This book only appears to be all about smut. I mean, there is some smut in there, don't get me wrong. But that's not all that's in there. The characters are well-rounded, and the period detail is great. I love Chaykin's art, and Fraction's writing style is well-suited to this kind of book. If you don't mind the (ahem) graphic nature of the adult relationships depicted, I recommend this book. ( )

I found the artwork in this book to be very confusing. It was very hard to tell the difference between most of the male characters, and while the black and white style gave an excellent noir feeling to the artwork, it really didn't help. The style of the word bubbles added to the confusion, I felt it often wasn't clear who was speaking at any given point in time, and bubbles appeared to be connected across panels at times when it was not appropriate.

I also didn't really understand the motivations of any of the characters until after I read the bios that were grouped at the end of the book, which originally were released with each individual issue of the comic. In a letter at the end of the book Fraction wrote that someone reading the story in a condensed format rather than monthly shouldn't need the bios to accompany each issue, but I felt like the writing and story were so nebulous that it would have been helpful. It wouldn't have made a difference aesthetically or in terms of page number, so I'm not really sure what the reasoning was there. I didn't fully understand what had happened in the book until after I read them.

The premise is excellent and interesting enough that I almost want to keep reading, but I just don't think I could slog my way through another volume. Just not a book for me. ( )

I'm not sure why but this graphic novel didn't really do much for me. It was an enjoyable read but that's about it. It didn't suck; it just wasn't that positive. Considering everything, it really should have been great. Amazing art by Howard Chaykin. Solid writing by Matt Fraction. Subject matter that involves TV, sex, murder and a mystery that makes you think as opposed to being handed to you. However, I kept finding myself dreading reading it instead of looking forward to it. And unfortunately I'm happier to be done with the graphic novel than I was when reading it. I hate when this happens because I like other things that Fraction and Chaykin have worked on. This time though, ... And I can't quite put my finger on why. It just didn't do it for me. ( )

A bit too sordid for me. I feel like I need to get my eyes burned out. ( )

Rich, engrossing, superbly drawn and written murder mystery. ( )