When people hear the word mystery a lot of things come to their minds; classic novels like Hound of the Baskervilles, Murder on the Orient Express, The Thin Man, or Murder in the Rue Morgue, or more modern mysteries such as One for the Money, Y is for Yesterday, and Fletch. People also think of numerous movies and television series, like Murder, She Wrote, Castle, the C.S.I. or Law & Order franchises, but one thing most never consider is comic books.
I’ve been a lifelong comic collector since I was about 8 or 9 when my Grandmother recommended, I hold onto them, because she had tossed out my dad’s comic books when he was a kid. This was much to the chagrin of my mother, and it did create a lifelong addiction, better than drugs or alcohol. And thanks to my Grandmother I realized some time ago was the murder mystery genre was also included in the world of comic books and superheroes.
The first time I realized this was when I was about 11, when for Christmas I received several comic books from one of my aunts, and one issue was Justice League of America # 171 from October of 1979. In The Murderer Among Us: Crisis Above Earth-One!, the first part of a two-part story the JLA has their annual get together with their Earth-Two counterparts, the Justice Society of America aboard the JLA’s orbiting satellite. Things are going on fine, then at one point an explosion occurs and as the teams scramble to save the HQ, Superman finds the body of Mr. Terrific, one of JSA’s Golden Age hero. Zatanna attempts to reveal the cause of death with a spell but is thrown into a coma for her efforts. The two Flashes search the satellite for a possible hidden killer to no avail, and the JLA diagnostic computer reports that Mr. Terrific was killed by strangulation, not by the explosion. The heroes' only possible conclusion is that one of their number is the murderer. The story is concluded in the following issue when Batman and the JSA’s Huntress (daughter of his late counterpart) solve the murder and expose the killer.
As I got older and became a real fan of murder mysteries, like most fans I got into the novels, movies, and television series out there, but it wasn’t until I reached my thirties I realized how many times the two genres crossed paths, and here are a few of my favorite suggestions.
The Many Deaths of Batman (DC Comics May-July 1989; Batman #433-435) This three-part story arch begins with an almost completely silent issue, with only two words of dialogue, just all pictures, in which Chapter One: Period of Mourning, shows The Batman is dying, strung up on a fence as if crucified. An ambulance rushes him to the hospital, and amidst a frenzy of activity they try to save his life. Two doctors fight when one of them tries to take off his mask. They are unable to save him, and the Batman dies. Of course it isn’t The Batman, but what follows is a string of murders of men throughout Gotham City who are killed by various means, and all dressed like the Dark Knight. Despite the GCPD investigation, it takes the real Batman to stop the murders. Of course he has a major clue right away, he knows each of the men, all have link to his past.
Identity Crisis (DC Comics June – Dec. 2004) Best selling author Brad Meltzer wrote one of the most tragic and hard hitting comic books I’ve ever come across and to be honest, yes I have a hardcover edition on my bookshelf, but there are parts I have a difficult time reading due to some of the subject material. The seven part mini series, which was a catalyst to a ripple effect in the DC universe, began with Sue Dibny, wife of the Elongated Man, is murdered, her body horribly burned. The super-hero community rallies to find the murderer. The focus of the manhunt by the Justice League of America and their allies focuses on Dr. Light, who it is revealed years before raped Sue, and in retaliation the JLA erased his memories and altered his personality, these actions lead to a slippery slide, and the fallout through the series and afterwards is massive, with more than one causality.
Watchmen (DC Comics, Sept.1986 -Oct. 1987) In 2009 fans went in droves to see the filmed adaptation of Alan Moore’s groundbreaking maxi-series, which begins in October 1985, New York City detectives are investigating the murder of Edward Blake. With the police having no leads, costumed vigilante Rorschach decides to probe further. Discovering Blake to have been the true identity of The Comedian, a costumed hero employed by the U.S. government, Rorschach believes he has discovered a plot to terminate costumed adventurers and sets about warning four of his retired comrades: Dan Dreiberg (formerly the second Nite Owl), the superpowered and emotionally detached Jon Osterman (codenamed Doctor Manhattan) and his lover Laurie Juspeczyk (the second Silk Spectre), and Adrian Veidt (once the hero Ozymandias, and now a successful businessman). Rorschach develops a theory of a ‘mask killer’, possibly an old enemy of the heroes, and throughout the series a number revelations are exposed and the surviving heroes assemble to stop the killer’s true plot. Something I’ve come to realize in stories like Watchmen, despite everything else going, at its heart is a murder mystery. If one looks past the bells & whistles, all the outside distractions, there are plenty of example of this. Some movies this happens with are Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Sunset, & I, Robot. These are examples of comedies, a western (sort of), and a sci-fi, and in each of them is a murder mystery.
Astro City; The Tarnished Angel (DC Comics/ Homage Comics /Wildstorm Comics Astro City #14-20, 2000/ 1998) After serving his time, super-villain Steeljack finds himself back on the streets. Intent to make good with his second chance, Steeljack is unsuccessful finding work until he takes on a dangerous job investigating the murder of several super-villains in his neighborhood. But as he solves the mystery, Steeljack soon finds that he may be the latest victim on the list of deceased criminals. Now I have to say this is a personal favorite of mine for a number of reasons. Artist Alex Ross based Steeljack’s look after the late actor Robert Mitchum, who was a favorite of mine. The seven book story is in the classic Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler, noir style, but with a modern superhuman twist. As a comic book fan Astro City is my all time favorite book, lasting over 20 years, but of all the characters to have come and gone in the series Steeljack is a favorite of mine. He isn’t as powerful or smart as others and admits it, but he’s strong and hard to kill, but more than that in the same way Mike Hammer or Philip Marlow wont give up or go back on their word, he’s the same way, even when things get really dark for him, he still keeps swinging.
Besides the books I've mentioned there have been others worth looking into such as Batman; The Long Halloween, Original Sin, Sin City; The Hard Goodbye, & Daredevil; End of Days among others. Admittedly I've only listed mainstream titles & books, only because I haven't read all that many indy books and more familiar with the larger companies, but I know there are a large number of well respected murder mystery comic books/ trades by indy companies.
My point is basically this; when it comes to finding a good mystery, or any good story one should keep an open mind. As I’ve heard, believe, and say a lot, “A closed mind never learns anything.”
Till next time,
CGE
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