The last and complete volume of Criminal has just been published by Panini and brings us new stories from this noir world where the price of life is decreasing

The series probably most representative of the work of Ed Brubaker Yes Sean Phillips in recent years (decades actually) it undoubtedly is Criminal. Maybe it’s the best or maybe not, but we can find this in it noir distillate that has given us its readers so much joy. Now, thanks to Panini Comicsnow we can enjoy the third complete collection of this series, which brings together the latest published stories of this universe.

Bad time, bad place

Of the three main narrative arcs contained in this volume, in the first we will meet an old acquaintance. Do you remember? Teeg Lawless? The father of Tracy Lawless He was a troubled kid whose service in Vietnam ended up ruining him, and here we are told the story of how, upon returning from the war, he spent time in the shadows for something stupid related to fines. And being put in prison for this after committing a major robbery is bad luck.

When he discovers that a large reward is being offered for bringing him down within prison walls, Teeg prepares to dodge death on the playground, in the showers, or in the gym. But in reality the only thing that prevents him from sleeping well at night, in addition to the multiple traumas he carries with him in life, is the identity of whoever put a price on his head…

Then we’ll fast forward a few years to take you and your child on a road trip down the highway from motel to motel, looking for a person of interest. Tracy not only has to put up with his father’s late-night drunkenness, but is used by him as a chauffeur (despite being only twelve at the time) to rush to the car whenever he thinks of robbing a gas station to continue for a few more days. He doesn’t expect that his life will change when they stop for a few days in a city where he will have the opportunity to meet a young girl with whom he will quickly become good friends…

My heroes have always been drug addicts

The protagonist of the second main story arc is a young girl named Ellie. Everything we know about her we will do through the continuum flashback of her childhood in which, among other things, we will discover interesting anecdotes about famous drug-addicted musicians and we will learn about the passion that Ellie feels for them. This could be a clue as to why he entered a very expensive rehab clinic…

The only thing we know for sure is what the voice of Ellie herself, the narrator of the story, tells us. And this is that over time it destroys everything that comes close enough to it. In the midst of this life destined for tragedy, a rehabilitated young man bursts onto his path with whom he begins a love story in the clinic and with whom he embarks on a path that may not turn out to be as bright as one might think…

Bad weekend

Hal Crane He is the figure around which the third of the stories contained in this volume revolves. It’s about an author who goes to a weekend convention to receive an award for his long career. In this character we will see reflected the darkest era in the world of comics publishing, where the exploitation of authors and abusive legislation regarding the preservation of works’ rights were the norm.

Brubaker takes the opportunity to dissect the current panorama of the ninth art in which perhaps we can find many of our experiences. But beyond this metacomic part, we must not forget that we are in the Criminal universe, hence the touch noir there will be no shortage of them, just as there will be cameos from well-known characters (even if only as a reference) such as Jacob Kurtz or Sebastian Hyde (which also appears at the beginning of the volume).

These three stories added to other plots that we will see together in this volume form a spectacular volume that not only serves to expand this wonderful universe created long ago by these magnificent authors but also has an entity of its own (like all Criminal other part) which makes them enjoyable for any reader. They are not only suitable for readers who cannot appreciate great stories told in an excellent way.

The volume of Full penalty 3 published by Panini Comics in hard cover contains 400 pages A color with a page size of 18 x 27.5 cm and includes the translation of the American edition of The Criminal’s Savage Sword, The Criminal’s Deadly Hands, My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, The Criminal: The Night Callers, The Criminal: Bad Weekend Yes Criminal: Orphans. The volume also includes all the covers of the attached issues and a large extra section with various illustrations among other things. The recommended retail price is €45 and it went on sale in October 2024.

Full penalty 3

The third collection of the award-winning work of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. A fantastic volume full of extras: illustrations, selected articles, interviews, covers and much more. Includes the Criminal magazines, the stories My Heroes Always Have Been Junkies and Bad Weekend, and the first and fourth issues of the most recent phase of Criminal, two stories about the Lawless family.

Authors: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips