Sunday Trade: Criminal

Criminal: Coward written by Ed Brubaker, art by Sean Phillips

Criminal is probably one of the best books (not just comics, but books) being published. And probably one of the finest examples of noir you can find. No capes, no magic, nothing but cops and crooks and two-time losers and people looking for that last one big score and fools and madmen...

This first collected story arc follows Leo, a master pick pocket who gets recruited to work an armored car heist. One where damn near everything goes wrong and almost everyone involved is lying. Its violent and beautiful and tragic...

I've yet to see a bad review of this series and this first volume is a perfect start. The only thing thats really missing from the singles are the back-up essays on the noir genre, highlighting creators and works in print and film...