Serial

CSI, Graphic Novel #1

by Max Allan Collins, Gabriel Rodríguez (Illustrator), Ashley Wood (Draft Writer)

With a brutal serial killer on the loose in Las Vegas, Gil Grissom and his CSI team search for the person responsible for a series of vicious Jack the Ripper style killings, a crime spree complicated by the presence of an annual convention gathering of hundreds of Jack the Ripper enthusiasts. Reprint. (A CBS television series, starring William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, & Paul Guilfoyle)

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mystery, Crime, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Media Tie In

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 25, 2005

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[vannah ୨୧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't for me, I would just prefer to watch the show instead.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that this book even existed until I spotted it in the bargain bin of a book shop in Minehead, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I needed to get it. What we have here is a graphic novel that’s based upon the escapades of Gil Grissom, Sara Sidle, Warrick Brown and the rest of the team from the original CSI television series.

Penned by Max Allan Collins, the guy who wrote the graphic novel that eventually inspired Road to Perdition, the three crimes contained within this first volume feel right at home with the TV series, and your enjoyment of the collection will largely depend upon whether you’re a fan of the show. You’ll pick up on occassional references to the show inside the pages, and the only thing that jarred with me was the fact that (massive spoiler alert) Warwick is supposed to be dead.

The artwork is fantastic, and even though the artwork is published in black and white, it somehow seems to add to the gritty realism of the series, and you really feel as though you’re watching an episode of the show or following the detectives on the beat as they patrol sin city. Don’t worry if you’re a little squeamish, either – despite the gory murders, the images themselves aren’t too unpleasant to look at, and the two illustrators tend to switch styles and take on a more abstract approach whenever there’s a close-up of a corpse or a bullet wound.

Overall, this is a pretty impressive collection of three tales of murder and intrigue that stands out as one of the better graphic novel adaptations on the market – in fact, it holds its own up against some of the giants of the graphic novel industry, from the non-fiction of Maus and Epileptic to the brilliance of the Chew series. It’s a great place to start if you’re a fan of the show.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great graphic novel. Very true to the show, I could hear the character’s voices as I read. Interesting storyline but hard to solve yourself as you don’t have as much info as you do when watching the programme.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and reviewed the five individual comics collected here separately, so this is just for my own records. Overall, it was an enjoyable copycat case themed around Jack the Ripper and a Ripperology convention - it's nice to know that true crime fans are nerds too. I also liked that the historical flashbacks to Whitechapel were drawn in a very different style - quite foggy and almost abstract, which was effective. I like comics that play around with the art. I also enjoyed the ending, where the villain got what was coming to him... and (avoiding spoilers) I liked who gave him that ending. It felt a lot more like justice than when the cops do it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack the Ripper copycat hits Vegas...at the same time as a Ripperologist convention. And the grandson of an original Ripper suspect is heading up the convention. Coincidence?

This graphic novel captures the snark and humor of the TV series. Not sure it would come across as well if you're not familiar w/the characters already. Good, though

Will have to check if there are more in the series...

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clashing art styles, clashing narrative styles, stilted language, every fundamental part of this is off. A disappointment.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads true to the series

[Lyddie Barnesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow the bat signal.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖

[Cande · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Los dibujos no son lindos. Aunque después de Saga, ¿qué comic puede ser lindo ahora?

-La historia tampoco es tan buena, ni interesante. Todo pasa demasiado rápido y no se crea ningún ambiente. No sentí miedo, asco u odio por lo que estaba pasando. Que es lo busco en los policiales, o por lo menos lo que espero.

-El final era bueno, pero la historia no me dejó tan indiferente que no importó ese final.

-Hay demasiados personajes, todos iguales, sin ninguna historia o caracterización. Me perdía entre tantas caras y nombres. Faltó ver más la relación del equipo, todo quedaba colgado. No parecen personajes reales y sus emociones se sintieron falsas.

-Las explicaciones al principio de la página estaban de más. Cortaban el ritmo de la historia y me dejaban con ganas de tirar todo a la mierda. No hay nada que me moleste más que los autores subestimando a los lectores. Tranquilo, yo entiendo, vos seguí contando la historia.

Miren, les muestro las joyitas:

"And within the hour, the three CSIs are at the one-bedroom apartment of Janine Morton."

"After the detective and criminalist have made their introductions, and displayed their credentials, the convection's Chairman meets with them in the media rooom."

!!!¡¡¡

Nunca imaginé que se podía contar-pero-no-mostrar en los comics. Supongo que uno aprenden algo nuevo todos los días.

No voy a seguir leyendo la serie. Solo estaba interesada porque amo los policiales. Pero no vale la pena.

