Like a Sniper Lining Up His Shot
Written by Jean-Patrick Manchette (adapted by Jacques Tardi). Art by Jacques Tardi.
A contract killer discovers that retirement is not his decision alone.
Overview
Martin Terrier completes what he intends as his last job and plans to leave the trade. Employers and old enemies refuse to release him, forcing him back into a network he hoped to escape. Tardi’s French adaptation appeared in 2010.
Why It Matters
The premise reverses the fantasy of the untouchable assassin: professional skill cannot restore control over a life built on coercion.
Genre & Themes
Assassin thriller and fatalistic noir drive a bleak sequence of pursuits and betrayals.
Art & Visual Identity
Tardi’s controlled, often impassive faces heighten the difference between violent action and the people who order it.
Read This If You Like
- Assassin noir
- Bleak crime fiction
- Tardi and Manchette