Review: Fell, Volume 1: Feral City

Fell, Volume 1: Feral City by Warren Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fell, a sadly incomplete comic series from Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith, has only received one small collected edition. The original run (which is, I think, technically ongoing?) found nine issues released over the course of three years. The first eight are collected here.

Fell is really interesting; set in a strange, run-down city plagued by crime, Detective Fell sets out to solve cases and make the world a little better. Each issue tackles a single case to completion (in only 16 pages!), but there are dribs and drabs of deeper mysteries that, sadly, remain unsolved. Why is Fell exiled to Snowtown? What's the deal with the nun? Why is Snowtown such a craphole? Alas, with the last issue coming out five years ago, we're unlikely to get those answers anytime soon.

That said, what Ellis and Templesmith finished is well worth reading. Detective Fell is a strong lead to hang the book on; his desire to do right by his city feels very genuine, even as he's forced to make difficult decisions. There are some genuinely funny moments, as well as some really touching moments (and, of course, more than a few wtf moments).

If you're looking for a crime comic (a genre that is, thankfully, expanding), Fell is a solid choice.

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