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Matador Vol. 1
Writer DEVIN GRAYSON (Nightwing) and artist BRIAN STELFREEZE (Black Panther) bring you an explosive story pitting Lt. Isabel Cardona against a deadly serial killer! Dismissed as a quota minority hire by her colleagues, Cuban-born and Florida-bred Detective Isabel Cardona makes no friends on the Miami force by insisting that a series of seemingly unrelated murder cases lead to an urban-legend killer known only as "The Matador." Proving his existence soon becomes the only way to prove her sanity—but how close to the dangerous Matador will Cardona have to get to make that happen? Collects MATADOR #1-6
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Devin Grayson
508 books117 followersDevin Grayson is an avid gamer, former acting student, and enthusiastic reader fortunate enough to have turned a lifelong obsession with fictional characters into a dynamic writing career. She has a B.A. from Bard College, where she studied creative writing with novelist Mona Simpson. Best known for her work on the Batman titles for DC Comics, Devin has been a regular writer on Catwoman, Nightwing, and The Titans, and contributed to the award-winning No Man’s Land story arc. With the publication of Batman: Gotham Knights in March of 2000, she became the first (and, sadly, only as of 2020) female to create, launch and write an ongoing Batman title.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 11, 2019
Botín de saldos de la Feria del Libro de Bs As, parte 4. Una vez más un libro del que nunca había oído, pero con un par de autores responsables lo suficientemente conocidos como para inclinarme a comprarlo (y, una vez más, a un precio tan tentador que no cabía siquiera dudarlo). Matador se trata esencialmente de un policial de acción que sigue los pasos en Miami de la detective latina Isabel Cardona tras la pista de una suerte de super asesino perfecto. Este asesino liquida todo a su alrededor menos a la propia Isabel, lo que -lógicamente- la pone en tela de juicio, pero pronto las cosas se van a poner picantes a medida que la historia se desarrolle y los lugares de "buenos y malos" -que en un principio serían "policías y narcos"- pronto no van a quedar tan claros. Con esta premisa -y un buen rato de Isabel siguiendo la pista del Matador más algún giro inesperado en su promedio- Grayson desarrolla un relato simple, bien llevado, pero que no logra volar alto nunca y que tiene, para colmo, un final lindero con lo ridículo (la explicación de las habilidades cuasi sobrenaturales del Matador son para escupir la cocoa de la risa en plena merienda). Lo mejor del libro, en definitiva, pasa por el arte de Steelfreeze -a quien yo tenía mucho más visto como portadista- en un devenir muy esmerado con buena narrativa y destaques para las escenas de acción (por momentos parecería que trata demasiado de parecerse a Eduardo Risso y eso lo desmerece, algo, en la comparación) a lo largo de los seis capítulos que componen el libro.
July 28, 2019
The Cuban Miami Beach detective becomes embroiled in a mob war, police and political corruption, and internal affairs while investigating the murder of a mobster’s wife. The autistic killer, the Matador, appears superhuman in his killing spree dance to protect her.
June 14, 2016
La detective Isabel Cardona del Departamento de Homicidios de Miami intentará resolver una serie de asesinatos cuya autoría, piensa, corresponderían a una leyenda urbana de la zona, llamada Matador. Nadie le cree y, a partir de ese momento, la vida de la detective dará un giro radical para dejar al descubierto una red criminal y su vida estará en constante peligro.
Devin Grayson presenta un escenario machista, violento y complejo cuya protagonista, descediente de cubanos, sentirá que vive ese rechazo secreto de sus pares siendo ella la que pone en juego su cuello y su carrera por resolver el caso.
El trabajo artístico de Brian SteelFreeze es fenomenal. El tipo sabe contar una historia y moverse con total libertad dentro del guión de Grayson para dotar de vida y carácter a Isabel Cardona y al resto del elenco de esta historia.
Siento que faltaron números. Aquí hay harto potencial para desarrollar otras subtramas y deja claro un cierto apuro por finalizarla.
Matador queda como la promesa de algo que podía haber continuado un camino a mucho más largo.
Devin Grayson presenta un escenario machista, violento y complejo cuya protagonista, descediente de cubanos, sentirá que vive ese rechazo secreto de sus pares siendo ella la que pone en juego su cuello y su carrera por resolver el caso.
