Interrogations In Warren Ellis Fell, Part Five

Warren Ellis’s grim graphic novel Fell, Part 5, revolves around the interrogation of a suspected murderer Michael Connah by Detective Fell. Connah barely speaks during the interrogation, his guilt or innocence can only be inferred by his reaction to Fell’s insistent questions and accusations that escalate into violence with a hidden gun. Fell’s interrogation tactic involves exposing Connah insecurities by building a case of possible motives to explain a string of grisly murders of couples in proximity to his accommodation. The visual and auditory representations of guns are used pervasively throughout the storyline, carrying various key points in the story such as Connah’s use of weaponry to end the lives of those he believes are unduly rejecting him, and the final turning point, when he turns the gun around and points it at himself.
Guns allowed Connah to end the lives of various women, and end up in the situation. A gun was pulled out when Connah began to lose control over the policemen, the power shifting over to Fell. Fell resisted pulling out his gun twice, only finally using it to knock out Connah. Connah even attempted to take himself out with a gun after he began to question his choices in life. Each situation has a unifying idea around the significance of guns. In each situation the reader is shown either Fell or Connah rising or falling from power, and guns are used as a way for the reader to easily identify each characters response to such events. If Connah could not get what he wanted, he would resort to firearms despite the cost, and when Fell was given the power to end Connah’s life twice, he could not take it.

Through the use of guns, Warren Ellis gives an insight into the minds of different men. His use of guns signify the characters rule over others, and throughout the story the reader is subjected to a difference of responses over such control and