Murder Mysteries -- Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell

This is P. Craig Russell's graphic adaptation of a short story by Neil Gaiman found in his collection Smoke and Mirrors, which being the bad fan that I am, I haven't read yet.  (Geez, Leila.  Nice run-on sentance.  Anyway, I think I own it.  It's probably in a box somewhere.  It would probably be easier for me to just buy it again.)

Murder Mysteries is the story of the first love affair and the first heartbreak.  As you've probably deduced, it's also the story of the first murder and the first murder investigation.  It takes place in the city of angels. 

I really enjoyed it -- it'll be one that I go back to again and again.  I especially liked what Neil Gaiman did with Lucifer.  (I liked those bits in Sandman, too.)  He treated him with empathy, but still allowed him to be kind of scary.  I'd imagine that it would be a tough line to walk, but I've come to the conclusion that Neil Gaiman can do anything, so I wasn't surprised that he succeeded.

The framing story (an old man bums a cigarette from the narrator and tells him the story as a form of payment) was creepy.  Period.