El trabajo artístico de Brian SteelFreeze es fenomenal. El tipo sabe contar una historia y moverse con total libertad dentro del guión de Grayson para dotar de vida y carácter a Isabel Cardona y al resto del elenco de esta historia.
Siento que faltaron números. Aquí hay harto potencial para desarrollar otras subtramas y deja claro un cierto apuro por finalizarla.
Matador queda como la promesa de algo que podía haber continuado un camino a mucho más largo.
July 1, 2018
La detective Isabel Cardona busca la conexión entre una serie de misteriosos asesinatos que -contra toda lógica - apuntan a cierta leyenda urbana: Un misterioso asesino a sueldo que ronda por las calles de Miami.
La atractiva premisa es bien llevada por Devin Grayson, quien construye una trama sólida junto a personajes bien perfilados y un entorno policíaco que responde al cliché criminal miamense. La estupenda labor gráfica aportada por Brian Stelfreeze pudo haber redondeado un sólido relato policial, pero su menguante desarrollo y apresurado final deja la sensación de que uno o dos números extra habrían beneficiado a la guionista; con todo, se deja leer y resulta grata para los fans menos ortodoxos del género.
La atractiva premisa es bien llevada por Devin Grayson, quien construye una trama sólida junto a personajes bien perfilados y un entorno policíaco que responde al cliché criminal miamense. La estupenda labor gráfica aportada por Brian Stelfreeze pudo haber redondeado un sólido relato policial, pero su menguante desarrollo y apresurado final deja la sensación de que uno o dos números extra habrían beneficiado a la guionista; con todo, se deja leer y resulta grata para los fans menos ortodoxos del género.
April 23, 2020
Brian Stelfreeze's terrific art kept me invested in Matador even as the mystery of who is the Matador turned quite silly at the end. I mean, the story needed a twist and Devin Grayson delivered, but it certainly wasn't the twist I expected or desired.
Still, the bones of Matador are strong. Isabel Cardona is a diversity-hire police officer who gets caught up in the machinations of the Matador, a mysterious killer-for-hire. Isabel is a well-fleshed-out character with a full life outside the book's main mystery. Side characters too are interesting and memorable. The book's conclusion was abrupt and not a hit with me, but that's sometimes how twist endings go. It might carry more weight for other readers.
Still, the bones of Matador are strong. Isabel Cardona is a diversity-hire police officer who gets caught up in the machinations of the Matador, a mysterious killer-for-hire. Isabel is a well-fleshed-out character with a full life outside the book's main mystery. Side characters too are interesting and memorable. The book's conclusion was abrupt and not a hit with me, but that's sometimes how twist endings go. It might carry more weight for other readers.
March 24, 2021
There's a lot to like in this story of a corrupt Miami Beach police department, a conflicted detective, a mysterious assassin, and a conspiracy over the city's drug trade. Ultimately, however, it feels a bit like somebody tried to create an Azzarello/Risso knockoff in terms of writing and art (the art is very well done, though). The end gets goofy and along the way the writer decides to lampoon the "super-cool assassin" trope but in so doing decides to go for the "autism-is-a-superpower trope" instead. Unfortunate.
June 9, 2021
Beautiful artwork. Especially the colors. Absolutely beautiful.
The story was a bit of a mess. After a bit of a rocky start in issue #1, Grayson manages to build a bit of engaging intrigue from issues #2-#5, only to completely tank it in issue #6. It was such a dumb ending. Just so dumb.
Beautiful art though.
The story was a bit of a mess. After a bit of a rocky start in issue #1, Grayson manages to build a bit of engaging intrigue from issues #2-#5, only to completely tank it in issue #6. It was such a dumb ending. Just so dumb.
Beautiful art though.
July 23, 2017
Colección Comic Noir, #29: Matador.
Traduce los seis capítulos: Simetría, Reflexiones, Degradación, Infierno capitalista y Asimilación. Incluye también una brevísima biografía de los autores.
Traduce los seis capítulos: Simetría, Reflexiones, Degradación, Infierno capitalista y Asimilación. Incluye también una brevísima biografía de los autores.
July 2, 2019
What in the hell was this? I mean, ignore that the story itself is a mess (it is), but let's focus on a spoiler right now. The mysterious superhero guy? His superpower is, 'because autistic, having good rhythm, and whistling'.
