nglofile's review
3.0
There is a touch of the cliché in the character of Dex Parios: a tough female PI with no personal life and a penchant for snark, banter, and gambling, who also has a softer side as evidenced in her care for her special needs brother. Somehow, though, you can't help but like her, and dubbing the inaugural series The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo (But Left Her Mini) echoes some of the appeal. Even though the mystery isn't particularly tricky and Dex spends more time being kidnapped or assaulted than conducting an actual investigation, Greg Rucka's world satisfies.
Matthew Southworth's art enhances the narrative tone with a gritty, slightly out-of-focus feel. Even the color choices seem dingy or spoiled, which at first seems off-putting but ironically draws one in to the feel of Stumptown.
Matthew Southworth's art enhances the narrative tone with a gritty, slightly out-of-focus feel. Even the color choices seem dingy or spoiled, which at first seems off-putting but ironically draws one in to the feel of Stumptown.
offbalance80's review
4.0
Decided to read the graphic novel after loving the new tv series, and it was a good decision. While I must commend the creators for staying very close to the source material (especially with lovable wreck Dex), this was a much more intense story than the pilot of the show. Definitely going to keep reading to see what's coming up next.
beesleybob's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
porqueerestanvicky's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skavansieur's review against another edition
4.0
*A copy of this book was given by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
“I gamble, I drink, I smoke, and I’ve got a car that runs half the time. I just took out my second mortgage, half my bills are past due, and my mentally retarded brother pulls a steadier income than me [….] My word is all I have.”
It opens in a strange way, with Dex getting into so much trouble I wondered if I had been given the wrong volume. It starts with flashbacks, 24 hours, 8 hours, then it only becomes chronological. I didn’t hate it, but I was very confused.
Dex is around 30, gambled a number close to 5 digits, reckless, flirtatious, and has close to nothing going well in her life. When she receives a mission from Sue-Lynne to find her missing granddaughter in return to pay back her debts, she is left with close to no choice. The chase results in hitmen, bad luck for Dex, family drama, more bad luck for Dex and elements that hold a lot more depth than I expected this graphic novel to have.
The protagonist, Dex, has made some questionable life decisions however she is incredibly brilliant. She isn’t Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, instead, she is more of a mess however her misfortune and personality pays off. Despite her tough exterior, she has a caring side that she shows towards her brother. I hope to understand their relationship more in the next few volumes of the series as it did strike me as odd how her brother reacts to Dex coming back all bloodied and beaten up from time to time.
I believe the best part of the book is the second half of it. The first half was rocky, it was difficult to understand what was happening due to the time jumps, it was difficult to differentiate some characters but the second half becomes raw. You’re able to see things from the other characters’ perspective and it makes you (well, me) feel sorry for them and try to understand them in a way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m still blown away by the ending despite it being a few months since I read it.
“I gamble, I drink, I smoke, and I’ve got a car that runs half the time. I just took out my second mortgage, half my bills are past due, and my mentally retarded brother pulls a steadier income than me [….] My word is all I have.”
It opens in a strange way, with Dex getting into so much trouble I wondered if I had been given the wrong volume. It starts with flashbacks, 24 hours, 8 hours, then it only becomes chronological. I didn’t hate it, but I was very confused.
Dex is around 30, gambled a number close to 5 digits, reckless, flirtatious, and has close to nothing going well in her life. When she receives a mission from Sue-Lynne to find her missing granddaughter in return to pay back her debts, she is left with close to no choice. The chase results in hitmen, bad luck for Dex, family drama, more bad luck for Dex and elements that hold a lot more depth than I expected this graphic novel to have.
The protagonist, Dex, has made some questionable life decisions however she is incredibly brilliant. She isn’t Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, instead, she is more of a mess however her misfortune and personality pays off. Despite her tough exterior, she has a caring side that she shows towards her brother. I hope to understand their relationship more in the next few volumes of the series as it did strike me as odd how her brother reacts to Dex coming back all bloodied and beaten up from time to time.
I believe the best part of the book is the second half of it. The first half was rocky, it was difficult to understand what was happening due to the time jumps, it was difficult to differentiate some characters but the second half becomes raw. You’re able to see things from the other characters’ perspective and it makes you (well, me) feel sorry for them and try to understand them in a way.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m still blown away by the ending despite it being a few months since I read it.
jkdehaven's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first set of comics about the PI Dex Parios. She is a struggling PI who is trying to make ends meet and take care of her younger brother. In this volume, she takes on a missing persons case in order to pay for a gambling debt. I enjoyed the story and thought that the characters were interesting. However, it could have been a bit more unique - it reminded me a lot of the Jessica Jones comics. Overall, though, it was an engaging read.
I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
ericadeb's review against another edition
3.0
The art is not a style I like, but the story telling is great. It kept me guessing till the end. The new show completely captures the character, so it’s fun to read and imagine the show. I’ll read the next one.