''The Bronx Kill'' is a 2010

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

published as part of the "Vertigo Crime" line from

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

imprint Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...

. The writer is

Peter Milligan Peter Milligan (born 24 June 1961) is a British comic book writer who has written extensively for both British and American comic book industries. In the UK, Milligan has contributed to numerous anthology titles including '' 2000 AD'', ''Revolv ...

, with art by

James Romberger James Romberger (born 1958) is an American fine artist and cartoonist known for his depictions of New York City's Lower East Side. Romberger's pastel drawings of the ravaged landscape of the Lower East Side and its citizens are in many public ...

. The Bronx Kill is illustrated in grey-scale. It is done in the fashion of the "

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

"/detective-crime style.

Plot synopsis

The story centers around main character, Martin Keane. His father is a New York City cop, as well as his grandfather and his great-grandfather, after whom, Martin is named. Martin’s grandfather was mysteriously killed while alone in a dock area called "Bronx Kill". The murder has haunted Martin’s family for years. Martin is also plagued by his grandmother’s disappearance. Despite Martin’s father pushing him to be a cop, Martin becomes a writer; this is part of the reason Martin and his father have such a strained relationship. Martin’s wife, Erin, disappears within the first quarter of the story - driving the rest of the plot.

Martin's novel

Within The Bronx Kill, Martin is writing a novel about an Irishman named Michael Furey, who moves to America once he has discovered that his family has been murdered, most likely by his brother, Hugh. Peter Milligan actually inserts excerpts of Martin’s mystery/crime novel within the graphic novel, with annotations as if Michael were still in the process of writing the novel. The events in the novel often happen to parallel Michael’s own life events, eerily enough. The novel excerpts appear on pages: 38-39, 47-48, 64-65, 86-89, 114-115, 154-155, and 177-179 of ''The Bronx Kill''. Many of Martin’s tales center on a fragile father-son relationship because he is trying to work out his own strained relationship to his father.

Characters

* Martin Keane: main character * Erin: Martin’s wife * Mr. Keane: Martin’s dad * Elder Martin Keane: Martin’s grandfather * Nora: Martin’s grandmother * Kerry: Martin’s long lost cousin- share grandmother Nora * Armquist: detective who suspects Martin of Erin’s murder * Brian: Martin’s literary agent

Notes

References

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External links

''The Bronx Kill''
at

DC Comics.com DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...

Reviews

The Bronx Kill Review
Graphic Novel Reporter {{DEFAULTSORT:Bronx Kill 2010 graphic novels 2010 comics debuts Comics by Peter Milligan Crime comics Neo-noir comics Vertigo Comics graphic novels