[Nicole Bunge · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of the show, it's all there - down to Grissom's snarky one-liners. It's done circa 2002, so Greg is still in the lab.
The dialog is a little annoying, they say "Leuco-Crystal Violet" instead of LCV or 'blood spray' (which is what it does, detect blood) half a dozen times. Yet that's about the only piece of work-related jargon they use - so it's distracting and superfluous.
But the story holds together: A modern day Jack the Ripper is recreating their namesake's murders as painfully accurately (same types of locations, same type of dismemberment) as possible. WHILE a Jack the Ripper convention is going on in town!
Still, in true CSI fashion, there is little gore, it's about the SCIENCE.
(Which, was kinda annoying for a horror fan like me.)
I also wish they'd used more of Ashley Wood's art - it's more, grown up, disturbing and spooky. (That was why I picked it up. )But sadly, it's only used for the 'lets go to the technical re-enactment' that they usually use computer FX for on the show. That and a little of the old-tyme Jack the Ripper woodcuts. Oh and the chapter pages.
Gabriel Rodriguez (who can do good stuff - if you've seen Locke & Key) is kinda restrained by doing real-life actors. They come off as kinda matte.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

CSI brings a historical twist to their latest crime scene, which eerily mimics the unsolved Jack the Ripper cases from 1800s London. A new copycat enthusiast is on the loose, following the footsteps of the most infamous serial killer that terrorized an entire city and vanished without a trace. Will history repeat itself here in Vegas? Not if Gil Grissom has anything to say about it.

A well done graphic novel that stays true to the characters from the hit television show, and features clever dialogue and spot on artistry. While I typically steer away from graphic novels or comics, CSI is one of my favorite television crime dramas, and has some of fantastically written novels, so I was intrigued. While I still feel that graphic novels aren't my preferred reading source, I was not disappointed in the quality of CSI: Serial

[Nicelys Cabrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Crime Scene Investigators by Allan Zullo and from what I have read so far, the book is about the steps that CSI’s do to solve crimes. They come up with hypothesis’ ,collects and analyzes physical evidence of crimes to try and lead it to the criminal and solving cases. CSI’s use forensic techniques to solve mysteries and bring criminals to justice. In this book are ten different crime scenes the CSI’s have to solve.
I think the theme is to always expect the unexpected because you never know who is the bad guy here.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes to read mystery books because it seems that if you read more, you would want to keep reading and catch on to what’s happening. I hope as I read more, it will get better and better. I love this book so far because I live mystery type of books and it had a great start to it.

[Robert B. Miller]

Read by Kelly, Spring 2006:
"I found it at the library and I watch the show on tv occasionally so thats why I picked it. The reading level is probably high school. It was a fast read and it was okay. I was thinking that possibly this novel could tie in well with English and science at the high school level. Students could read this and other YA novels dealing with forensic science in English then in science they could do a lab activity as if they were forensic scientists. I remember doing this in anatomy class in high school and it was a whole lot of fun. The teacher had us figuring out what teacher in the school committed the crime and we looked at DNA stuff and fingerprints."

[Dark-Draco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it. The novels that Collins writes are suberb and this was no exception. The pics are great and I disagree with some other reviewers in that I think the artists did a good job with all the characters except Greg. Dark hair! He was the only one that looked nothing like the actor. The story was good, but slightly spoiled by a very good Jack The Ripper TV serial that was on a while ago, so some of the symbolism was very familiar, but that's not the books fault and just lousy timing!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a big graphic novel fan but I actually rather enjoyed this book. The story follows the CSIs as they try to solve a series of murders based on those commited in 1880 by Jack the Ripper. The graphics of the book alternate with the re-enactments illustrated less clearly with a grittier edge to them. Although this does lack the detail of the tv and book series' it was still an enjoyable read and ones I am likely to look out for in future.

[Theresa F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a former fan of the CSI television series I liked this work. The characters were portrayed in a way that, for the most part, seemed in keeping with they're onscreen personas. And despite the fact that the plot device of a killer imitating Jack The Ripper is somewhat cliched, the story line was decently handled. Not a great work maybe, but still a good one.
Did I like it? Yes
Would I reread it? Maybe.
Would I recommend it? Probably.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Call me old-fashioned but I suppose I'm a fan of the written word. There's nothing wrong with graphic novels but I think for now, I'm still going to stick with the novels proper.

Max Allan Collins is an amazing writer and really, reading his CSI novels makes the long wait between seasons that much bearable. :)

[Gord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im a sucker for classic CSI so I rather enjoyed seeing the old gang back together. Im also a "ripologists" , somewhat fascinated with Jack the Ripper so it was a cool modern take on The Ripper case. I was indeed eager to follow through with this trade as quickly as I can because I needed to know how it ends. Ashley Wood's flash back panels were gorgeous.

[Eric Zulueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book tells a story that is very faithful to the world and characters of the C.S.I. tv series.. Not only that, our favorite criminalists take on a copycat killer of one of the most infamous killers of all time.. Plot twists abound!! Very highly recommended!

[Aricle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork and story complement each other very well in this book. The use of two different artwork styles to show different perspectives of events mirrors the way the TV show is presented.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

No review.

[Azura Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the movie itself. Super amazing. It's a worth buy. =)

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuke afwisseling met de serie door een kort verhaal. Maar niet echt iets heel aparts

[Elizabeth B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrived plotline and uninteresting graphics. Skip.

[Noamana · Rating 4 out of 5]

like it a lot
love the show too
wanna read the other parts too

[Matt Fleming]

I love it