“I don’t care if we win… I just want them to lose.”
This week on Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex finish up their deep dive into The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips from Image Comics with Volume 3: Act Three (issues #9-12). They start at the end- how does the mystery resolve and what does it all mean? Did any of it matter in discovering the truth? And what is truth in a world run by story, myth, and legend? The guys examine these questions in the light of noir storytelling, and analyze how the various character see themselves in relation to the larger forces at play in this world. They also look at how relevant the themes and ideas presented in the comic remain today, despite being created some 10 years ago and set some 80 years ago, and why that’s more of a commentary on our world today than it is on the prescience of the story. Finally, the guys wrap with a detailed look at some the incredible visual storytelling choices made by Sean Phillips throughout the comic.
We hope you enjoyed this look into another neo-noir classic from the team of Brubaker and Phillips. We’ll be back next week to intro our next deep dive discussion. See you then!