The Man With the Getaway Face
Encyclopedia
The Man with the Getaway Face (1963) is a crime thriller novel, written by Donald E. Westlake
under the pseudonym Richard Stark. It was also published under the title The Steel Hit.
The plot concerns Stark's recurring character, Parker
, surgically altering his appearance to escape the mob and a contract on his life. Desperate for cash, he decides to join his old associates Skimm and Handy McKay to rob an armored car in New Jersey
. Parker and Handy soon realize that the finger for the job, Skimm's girlfriend Alma, intends to betray them. Moreover, an employee of Dr. Adler (who performed Parker's surgery) threatens to rat Parker out to The Outfit; Adler has been murdered, and Adler's employees think Parker is to blame.
The Man with the Getaway Face was re-issued by the University of Chicago Press
in August 2008.
In 2010, it was adapted into a short pamphlet by cartoonist Darwyn Cooke
. This adaptation became the first chapter of Cooke's graphic novel
adaptation of The Outfit, which was released later that year.
Donald E. Westlake
Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres...
under the pseudonym Richard Stark. It was also published under the title The Steel Hit.
The plot concerns Stark's recurring character, Parker
Parker (fictional criminal)
Parker is a fictional character created by Donald E. Westlake. He is the main protagonist of 24 of the 28 novels Westlake wrote under the pseudonym Richard Stark.-Character overview:...
, surgically altering his appearance to escape the mob and a contract on his life. Desperate for cash, he decides to join his old associates Skimm and Handy McKay to rob an armored car in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Parker and Handy soon realize that the finger for the job, Skimm's girlfriend Alma, intends to betray them. Moreover, an employee of Dr. Adler (who performed Parker's surgery) threatens to rat Parker out to The Outfit; Adler has been murdered, and Adler's employees think Parker is to blame.
The Man with the Getaway Face was re-issued by the University of Chicago Press
University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
in August 2008.
In 2010, it was adapted into a short pamphlet by cartoonist Darwyn Cooke
Darwyn Cooke
Darwyn Cooke is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator, best known for his work on the comic books Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit and Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter.-Career:...
. This adaptation became the first chapter of Cooke's graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
adaptation of The Outfit, which was released later that year.