Abraham Stone: Country Mouse, City Rat #[nn]

Joe Kubert's cover sets the mood perfectly: Abraham Stone, trench-coated and wary, nurses a drink at a dive bar where whiskey runs a dime and beer five cents, while two shifty characters — a gap-toothed schemer and a cigarette-smoking opportunist in a loud patterned vest — crowd in behind him with the kind of grins that spell trouble. The rich, sepia-toned atmosphere of the period saloon, complete with a wall clock, framed pictures, and a reclining pin-up painting overhead, gives this 1991 Malibu graphic novel an immediate noir sensibility that feels lived-in and authentic. Kubert's linework alone — confident, expressive, and full of gritty character — makes "Country Mouse, City Rat" a compelling place to spend some time.