Vertigo’s line of noir inspired crime and mystery novels made its debut in 2008.  The line was destined to be short-lived but oh how it will be missed.  Vertigo Crime novels fit handsomely on a spinner rack right along side Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me or a copy of Black Mask magazine.

Oh, and the line launched with Brian Azzarello’s Filthy Rich, an amazing and sleazy noir thriller.

As with many Vertigo books, Filthy Rich is for mature readers only.  Those who only have the stomach to read about murder and sex, instead of seeing it depicted on the page, will want to leave Filthy Rich for someone else to enjoy.  Don’t judge the story too harshly however, this much lurking under the silky sex and spilling blood.

Azzarello is best known for his comic series 100 Bullets for Vertigo, an immensely successful noir and crime story, serialized in 100 issues.  Azzarello is just as adept at writing a shorter graphic novel, without compromising plot twist and turns, shinning light into the shadows keeping the reader glued to the page.

Filthy Rich is the story of Junk, a former college football star turned used car salesman.  When Junk looses his job his big shoot boss offers him a new one, as a hired thug to protect his young, slinky and slightly venomous daughter.  Of course, this femme fatale leads Junk down a dark road that he will never be able to return from.

Illustrated by Victor Santos, best known his work in the French comic Los Reyes Elfos and his own title Young Ronin.  Santos does his best shadowy Frank Miller impersonation but much like the best impersonations Santos adds enough of his own flair and personality to spice up Filthy Rich.

Add a cover by amazing artist and illustrator Lee Bermejo and you’ve got a must read thriller.

Non-comic readers give Filthy Rich and Vertigo crime a chance you won’t regret it.