Stephan Franck’s “SILVER: Of Treasures and Thieves” is a 200-page hardback graphic novel illustrated in black and white that collects the first six issues of a twelve-issue comic book run. The extra-white paper is sturdy, possibly a 70# or 80# stock which makes the artwork stand out. Franck says his art is influenced by the work of Jack “King” Kirby, I see more of Frank Miller, with a touch of Gene Colan. Franck’s layout style was honed, I’m sure, doing storyboards for movies like “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” and “Despicable Me.” As a pleasant addition to the book, Franck over the final twelve pages explains his panel decisions, usually comparing early drafts of a panel to the finished product.
The book is a vampire story. Although the storylines are completely different, for some reason I get an “American Vampire” vibe out of it.
The plot: Burglar James Finnigan and his two accomplices, Mullens and Brantley, plan one more heist before settling into retirement. Over ten years of thieving and investing, they amassed over 5 million dollars to split up. That was a lot in 1931. Unfortunately, as Finnigan was escaping the FBI on his last job, he lost the key to where the booty was stored. Fate gives him a book with directions on where to find a silver pyramid (I don’t know for sure, but it may be ten feet tall) in the form of a dragon. To gain another fortune, all they have to do is steal it. The silver pyramid is in a castle owned by one Drah-Khann. The castle, naturally, is in Transylvania (you know – the same country Dracula called home). The castle is normally sealed, but once a year for three days (uh - three nights) vampires come from all over the world for a celebration. Perfect time for a heist. If the vampires don’t get them first.
Finnegan, Mullens and Brantley add four companions – a vampire killer named Rosalynd Sledge, a nearly deaf forger named Mister Moineaux, a washed-up actor named Hamilton Morley (aka Ham), and a ten-year-old boy, Tao, whose talent is the ability to see other people’s near time future (but not his). And off they go to Transylvania.
I enjoyed the book. The story moved along crisply, with some surprises along the way. I have two quibbles. One, the book is the first book in a duology and ends just as Finnegan and crew have set things up and are ready to go for the gold (uh - silver). So I must buy the second book to see what happens. That’s why I tend to avoid most duologies and trilogies. My second quibble is when I went to buy Book 2, it wasn’t published yet. Bummer.
My rating is 4 for story so far, plus 1 for the production quality, plus 1 for the interesting explanatory material at the end, minus 1 because I can’t rate a book higher than 5 stars.
Rating: 5 stars
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
All 2 for you in this series
See full series
More like Silver: Of Treasures and Thieves (Silver Book #1): (A Graphic Novel)
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Loading...
From the Publisher
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
