"Marlene" is your typical graphic novel, except erotic sex scenes have replaced the entire plot. What plot remains deals with a series of murders revolving around a very sexually active woman named Marlene. It's up to super cop Michael Joergenson to find the murderer. To add to the mystery, most men sleeping with Marlene are killed by a horrifying demon, although this doesn't seem to make it harder for Marlene to find people to sleep with.
This Danish comic was released in 1998 under the name "Mareridt." Its stateside release is from indie comic publisher Slave Labor Graphics. Author Peter Snejbjerg currently writes and illustrates for DC comics.
The major disappointment of "Marlene" is its lack of character development. Most characters are dull stereotypes with predictable actions. Their lackluster personalities make it hard to sympathize with any character. Every character could die and the reader would be fine with it. With underdeveloped characters, only a dynamic and intriguing plot could save the novel, but unfortunately "Marlene" can't deliver the goods. The plot is boring and unoriginal. Instead of being pulled into the graphic novel, you are left wondering how many pages are left.
The art in "Marlene," however, is simple yet effective. Panels are not over-cluttered, yet the backgrounds can be surprisingly detailed. The expressions on the characters faces are also very well drawn and add some of the personality that the plot fails to achieve. The lack of color adds instead of subtracts from the comic. Moods are easily set using black and white, creating atmospheres that color would have trouble conveying.
Perhaps the downfall of "Marlene" is its length. While slightly longer then a normal comic at 46 pages, it is not nearly as long as a standard graphic novel. It is impossible to achieve the character and plot depth expected in such a small amount of space. Because of the lack of space, "Marlene" feels rushed and incomplete.
With the release of a multitude of movies based on comics, publishers are trying to milk the craze for all it's worth. Unfortunately, many comics, such as "Marlene," are not worth releasing. Individuals just getting into graphic novels should stick with ones that are more mainstream. "Marlene" is a typical mystery that falls short of the genre's greater graphic novels, like "Road to Perdition" or "The Watchman"
