Corruption In Hollywood In The Fade Out By Brubaker

Ed Brubaker’s graphic novel The Fade Out is a captivating crime noir graphic novel that explores the corruption in Hollywood in the 1940’s. Set in a time where the movie industry was booming and the location was seen as the land of opportunity and good fortune, Brubaker reveals the ultimate goals of the people in this business, where power and greed can corrupt even the most well intentioned people. Behind the scenes of the lavish and adoring Hollywood lifestyle lay corruption, greed, and deceit. In this video, I will analyze The Fade Out as a story that sheds light on corruption during the time period to show the audience just how far someone will go to protect their reputation.

The Fade Out follows Charlie Parish, a talented writer that

As Charlie tries to solve the mystery of Valeria’s death, he discovers that Hollywood is not the glamorous paradise that most people think it is. His investigation leads him to an entire web of lies and cover ups, many of which involve some of the most influential people in the business.

Throughout the novel, Brubaker shows how the Hollywood studios would cover up scandals to protect their stars and maintain their image. They would pay off the police, the press, and anyone else who threatened to expose the truth. The main cover up focused on is the murder and rape of actress Valeria Sommers, which serves as a catalyst for the story. When Charlie finds Valeria, she is laying on the floor, strangled to death, in her apartment. Later in the studio, however, he sees the official photos from the crime scene, where it shows Valeria hanging from a

A prime example of this behavior is portrayed through the character of Tyler Graves, a star studded actor signed to the studio. Graves is adored by women for his charming personality and his good looks. After recently splitting up with his girlfriend, the studio decides that he will date Maya Silver. The press adores the couple, who seem very much in love. In reality, their relationship is strained due to their different personalities and lack of interest in another. Unknown to anyone else, Tyler is secretly gay. He battles depression and hopelessness as a result of repressing himself. The studio’s press related stunts for Tyler and Maya show us just how far executives will go to manipulate the public eye, and how little truth to these images there