Pulp of the Week - Tumor

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Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art by Noel Tuazon
Hardcover book published by Archaia.

Nominee - 2011 Eisner Award Best Graphic Album-Reprint
Tumor, by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Noel Tuazon

Tumor is an "LA noir" written by Joshua Fialkov and tells the tale of private eye Frank Armstrong dealing with a missing girl and his inoperable brain tumor. Frank is slipping around in time and the events of the present are informed by the events of Frank's past and vice versa.

I picked up Tumor at Wondercon after talking to the wonderful Archaia employees and taking advantage of their buy 2 get 3 free convention deal.

Tumor is told in a two black and white styles. The 'now' portions are stark black and white inked drawings while the flashbacks are keyed to a greyscale washed style. This makes for an easy mental shift for the reader while Frank is reeling from his  confusing path of memory and reality.

The story is touching and rough shod, brutal and poignant. The take is wrenching for both the characters and the readers. I heartily recommend this bit of grit.

Tumor's original release was individual issues published digitally. It was released monthly (and did well) on Kindle and was then published as a hardcover, novel sized volume. The book has thick, cream colored, ragged edged pages and a stylish foil stamped cover. From the outside, the book looks like a Noir novel. On the inside, it is a can't-put-down read that I finished over the weekend.

Tumor is a great piece of detective fiction and a rewarding read. I give Tumor a 9 out of 10. This is great stuff.