Cover of The Sheriff of Babylon

The Sheriff of Babylon

Written by Tom King. Art by Mitch Gerads.

Ranked No. 71 of 100 · 2015 · DC / Vertigo / USA

Iraq War crime thriller, murder mystery, political conspiracy

A murdered trainee draws an American contractor into a divided Baghdad.

Overview

Former Florida policeman Chris Henry trains Iraqi officers after the invasion. When one of his recruits is killed, an investigation pulls him toward Nassir, a former police officer with his own knowledge of the city. King and Gerads began the Vertigo series in 2015.

Why It Matters

The murder gives the story a clear mystery while exposing the unequal power and incomplete knowledge that define the occupation.

Genre & Themes

War noir, political conspiracy and police procedural intersect in post-invasion Iraq.

Art & Visual Identity

Gerads contrasts exposed streets with cramped interiors; his faces carry much of the distrust between allies.

Read This If You Like

  • Political crime fiction
  • Iraq War narratives
  • Mitch Gerads art