I remembered when the original comic series came out, but at the time I didn't know what M was. I actually started to watch the movie, but subtitled films just aren't my thing, so I decided to read the graphic novel instead. At times, I did find the art confusing, which was really the only drawback. The black and white painted art is very moody, and does a great job of conveying emotion and a creepy mood. Now, moving from the movie to this hardcover graphic novel. The idea of a child killer in a movie was probably shocking back then as well. When M was filmed in 1931, this was still an original story. In order to get the cops off of their backs, the criminal element takes it upon themselves to find the killer. A serial killer is murdering children, and the search for the killer puts heat on the underworld in general. A similar story has been done a few times over the years. This was a strong adaptation of a very strong movie. The only drawback was the art got a little confusing at times, at least to me. Links to Muth's Wiki and GR pages and his page at Allen Spiegel Fine ArtsĤ.5 stars. M is very satisfying for those already familiar with this artist's work and a wonderful introduction for those of us new to him. While the story may be dark, the art-work is brilliant and very satisfying. There is a reason that the paintings have such a life-like look.

It was most interesting to read about Muth’s technique. The story is familiar, crimes against children and a panicked public enraged into a violent frenzy. The images are both gorgeous and evocative. The auburn shadow from a coffee cup suggests the blood that flows off-screen (or page). He has written pieces to accompany exhibitions of his paintings, among other work Not content to excel at art alone, Muth is a musician as well. Muth is primarily known for his illustration of children's books, but he also has done considerable work in graphic novels. A soft-colored purple balloon marks the first victim.Ī blind street vendor totes green and yellow balloons. There is also musical notation across many images, a nice touch, but a very soft one for those of us unable to actually read music. He applies a bit of color from oil paint in these silverpoint on charcoal paintings, giving the work a very rich look. The loss of M’s whistling is considerable but the images capture the tone of the film and the story well. Muth uses dialogue balloons instead of sound.

This hardcover publication is a gathering together of a four-volume comic series first published in 1990. Based on the film by Fritz Lang, this version of “M” consists of paintings by Muth.

M by Jon J. Muth