Reinhard Kleist has been to New York several times and always had to visit the old amusement park on Coney Island. He fell in love with this enchanted, yet very run-down place. As you walk through the streets there, old stories come to life. At least, that’s how it feels when you read his foreword in this graphic novel. He researched Coney Island for almost fanatically over several years, knows many stories, almost as if he had been there himself.
Thus, it’s easy to imagine that he put a lot of energy into his work: In 76 pages, you get 3 short stories about the same characters. Even though each one is self-contained, they are somehow connected, as you learn more about the mysterious figures.
Coney Island has become uninteresting for the general public, but a small group of showmen bravely holds the fort in this neighborhood of New York. Each has their own secret, which is slowly unraveled in the comic.
You can also find Mickey Rourke in this book. Story 2 is about the night he spends there while filming "Angel Heart."
I like Reinhard Kleist's drawing style. It is dark but very detailed. You can get a good picture of Coney Island. The graphic novel is done in 3 colors: black, white, and gray.
Fans of dark comics and also Coney Island fans can easily recommend this work. Unfortunately, I found it a bit too short because I want more of it ;-)
