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to witness Parker's guile as he eludes capture by hiding out in a small amusement park that is closed for the season.
This key divergence from the "typical" Parker heist formula, as well as the unique and captivating setting, make it a very attractive graphic novel, and explain why a dozen other potential Parker novels were skipped sequentially when choosing to adapt this one.
This is the second of the Parker graphic novel adaptations I have read, with the first being [b:Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter|6149789|Richard Stark's Parker The Hunter|Darwyn Cooke|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356943363s/6149789.jpg|6328911]. I am happy to report that there is no drop off in quality with either the art or storytelling from that first volume to this one. The art is still severe and hard boiled, and the storyline is still bare, more charcoal sketch than oil painting.
The only difference with this volume (and this is admittedly specific to me) is that, unlike with [b:The Hunter|618399|The Hunter (Parker, #1)|Richard Stark|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328724284s/618399.jpg|3948439], I hadn't read the source material for this one before reading the graphic novel. This, in many ways, made this one more interesting, as I had no preconceived ideas concerning the story ahead of time.
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This key divergence from the "typical" Parker heist formula, as well as the unique and captivating setting, make it a very attractive graphic novel, and explain why a dozen other potential Parker novels were skipped sequentially when choosing to adapt this one.
This is the second of the Parker graphic novel adaptations I have read, with the first being [b:Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter|6149789|Richard Stark's Parker The Hunter|Darwyn Cooke|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356943363s/6149789.jpg|6328911]. I am happy to report that there is no drop off in quality with either the art or storytelling from that first volume to this one. The art is still severe and hard boiled, and the storyline is still bare, more charcoal sketch than oil painting.
The only difference with this volume (and this is admittedly specific to me) is that, unlike with [b:The Hunter|618399|The Hunter (Parker, #1)|Richard Stark|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328724284s/618399.jpg|3948439], I hadn't read the source material for this one before reading the graphic novel. This, in many ways, made this one more interesting, as I had no preconceived ideas concerning the story ahead of time.
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
scottclyerly's review against another edition
5.0
So good. Continues the excellent style that Cooke started with The Hunter. Also contains a quick, clipped graphic version of The Seventh, which boils that story down to its bones. Great surprise little addition.
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
I love Darwyn Cooke and Parker, but this volume did not do it for me. Unlike Cooke's earlier adaptions, there's little personal interaction --- for most of the story, Parker is holed up in a closed amusement park, trying to escape crooked cops and mobsters. There's little dialogue or narration, and the result --- while gorgeous as usual to look at --- is a very quick read with not a lot of payoff. There's a short story in the back that was much more to my liking.
Addendum after I read the original novel: What Cooke has done in adapting the work is remove much of the color from the mobsters and cops. There are a number of passages in the novel that detail the plans, thoughts, and foibles of the character pursuing Parker, but most of those are glided over the graphic novel in favor of quick action.
Addendum after I read the original novel: What Cooke has done in adapting the work is remove much of the color from the mobsters and cops. There are a number of passages in the novel that detail the plans, thoughts, and foibles of the character pursuing Parker, but most of those are glided over the graphic novel in favor of quick action.
scottishben's review against another edition
3.0
I great concept but i felt like i had encountered this before. Fight in a deserted fairground is a great but overused premise and whilst it is handled well here it all felt a bit empty and stale.
Still a fun read and very well illustrated.
Still a fun read and very well illustrated.
mattnauwelaers's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully crafted and brutal crime noir story
nkives's review against another edition
3.0
This one was way too short, and takes away some of the build up that happens in the original book. It is still fun, but it also does not stand alone like The Hunter or The Score do.