Episode 90 – Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter

In this episode, Crimewave!, our series on gritty crime comics, continues with Darwyn Cooke's crackling adaptation of The Hunter! Beautifully illustrated in black, white and teal, this stylized revenge tale from IDW Publishing is the first in a four-part series adapting novels about the career criminal Parker by the late Donald E. Westlake, writing as Richard Stark.

Physically imposing and intense, the man known only as Parker storms into New York City in 1962, where he confronts the wife who shot him and left him for dead before hunting down the man who betrayed him.

Can our laconic lawbreaker survive a one-man war against the nationwide criminal syndicate known as The Outfit? And can he break into that impenetrable vault of graphic excellence known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

• Content warning
• "Her corpse isn't gonna disfigure itself!"
• The women of The Hunter
• "Waste not, want not!"
• Toxic masculinity heaven
• Parker in: Home Alone!
• Private Parts
• Curt poses a what-if question
• Road to Perdition
• Point Blank
• Flood by Andrew Vachss
• Derec Donovan's Trigger Mortis on Kickstarter

We return in two weeks as Crimewave! rolls on with the fictionalized true-crime tale Torso, by Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko!

Until then, spiff up your wardrobe with some snazzy Comics Canon merchandise! And why not accessorize with a little King Krackle from our sponsor at Category 4?

Last but not least, we'd consider it a favor if you'd rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook! Who knows? We just may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!