A sly, feline hand slips into the back pocket of an unsuspecting businessman, gently pulling, in an unnoticeable fashion, at a black leather wallet.
A small pill made of unknown chemical substances is quickly and reprehensibly dropped into the hot cup of coffee of an oblivious newspaper reader.
A fry cook and a waitress antagonistically raise spatula and bagel knife against one another, the comedic scene betrayed by tempers raised amid overcooked hash.
These are the crimes, or perceived crimes, that exist on the front cover of Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes, a promise to the even stranger wrongdoings found within the inside pages, not to mention the back cover. Strange crimes, indeed.
Got your attention? Good. With crime, not all is as it seems.
Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes
Written and illustrated by: Matt Kindt
Published by: First Second
Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes is a 272-page hardcover graphic novel written and illustrated by the critically acclaimed Matt Kindt. We’re big fans of his here at Biff Bam Pop! His monthly series, Mind MGMT (published by Dark Horse Comics) has made this very column on more than one occasion. Indeed, we got the chance to interview the man at the onset of that conspiracy theory-filled series which you can read (or re-read) here. Kindt’s 2010 graphic novel Revolver (published by Vertigo Comics) was a great read as well – as was his book, 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man (also published by Dark Horse Comics).
Yep. The words “strange” and “crime” are synonymous with Kindt. It’s no wonder Red Handed follows in that vein.
Here, Kindt tells the story of the world’s greatest, most brilliant, detective – solving every case while catching and convicting every criminal in the in the city of Red Wheelbarrow. But what happens when there’s a rash of seemingly random, truly eccentric crimes that stump even the best of the best?
With Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes, think hard-boiled crime fiction with a cast of characters out of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, immersed in a crash course in semiotics. It’s riveting, fast-paced, thrilling fun – all hallmarks of a Matt Kindt work, a writer/artist enthusiastically running on all cylinders right now.
And we’re the lucky ones for it!
Speaking of lucky, if you happen to be in the Toronto area this weekend, Matt Kindt will be exhibiting at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF) this Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12. You can catch him red-handed (a-hem!) with his new book. It’s been said that in the act of signing, he’s actually also been singeing it.
Singeing, eh? A clue to the storyline, perhaps?
Make the run to your local comic book shop or bookstore today (or go to TCAF this weekend) and pick up the beautifully written, illustrated and designed, Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes by Matt Kindt.
This is one crime you want to be a part of!
Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!
Okay, JP, you did it this time! My grandsons want me to go buy this book for their upcoming birthdays. Great article!!