Violent Cases

Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s Violent Cases, first published by Dark Horse in 2003, is a haunting, meditative graphic novella that explores the murky intersection of memory, violence, and storytelling. Through the eyes of a man recalling his childhood visits to an elderly, shady osteopath who once treated Al Capone’s gangsters, the book weaves a dreamlike, impressionistic narrative about how the past is both distorted and preserved. McKean’s experimental, painted artwork—rich with collage and shadow—perfectly complements Gaiman’s sparse, lyrical prose, making this a key early collaboration between the two creators. Though a single issue, it stands as a moody, essential work in Gaiman’s bibliography, showcasing his fascination with the power of unreliable memories and the weight of hidden histories.