Did I miss something here? Someone explain to me what exactly I just read because I am really, really, REALLY confused.
Did I miss something here? Someone explain to me what exactly I just read because I am really, really, REALLY confused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
Paid 25cents for the full series at my local thrift shop and I must say that seem entirely reasonable.
Gave me as much joy as a Sourkey.
Sweet nice for a good 5 mins with a bad aftertaste afterwards.
3 stars
Gave me as much joy as a Sourkey.
Sweet nice for a good 5 mins with a bad aftertaste afterwards.
3 stars
December 31, 2023
2.5 stars
An interesting enough concept that doesn’t seem to gel into a proper story. Plus, as much as I have enjoyed Brian Stelfreeze’s cover artwork over the years, his interior storytelling artwork does not land well for me. The scenes look stiff and posed, and there is a lack of motion or flow from panel to panel during action scenes.
An interesting enough concept that doesn’t seem to gel into a proper story. Plus, as much as I have enjoyed Brian Stelfreeze’s cover artwork over the years, his interior storytelling artwork does not land well for me. The scenes look stiff and posed, and there is a lack of motion or flow from panel to panel during action scenes.
September 12, 2019
Really well written. Great art, and a setup that is reminiscent of Azzarello and Brubaker works.
January 2, 2020
Truly didn't care about any of the characters.
March 13, 2020
Este es exactamente el tipo de historieta que quiero leer. Nada de narración en tercera persona, no tiene líneas de movimiento y las onomatopeyas son sumamente escasas (pero el ilustrador es tan bueno que busca la forma de crear movimiento sin material de respaldo), hay muchos paneles sin diálogo (pero son tan impactantes que, de haber tenido, hubiese minimizado la fuerza de sus golpes). Este es el matrimonio entre pintura y literatura del que siempre he hablado.
Este libro trata de una leyenda urbana que resulta ser verdad. Un asesino a sueldo que mata con tal gracia como si estuviese bailando. El protagonista es en realidad esta mujer detective de ascendencia cubana. El Matador en sí, es una herramienta para darle un toque de misticismo a la pieza. Como la historia se retuerce para hacer cada entrega más emocional que la otra, hacen a esta historieta cada vez más interesante.En cada momento, tanto el guión como las ilustraciones te mantienen al borde del asiento y, compadezco a quien haya estado siguiendo esta serie cuando salían ediciones singulares.
Grayson y Stelfreeze entregaron un producto completo. Sin embargo, los errores de escritura que sucedieron cada vez que un latino hablaba, me sacaron de la historia, pero no ocurrió lo suficiente como para molestarme y lo olvidé dentro de poco tiempo. No se si llamarlo un comic minimalista por el escaso uso de los recursos que hacen a esta forma de arte lo que es, pero a veces menos es más.
Este libro trata de una leyenda urbana que resulta ser verdad. Un asesino a sueldo que mata con tal gracia como si estuviese bailando. El protagonista es en realidad esta mujer detective de ascendencia cubana. El Matador en sí, es una herramienta para darle un toque de misticismo a la pieza. Como la historia se retuerce para hacer cada entrega más emocional que la otra, hacen a esta historieta cada vez más interesante.En cada momento, tanto el guión como las ilustraciones te mantienen al borde del asiento y, compadezco a quien haya estado siguiendo esta serie cuando salían ediciones singulares.
Grayson y Stelfreeze entregaron un producto completo. Sin embargo, los errores de escritura que sucedieron cada vez que un latino hablaba, me sacaron de la historia, pero no ocurrió lo suficiente como para molestarme y lo olvidé dentro de poco tiempo. No se si llamarlo un comic minimalista por el escaso uso de los recursos que hacen a esta forma de arte lo que es, pero a veces menos es más.
Want to Read
March 15, 2015Recopilatorio español de la miniserie estadounidense Matador, publicado dentro de la Colección Comic Noir, en su número 29.
March 9, 2015
¡Esto no se recopiló ni en inglés, pahpáh! Policial puro y duro a cargo de Grayson y Steelfreze, dos autores a los que les re pega el nombre para este tipo de proyectos.
May 6, 2020
Historieta detectivesca sobrenatural que fue recopilada en castellano mucho antes de que tuviera un tp en USA, a cargo de los mismos autores.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews