View source for Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter

{{short description|Book by Darwyn Cooke}}
{{Infobox graphic novel <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|title           = Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter
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|image           = Parker The Hunter.jpg
|imagesize       = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption         =
|publisher       = [[IDW Publishing]]
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|issues          =
|series          =
|main_char_team  = [[Parker (Stark novels character)|Parker]]
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|origdate        =
|origlanguage    =
|origisbn        = 978-1600104930
|writers         = [[Darwyn Cooke]]<br><small>([[Donald E. Westlake]])</small>
|artists         = [[Darwyn Cooke]]
|pencillers      =
|inkers          =
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|pages           = 144
|translator      =
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}}
'''''Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter''''' is a 2009 [[graphic novel]] by [[Darwyn Cooke]], an adaptation of the first [[Parker (Stark novels character)|Parker]] novel ''[[The Hunter (Stark novel)|The Hunter]]'' written by [[Donald E. Westlake]] under the [[pseudonym]] Richard Stark.
==Publication history==
In July 2009, [[IDW Publishing]] published Cooke's ''Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter'', an adaptation of the [[Donald Westlake]] novel, ''[[The Hunter (Stark novel)|The Hunter]]'', the first of four [[Parker (fictional criminal)|Parker]] novels Cooke adapted for IDW. The second, ''The Outfit'', was released in October 2010, ''The Score'' was released in July 2012,<ref name="GCD">{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Darwyn+Cooke|title= Darwyn Cooke}}</ref><ref name=CCM>{{cite journal|title = WonderCon Special Guests|journal = Comic-Con Magazine|page = 18|publisher = [[San Diego Comic-Con International]]|date = Winter 2010|url = http://issuu.com/comic-con/docs/ccmag_winter2010}}</ref> and ''Slayground'' was published in December 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/richard-stark-parker-slayground-preview-darwyn-cooke-idw/ |title=Darwyn Cooke Adapts A Masterpiece in ''Richard Stark's Parker: Slayground'' |first=Joseph |last=Hughes |date=December 9, 2013 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|ComicsAlliance]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110020054/http://comicsalliance.com/richard-stark-parker-slayground-preview-darwyn-cooke-idw/ |archive-date=January 10, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=January 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> with Cooke handling the entire art direction and physical design.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit">{{cite web |url=http://comicsalliance.com/darwyn-cooke-outfit-interview-tucker-stone/ |title=Darwyn Cooke Takes Down 'The Outfit' [Interview] |first=Tucker |last=Stone |date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=[[ComicsAlliance]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722205259/http://comicsalliance.com/darwyn-cooke-outfit-interview-tucker-stone/ |archive-date=July 22, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
At the time of ''The Outfit''{{'}}s release, Cooke said "I can see [Parker] being a part of what I do for a long time," beyond IDW's four planned books.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Cooke completed the eight-year contract for the ''Parker'' series' four titles in only four years, which led to Cooke anticipating at least one future project, ''Butcher's Moon'', that was ultimately never made due to Cooke's death.<ref name="CBR (Bell)">{{cite web|last = Bell |first = Josh|title = WC15: Cooke Gets Honest About "Before Watchmen," Turning Down Morrison|date = 2015-04-09|website = [[Comic Book Resources]]|url = http://www.cbr.com/wc15-cooke-gets-honest-about-before-watchmen-turning-down-morrison/|access-date = 2017-08-16}}</ref>
==Background and creation==
After Cooke's preliminary Parker drawings struck Westlake as too hot-headed, Cooke's next approach resonated with the author as "on the right track."<ref name="ComicsReporter">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/brubaker_cooke_rough/ |title=CR Sunday Interview: A Talk With Darwyn Cooke And Special Guest Ed Brubaker About The Hunter |first=Tom |last=Spurgeon |date=May 10, 2009 |publisher=The Comics Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725065642/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/brubaker_cooke_rough/ |archive-date=July 25, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Cooke described Westlake as "really forthcoming" after initially contacting him,<ref name="ComicsReporter"/> and believed he gained Westlake's support after assuring him that the comic adaptation would take place in the same time period as the books and "maintain as much of the prose as possible."<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Cooke noted that Westlake mentioned that one of his early cover ideas was "too violent,"<ref name="ComicsReporter"/> and told him Parker committed violence not out of anger, but expedience.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
