Generic PI - "likeable" in that overdone Joss Whedon way - proves herself to be capable as she gets embroiled in a missing person's case. Generic crime story, boring twists, not at all interesting. Rucka all over basically. Nothing original, nothing compelling - not badly put together but just so meh, I couldn't give a toss ever.

This is the first graphic novel I have ever read. It was a fast read with good illustrations. There was lots of action and I enjoyed it.

This was a ok comic, there really isn't anything special about it expect the relationship between the main character and her little brother (who I believe has down syndrome).. I hope the TV show is better...

Arc provided by NetGalley. Ok I loved this and I will be reading this series.
Dex owes roughly 18,00 To a casino. The owner wants her to track down her grandchild, who has gone missing. Once she finds her her debt will be erased. She goes hunting for Charlotte at her apartment and finds it torn up. Two goons rough her up trying to find out why she is there and if she knows where Charlotte is. A
She then gets taken by a third separate goon and driving to the marcenco place. He is a mob boss who wants his kids to become legitimate professionals. Mr. marcenco offers Double her payment to find the girl and bring her to him. She runs into his daughter who hits on her. She is in all kinds of trouble but continues to locate Charlotte. Dex is a smart, kick ass character. The graphics and story line are great.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this one! It's a solid mystery with a likeable, tough lead that won't take no for an answer.

The artwork is phenomenal.

Dex - a down on her luck private investigator - lands a case that will wipe out a significant amount of debt. Of course, nothing is as it seems, and she'll have to survive being beat up, shot at, and getting on the wrong side of one of Portland's most powerful families. On top of which, she'll still have to locate a missing teenager and rescue her. All in a day's work, right?

Greg Rucka knows how to build a solid noir tone. He also infused Dex with more strength and personality than many of Josh Whedon's strongest female characters. Therefore, it was especially infuriating that Rucka wrote the words "mentally retarded" into Dex's vocabulary. Her brother, Silas, has Down syndrome, and she's very protective of him. Even in the tough situation she was in, I have a hard time believing Dex would have referred to her brother with such hurtful words.

Aside from that complaint, this was a solid, entertaining graphic novel. Surprisingly, ABC's take on Stumptown (starring Cobie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother) is actually better than the comic so far. It has stronger dark humor and a more interesting backstory for Dex. Both versions of Stumptown are worth checking out, though.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.
Cant wait for the show!

'Stumptown, Vol. 1: The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo' by Greg Rucka with art by Matthew Southworth is an older graphic novel series that has been turned in to a TV series starting this fall (tomorrow night as I write this). I've thought for years that this would be a good property for television, so I'm excited to see it.

Dexadrine "Dex" Parios is a struggling PI in Portland. Struggling because she has an autistic brother to care for and a bad habit of losing at gambling. When a local casino owner calls in a favor, Dex is off to find a missing daughter. Dex learns early on that the young woman left in a hurry, and there are some unsavory types hunting her down. Dex gets beat up and shot along the way, but uses her wits to figure out what happened.

Dex is the kind of character that finds herself in trouble a lot, much of it is her own making, but that makes her good at enduring and finding ways out of trouble, too. The story meanders a bit, but is as solid as other mystery fiction I've read. Matthew Southworth takes a gritty style and shows a Portland I'm familiar with, but on the dark side. I enjoyed revisiting this series, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a decent detective caper.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

This was such an engaging and well drawn graphic. I was immediately drawn into the storyline and then mystery of the missing Charlotte Suppa. I love a good storyline with a jaded detective a la Philip Marlowe and this fits that bill so well, a must read!

Stumptown follows a rough around the edges P.I. named, Dex. Dex isn’t what you would expect, she has a gambling problem and a special needs younger brother she cares for. One night after losing to the house again she gets pulled away and offered a case to find the missing granddaughter of the casino owner and in return, her massive gambling debt will be forgiven. The rest of the story follows Dex on the case and man does she have some bad luck. Overall, I thought the story was engaging enough but the art style took away from the story. The characters weren’t particularly distinct and the coloring made it feel bland at times but at other times it was gorgeous. I just wish there had been a bit more continuity. I’d still give the next volume a shot.

This series initially caught my attention because of the TV adaptation, but I’m pleased to have at least gotten started on the graphic novels before the premiere date.

The premise for Stumptown isn’t a terribly unique one, but it’s a reliable gamut for a graphic novel and the first installment hits the right notes for this breed of comic without getting too tropey.

The plot is a touch on the flat side and I was hoping for more humor, but I expect the series may become more dynamic as it progresses.

Stumptown Vol. 1 introduces private eye Dex Pario. Due to a little bit of a gambling problem, Dex finds herself on the case of the missing casino owner's granddaughter. Crossing paths with some shady characters, Dex flirts with danger and death on multiple occasions until she solves her case. The characters catch your interest and the mystery holds on tight for a satisfying read to be enjoyed by mystery lovers and comic book lovers both. The story is well written and the art is gritty and expressive for a great read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Wow! This was actually pretty cool story!

Story is about Dex, really strong woman character, who deals with a big problem. Gambling.
She owes a lot of money and it seems that there's no way how to repay it all back. But there is a way. She just needs to find a missing girl, and it has to be done as soon as possible.

Dex is character that I loved almost from the first page. She's sarcastic, brave and clever. But on the other side, she has so many imperfections that it makes her a really unique person. Plot was gripping, dark and mysterious and I enjoyed all of it. Even that (a little) predictable ending.

Can't wait for another volume and once again, thanks for sending me this book for review!

Loved the style of this graphic novel, as much the graphics than the writing! Very dark and reminded me of Jessica Jones a little bit. I will definitely pick up volume 2, I am looking forward to get to know Dex a little more!

This is rather like Jessica Jones, but set in Portland instead of New York, and without any superpowers, and well, she is a detective, there is that.

Same sort of grittiness, and difficult to solve cases. Same sort of moxie, and down on her luck.

I like strong women, I do, but why are all detective stories so gritty and dark, full of the dregs of society.

Well, at least I get to look at Portland while I read it.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this available for an honest review.

Completely unfamiliar with the Stumptown story. So glad to be able to preview this volume. I will be checking out more of these graphic novels I am also looking forward to checking out the new TV series.

A reasonable crime comic, full of dark shadows, overly-competent private investigators (how do they stay so poor if they're that good?) and more. Various people seem to either want to find a teenaged girl who's run away, or to stop our heroine from finding her, and the muddle just about comes through with enough entertainment at the end. Three and a half stars.

This is the first set of comics about the PI Dex Parios. She is a struggling PI who is trying to make ends meet and take care of her younger brother. In this volume, she takes on a missing persons case in order to pay for a gambling debt. I enjoyed the story and thought that the characters were interesting. However, it could have been a bit more unique - it reminded me a lot of the Jessica Jones comics. Overall, though, it was an engaging read.

I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was really good. I love badass female main characters. Story was dark and action packed. I can't wait to read more and i will definitely watch the tv show.

I have enjoyed the work of Greg Rucka for decades now. This book is inventive and makes wonderful use of visual narrative. Can’t wait to see how it translates to other media.