New to comics? Neo-noir “Criminal: Coward” is the perfect gateway to start your journey
Fresh Off the Panel offers comic reviews from someone still figuring out the medium. No encyclopaedic knowledge, no gatekeeping, just honest takes.
Generally, when people think about comic books, they think about superheroes, capes, ever-changing universes, and cosmic battles. But there’s a whole other world to explore. Stories with no superpowers, just raw survival.
Criminal: Coward is Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s answer to that world. It’s noir in comic book form. No decades of backstory required, no superhero continuity to untangle, just a contained story within 138 pages.
Leo is our protagonist, a pickpocket and getaway driver who works by two rules: never work with junkies and never carry a gun. These rules have kept him alive in a business where most don’t make it to retirement. However, he gets dragged back into a heist with a crew that breaks every one of his principles, Leo needs to decide if survival is still possible.
Brubaker doesn’t romanticise crime here. Coward shows Leo clocking in for a dangerous job because he doesn’t know how to do anything else. He isn’t a cool or particularly likeable protagonist, just someone who is always looking for the nearest exit so that he can make it to tomorrow.
Sean Phillips’ artwork and Val Staples’ colours elevate this atmosphere. Phillips’ artwork is gorgeous as always, making it feel like you’re watching a tense heist film unfold across the pages. Shadow-heavy panels, muted greys, and splashes of blood red create a world that feels more like a noir film than a traditional comic. If you’ve watched Drive, it’s kind of the same vibe.
Comic book pacing moves differently to film. Panels can linger on a silent moment, or rush through actions in ways that feel totally unique to the medium. Brubaker and Phillips use this perfectly, building tension through what is and isn’t shown. Coward isn’t trying to blow your mind with twists or overwhelm you with a spectacle. It’s lean story telling, done right. For anyone who's been curious about comics but intimidated by decades of superhero continuity, this is a great place to start.
Plus, if you get hooked, you’re not alone. Criminal has been adapted for television and will be released on Amazon Prime later this year, beginning with Coward and its follow-up book, Lawless. Here’s hoping it does the series justice.
4.5 / 5
If you’re interested in giving Criminal a try, visit your local comic store. We have a few in Perth: Quality Comics (Perth CBD), Collector Zone (Clarkson)