Though Westlake was able to discuss story and characters with Cooke during the initial development of ''The Hunter'', Cooke did not want to pester Westlake due to the author's advanced age.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/><ref name="ComicsReporter"/> Cooke lost the ability to further work with Westlake after the author's passing in December 2008, with Westlake never seeing the finished product or contributing to new scenes exclusive to the comic adaptation.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Cooke felt the loss of Westlake made the series "a little less pure" due to Cooke authoring some original dialogue, believing "[Westlake's characters] would have been better with his help."<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> According to Cooke, Westlake saw much of the development artwork and "there was no question that he was happy to have the name on the graphic novel."<ref name="ComicsReporter"/>
The art was finished via watercolor and brush, with Cooke intending a consistent look for the four titles.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Cooke deliberately took time committing to the art style, referring to his approach as a "visual shorthand that best tells this type of story"<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> and noting that the style's roots were in his stories for Slam Bradley and ''Catwoman: Selina's Big Score''.<ref name="ComicsReporter"/> Cooke kept scenes dark and reserved, a choice he viewed as more authentic compared to Parker film adaptations, which typically went for exaggerated visuals, even noting that he had to get past his Warner Bros. Animation training and knowledge of the [[Script (comics)#Plot script|Marvel method]], which both encouraged amping up the art when interpreting a script.<ref name="ComicsReporter"/> For ''The Outfit'', Cooke spent six months on research, character design, thumbnails, and editing, while the actual process of drawing was described by Cooke as "shorter than most people would think" at around four months of work.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Once ready to draw, Cooke would pencil, ink, letter, and paint without going back to undo mistakes, channeling Westlake's own practice of writing the Parker novels as he went along.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
After ''The Hunter'', Cooke changed some of Parker's facial design—originally derived from Westlake's visual reference of a young [[Jack Palance]]<ref name="ComicsReporter"/>—using "plastic surgery as a metaphor for his emotional regression," while retaining the jaw and eyes.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
In discussing ''The Outfit'', Cooke praised Westlake's detailed process descriptions of criminal racketeering, descriptions that led Cooke to develop different art styles for the crime stories falling outside of the Parker narrative.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> The crime stories' art styles were inspired by his "favorite comic book of this century," [[Daniel Clowes]]' ''[[Ice Haven]]'', as well as [[Noel Sickles]]' ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' illustrations, and animation studios [[UPA (animation studio)|UPA]] and Hanna-Barbera.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
==Plot==
Parker is betrayed by the woman he loves and double-crossed by his partner in crime, he makes his way cross-country with only one thought burning in his mind — to coldly exact his revenge and reclaim what was taken from him.
==Reception==
Cooke credited IDW editor Scott Dunbier for ''The Hunter''{{'}}s strong promotional response; Dunbier's ideas included presenting the title to look like a traditional hardcover book, providing media advance review copies of the proper hardcover—a practice generally not used in the comics industry—as well as holding a release day press conference.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> One of Cooke's proudest moments for the series was ''The Hunter''{{'}}s coverage in ''[[The New York Times]]'', something Westlake told Cooke he wanted but didn't live to see, with Westlake's widow Abby thrilled with the recognition her husband's work received.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
Fellow artist [[Cliff Chiang]] praised ''The Hunter'' as "elegantly efficient" and a "seamless" adaptation, claiming that Cooke "was able to take Westlake's novel and make me feel as though it were always a comic," while writer and artist [[Howard Chaykin]] was "delighted that it finally happened in so compelling and well made a package."<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/> Cooke regarded criticisms that ''The Hunter'' was "bloodless" as likely from people who had not read the original books, explaining that the books' moments of violence were ruthless, efficient, unemotional non-events meant to punctuate a moment or set up the next set of challenges.<ref name="ComicsAllianceOutfit"/>
The comic book oriented video and audio podcast iFanboy named ''Parker: The Hunter'' as a "Book of the Month."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifanboy.com/content/botm/Book_of_the_Month_-_Richard_Starks_Parker_The_Hunter_Hc |title=Book of the Month - Richard Starks Parker The Hunter Hc  |access-date=2010-01-29|publisher=iFanboy.com |date= }}</ref> In December 2009, iFanboy named ''Parker: The Hunter'' the 2009 "Book of the Year."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifanboy.com/content/video/iFanboy_-_Episode__143_-_2009_Book_of_the_Year |title=iFanboy - Episode #143 - 2009 Book of the Year |access-date=2010-01-29 |publisher=iFanboy.com |date= }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Donald E. Westlake}}
[[Category:2009 graphic novels]]
[[Category:2009 comics debuts]]
[[Category:American graphic novels]]
[[Category:Graphic novels based on novels|Parker The Hunter]]
[[Category:Crime comics]]
[[Category:Eisner Award winners for Best Adaptation from Another Work]]
[[Category:IDW Publishing titles]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in New York City]]