Like a Sniper Lining Up His Shot

In this taut, standalone graphic novel from Fantagraphics, master cartoonist Jacques Tardi adapts a hardboiled crime story of a contract killer given one last job. Set in a bleak, rain-slicked urban landscape, the narrative unfolds with Tardi's signature meticulous linework and unflinching eye for violence and moral ambiguity. A stark, atmospheric entry in his long-running collaboration with writer Jean-Patrick Manchette, it stands as a concise, potent example of the French neo-noir tradition.