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{{Short description|1987 short graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox graphic novel
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|title = Violent Cases
|image = Violentcases.jpg
|imagesize =
|alt =
|caption = ''Violent Cases'', cover art by [[Dave McKean]]
|publisher = {{plainlist|
* [[Escape Books]] (1987)
* [[Titan Books]] (1991)
* [[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]] (2002)}}
|origdate = [[1987 in comics|1987]]
|origisbn = 1569716064
|writer = [[Neil Gaiman]]
|artist = [[Dave McKean]]
|previous =
|next =
|pages = 48
|US = N
}}
'''''Violent Cases''''' is a short [[graphic novel]] written by [[Neil Gaiman]] and illustrated by [[Dave McKean]]. It was McKean's first published work in [[comics]]. Though drawn by McKean in shades of blue, brown, and grey, when it was first published by [[Escape Books]] in 1987, it was printed in [[black-and-white]]. Later editions have been printed in colour.

A narrator, who is drawn to look like Gaiman, tells of how, as a small child in [[Portsmouth]], he was taken by his father to be treated by an osteopath who was once employed by [[Al Capone]]. The nature of the narrator's relationship with his father, the tales the osteopath told, and the disturbing events that followed, are partially obscured by the narrator's imperfect recollection, since he was not old enough to understand those properly at the time.

The book won the 1988 Mekon Award for "Best British Work", presented by the [[Society of Strip Illustration]]. It was nominated for the 1992 [[Harvey Award]] for "Best Graphic Album: Previous Released Material".<ref>[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey92.php 1992 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners], Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved Dec. 11, 2020.</ref>

== Further reading ==
Both ''[[The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch]]'' and ''[[The Ocean at the End of the Lane]]'' are also set around Portsmouth and employs elements from Gaiman's childhood. The three works can be seen as a loose trilogy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaiman |first1=Neil |title=Hello, Neil! I seem to remember, around the time |url=https://at.tumblr.com/neil-gaiman/hello-neil-i-seem-to-remember-around-the-time/z8s5ehl2500m |website=Tumblr}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=9270 Edward Carey: Examining Gaiman's ''Violent Cases'' with Peter Sanderson] - [[Comic Book Resources]], February 7, 2007.
* [http://www.comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=3225 ''Violent Cases''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310000228/http://comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=3225 |date=10 March 2016 }} at ComicBookDB

{{Neil Gaiman}}

[[Category:Comics by Neil Gaiman]]
[[Category:1987 graphic novels]]
[[Category:1987 in comics]]
[[Category:British graphic novels]]
[[Category:Crime comics]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in England]]

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