last of the gladiators Archives

Preview: Last of the Gladiators

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

Last of the Gladiators

James LaRossa was truly a larger-than-life figure — an attorney who was at the center of some of the most important criminal cases of the 20th century. He was also the father of four children: Susan, Nancy, Thomas — and James M. LaRossa Jr., who would spend the last five years of his father’s life learning and recording the amazing history presented here.

Based on LaRossa Jr.’s acclaimed memoir of the same title, Last of the Gladiators tells the story of how he found his own identity and place in the world while growing up as the son of one of the most outsized and outrageously successful personalities in the history of New York City — a father whom LaRossa Jr. always called his “true north.”

Written by LaRossa Jr. and Jonathan Vankin and illustrated by Giorgio Pontrelli, Last of the Gladiators is filled with true tales of the New York mob and features some of the most colorful characters of the era (including Paul Castellano, John Gotti, Don King, and Frank Sinatra) but is, at its heart, a love story between a father and a son — one that ultimately reveals what it takes to become, and what it means to be, a real man.

SDCC 2024: Last of the Gladiators takes a peak into the world of organized crime in the heart of America

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

This fall, Dynamite presents an unprecedented graphic novel peek into the real-life thrills and tragedies of organized crime in the heart of America, and a pivotal figure and father at the center of it all. San Diego Comic-Con brings further details on the upcoming Last of the Gladiators from writer James M. LaRossa Jr. and company.

From the 1960s until the turn of the century, New York City was the focal point of organized and white-collar crime across the world. Through four fretful decades, the most fearsome mob bosses, assassins, cheating stockbrokers, money launderers and corrupt bankers and more, sought legal counsel with the famous Jimmy LaRossa, a prosecutor turned defense attorney, who was the lawyer of last resort when fighting prosecution before the all-mighty U.S. Government.

Last of the Gladiators is an adaptation of the prose memoir of the same title written by Jimmy’s son. James LaRossa Jr. and his dearly departed father spent the last five years of the latter’s life getting to know each other even more, sharing and recording the untold tales and history that Jimmy found himself wrapped up in through his career.

The memoir also taps into the son’s own upbringing, and journey of self-discovery navigating his identity as the son of such an outrageously successful and impactful figure. Last of the Gladiators is a family saga, in more ways than one.

LaRossa comes over to the comic medium to adapt his own work, with co-writing assistance by comics mainstay Jonathan Vankin. Previously a longtime senior editor at DC Comics’ acclaimed Vertigo imprint, through his editing and writing Vankin has taken on many stories of crime and family drama. They’re joined by artist Giorgio Pontrelli, tasked with bringing these complicated tales to the page visually. Last but certainly not least, legendary artist Butch Guice handles the stunning cover for the book.

The book was originally announced as in development at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, and now after the collaborative efforts of all the creators and editors involved, it is ready for the hands of readers this October. Dynamite also possesses the media rights for the property.