Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are back with a new original graphic novel that readers will be obsessed with…
Brubaker and Phillips win again
A good whodunnit is an entertaining battle of wits between the writer and reader. To Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Where the Body Was, we say, “Well played, old friends. Well played.”
A whodunnit with soul
Fans will rightfully expect a homerun in Brubaker and Phillip’s latest outing and man, they do not disappoint. In Where the Body Was, Eisner Award winners Brubaker and Phillips have created a masterful mystery melded with romance, passion, grief, and loss.
Subtley sidestepping the third wall, characters tell their side of the story over multiple decades while witnesses fill in gaps – and maybe throw in a red-herring or two? Brubaker cleverly reveals each character’s backstory alongside glimpses into their future lives to build a tantalizing cast of twelve suspects, each with their own problems, hopes, and dreams that we see fulfilled – or dashed to pieces.
Readers are given a map of Pelican Road (the fictional street/neighborhood where the crime(s) occur) to assist in their investigation, and even the catalog of characters that preface the saga provides subtle clues. As the characters’ paths intersect, each chapter peels back another layer of the mystery providing us with several wonderful “I didn’t see that coming” moments.
Sean Phillips – clear shelf space for your next Eisner
Sean Phillip’s artwork switches between modern, clean-line drawings and noir-inspired frames that perfectly complement Brubaker’s storyline. He sketches in just the right amount of detail in all the right places to inflect mood and feeling to the scene. And although some may find the graphic sex scenes a bit distracting, you have to admit that they effectively drive one particular character’s storyline. It’s always a treat to watch this master ply his trade.
Jacob Phillips steps up to the plate
We anticipate big things from Jacob Phillips. Although not specifically credited as such, we suspect the artwork was colored by Jacob (Sean Phillip’s son) and as expected, he contributes as much to the story as Ed and Sean. Tints and those trademark squared-off shadows lend more than just aesthetics. They help direct the story’s emotions.
More than just a whodunnit
Where the Body Was is more than just a whodunnit. It’s a study of nostalgia, passion, and human loss. You’ll feel each character’s pain and celebrate each victory as if they were your own. But will you be able to solve the mystery before the big reveal? We suspect not.
Where the Body Was publication details
Official synopsis: ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS, bestselling creators of PULP, RECKLESS, and CRIMINAL, are back with a new original graphic novel that readers will be obsessed with…
A boarding house full of druggies. A neglected housewife. A young girl who thinks she’s a superhero. A cop who wants to be left alone. And a private detective looking for a runaway girl. These stories collide one fateful summer in WHERE THE BODY WAS, a tale of love and murder in the suburbs, told from a dozen different points of view. All the neighbors on the block have an opinion about the murder and how it happened, but which of them is telling the truth?
WHERE THE BODY WAS is a tour-de-force from grandmasters ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS. Starting with a map of the crime scene, this murder mystery follows the ripples of this killing as they echo through decades of love and loss and passion and violence. Like a true crime podcast crossed with a long-lost diary, WHERE THE BODY WAS is unlike anything BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS have ever done and a must-have for all their avid fans!
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: December 13, 2023
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Cover Price: 24.99
Writers: Ed Brubaker
Artists: Jacob Phillips, Sean Phillips
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Cover Artists: Jacob Phillips, Sean Phillips
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