In the back of a recent issue of The Fade Out, Ed Brubaker had compared what he and Sean Phillips were doing to a novel. He's right of course, and where some middle issues of the series felt slow, this last arc has proven that it's all been necessary. Read Full Review

All and all this is another excellent addition to the Brubaker & Phillips partnership. I have to wonder if Charlie and Gil are manifestations of the two creators, wouldn't that be something? While highly unlikely, the two have an excellent track record and “The Fade Out” continues that tradition. With this being the first series under their new Image exclusive contract, it is very exciting to see what Brubaker & Phillips are cooking up next. For now, this is a great issue in a wonderful series. Read Full Review

Unlike past Phillips and Brubaker series like Criminal and Fatale, The Fade Out lays out its central mysteries in small moments and small clues, expecting that readers will put together its puzzles and clues as its protagonists do. It's a clever decision that can only work here. Unlike Fatale, which used Lovecraftian imagery and noir tropes to create a sense of a mystery that can never truly be solved, The Fade Out is entirely about the petty nastiness of cruel men, the evil that people do to satisfy their basest instincts. The smell of cigarettes, cheap liquor, and cheaper sex consume this series and it's a mystery that can be solved, even if there aren't going to be any easy answers. Read Full Review