Brownsville follows the criminal career of Allie Tannenbaum and the Jewish mafia in Brooklyn in the 1930s. Writer Neil Kleid does a good job stressing the differences between Tannenbaum’s real family and criminal family. It was a breeze to read through the story of Tannenbaum and his complex relationship with “Kid Twist” Reyes. Jake Allen’s black and white art is serviceable, with lots of nice shading and several good panoramic shots of old New York.
I wish Tannenbaum’s personality jumped off the page a bit more. He was drawn into crime at a young age, and I would’ve liked to see more how he became a trusted member of his gang. Also, his real family disappears through the second act of the book—I wish his wife was seen as more than a nag.