A Killing in Comics by Max Allan Collins is the first book in his Jack and Maggie Starr mystery trilogy. Collins is a novelist and graphic novel story-teller. After enjoying this, I'm checking out more of his work.

Jack and Maggie Starr run the Starr movie syndicate. Maggie is an ex-stripper and step mother to jack Starr, who was an MP during WWII and now works as a VP in the Starr syndicate. They have a working relationship with Americana comics, publishing popular comic strips from the Americana company; like Batwing, and Wonder Guy. The owner and co-publisher of Americana comics, one Donny Harrison is murdered at a party he is hosting (at his mistresses apartment). There are many suspects and Maggie wants Jack, a licensed PI, to look into it. Basically Jack is looking out for the best interests of Starr, as some of the suspects provide comic strips to them and because he knows the comic business more than the cops.

Thus begins an interesting, kind of noir, investigation into the comic business to find out who murdered Donny. There are no shortage of suspects; his partner, straight - laced Lou Cohn with his own ideas for the future of comics; hard done by comic creators Mort and Harry, who haven't received the credit due for their creation of Wonder Guy; Selma, Donny's wife, who has to put up with the embarrassment of Donny's affairs; Honey Daily, Donny's mistress... There are others that might also fit the bill and Jack checks them all out.

The story is interesting but the whole comic business makes for a unique story. Jack is a great character, in the vein of Mike Hammer and other well-known PI's but to me the best character is his stepmother, Maggie Starr, smart, common-sense and great looking. She stays in the background but is the guiding influence of Jack's investigation. I also liked Honey Daily, another great character.

It's an enjoyable, easy to read story that flows along nicely. It provides a great picture of the early days of comics and of the time period, the late '40s in New York. Most enjoyable and I've got the 2nd book in the trilogy on order. Will check out more of Collins's works. (I also have Vol 1 of hs Ms. Tree comic series on order) (4.0 stars) ( )

Interesting, competent mystery. I liked the post-WWII setting and the comics angle. For some reason, Collins' writing style just doesn't grab me though. ( )

"A Killing In Comics" is the first of three volumes in the Jack and Maggie Starr series, followed by "Strip For Murder" and "Seduction of the Innocent." It is a terrific historical mystery very much in the tradition of Collins' Nathan Heller series. It is hard boiled and filled with period references. It packs just the right amount of attitude and humor to be highly readable. Although the background of the story is certainly steeped in the comic book publishing world of the late forties, you don't have to know much about that industry to enjoy it.

Take a glad-handing, overweight publishing executive. Dress him in a superhero costume - Wonder Guy to be precise. And, have him drop dead while cutting the cake at his birthday party thrown at his mistress's suite at the Waldorf-Astoria with his wife in attendance as well as several comic writers who are bitter about their contracts. All of a sudden, it seems like you have the makings of a story.
Better yet, throw in a gorgeous world-famous ex-stripper who runs a comic syndicating service and her stepson, a private detective. Also, throw in s mobster or two, a homicide detective, a blonde whose blue eyes seem to hypnotize every man, and half a dozen others with murder motives and you've got a lot real good story brewing.

Nothing weak or flimsy about this story. This is a solid one. ( )