The Troublemakers #[nn]

Gilbert Hernandez goes solo on this 2009 Fantagraphics graphic novel, delivering a pulpy, sun-drenched cover that sets the mood immediately: a blond figure in a denim jacket stands coolly at center, flanked by two armed women — one masked and carrying a pistol, the other in a midriff-baring top with a gun at her hip — all set against a vivid red background that practically radiates B-movie energy. The painted cover style nods affectionately to grindhouse cinema and exploitation paperbacks of an earlier era. With Hernandez handling every creative role — writing, art, inking, and lettering — The Troublemakers is a fully personal vision from one of alternative comics' most distinctive storytellers.