Reviews (2)

Grand events seen from insignificant people
The theme in this volume seems to be how 'lowly workers' percieve the 'grand events'. There is a fascinating character study of Beatrice Wechsler (formerly waitress in Lucifer's piano bar) who just tried to stay out of harm's way so far.
The fallen Cherub Spera has a great line about picking up the slack when a serious flaw in Lucifer's creation becomes apparent.

But my personal favorite is the story of the evil puppet theatre that fist plunges the audience into depression before going for the kill. The size of the Teatro Crepusculo depends on the mood of the audience so when Gaudium defeats it by radiating joy (as is his original nature), it can be swatted like a nasty bug. Besides being a masterful use of the artistic possibilities of the grahic novel this says something quite deep about the human mind, feeling good and feeling bad.

And then Gaudium has a great line about reverting back to his old shape and what he expects when everybody else starts realizing what the absence of God really means.

Therefore still five stars for this volume, although some stuff about time travel and immortal beings producing offspring is hard to swallow from a logical point of view.

A little uneven but still worthwhile
As a first note, if you haven't read the previous books in this series this is not the place to jump in.The focus of the stories in this book is present more on the supporting characters and provide more in the way of atmosphere to the series than they do to advance the plotline.That said, the stories are well done and enjoyable.You could probably skip this installment completely without losing much plot continuity but I wouldn't recommend it.Particularly as one of the main threads involves ridding Lucifer's domain of any immortals, there are a number of interesting oneshot characters that are presented with the final pages introducing a new major character. ... Read more

Book Description

Tales of the Vampires presents stories ranging from medieval times to the Depression to today, all intricatelywoven around Joss Whedon's central story about a group of young Watchers in training. Not to be missed is Buffy's rematch with Dracula and Angel's ongoing battle with his own demons.Wrapped in a haunting cover by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, these diverse tales flesh out the history and the world of Joss Whedon's unforgettable creations and fill the void left by the Buffy TV show better than any other writers ever could. ... Read more

Book Description

Mike Mignola's story notes accompany the long out-of-print stories, giving insight into their creation and inspiration. Some consider Mignola's short stories better than the full-length novels, and this collection makes a strong argument for that, especially with Mignola's masterpiece, "The Corpse." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

best short stories in comics
I recently decided to review a couple of the graphic novels that I thought were the best I had read. This one popped into my head and was one of the handful that made the short list.

Mike Mignola's character, Hellboy, is a devil who works for the BPRD, an X-Files type organization dedicated to protecting the world from the paranormal. For his stories, Mignola draws deeply on mythology, the occult and folklore from around the world. Some characters are familiar, like the villain Rasputin or the mythological Baba Yaga. I had as much fun reading about the underlying myths as I did reading the actual stories.

If you have not read any Hellboy before, you may want to start with the first collection, Seed of Destruction. That being said, you really can't go wrong with this one. I think Mignola's real strength lies in his shorter stories, rather than the 4 or 5 issue ones. Here we have some of his best shorter work and I will say a bit about my two favorites. "The Iron Shoes" is a funny little story about a goblin that lives in a tower and attacks passers-by with his iron boots. Hellboy steps in to investigate. Not a long story and not much dialogue but I like its simplicity. "Almost Colossus" is another gem and tells the second part of the origin of one of Hellboy's partners at the BPRD. Great story from Norse Myths coupled with eye-popping art makes this one a winner. The remainder of the stories are equally good; these are just my personal preferences.

This collection of stories should not be missed by anyone who enjoys comics. Mignola's art is great to look at, somewhat stylized and uses heavy shadows and blacks. His dialogue is great too. Hellboy's dry, witty lines fit him like a glove. Overall a must read.

Absolutly stunning!
The art is wonderful. The coloring is stunning. The stories are highly entertaining. There is no reason for me to go on because the preceding reviews say it best - "Hellboy" is fabulous entertainment. If you have any interest in Graphic Novels or the comic medium then "Hellboy" needs to be on your bookshelf.

"What do little babies like? I know. Iron!"
"Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others" is my favorite Hellboy compilation. As shown by HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, the short story works well for horror. This book is a collection of Hellboy short stories.

Each story has roots in traditional fairy mythology combined with Lovecraftian overtones and just a splash of Nazi occultism. Magnolia has given his character Hellboy a very dry sense of humor, which works well in contrast to the talking corpses and various devils. The art is some of the finest seen in comics.

"The Corpse" and "The Iron Shoes" is a short fairy stories. Clever and fun with a nice nod to Celtic mythology.
"Christmas Underground" highlights Magnolia's wit.
"The Chained Coffin" is one of the best in the collection, showing the folly of loving the devil. It has some of the best dialog. "God? Was not I God in ancient Babylon?"
"The Baba Yaga" Always nice to see this ancient evil. Only available in this collection.
"Wolves of Saint August" is a werewolf tale, with a twist. Very good.
"Almost Colossus" adds a new member to the Hellboy cast.

I would say, if you are curious about Hellboy, this is the collection to start with. Every one a gem.

Filling in the Gaps
First, I have to begin this by saying that I am a bit bias when it comes to Mike Mignola. I do enjoy his Hellboy work, and recommend it to anyone who likes Lovecraftian influences meshed with Nazi conspiracies and other, even more bizarre, tidbits of folklore.
With The Chained Coffin and Others, I had read the reviews here and had noticed the gaps left in the questioning mind. For instance, I couldn't find a complete listing of what was compiled here, nor did the reviews truly state how good some of the stories, especially the Baba Yaga only printed here, actually were. So, here's a brief listing of the stories a few notes:
1) The Corpse: A baby goes missing and a deal has to be struck to return it. And how hard is it to bury a corpse anyway?
2) The Iron Shoes: This seemed more like filler, actually, but is still not all that bad.
3) The Baba Yaga: I like this story a lot, and had to have it. Unfortunately, it was only available in this TPB. If you read Wake the Devil, you'll want this side story, because references made are gaps to be filled in order to complete the entire Hellboy picture.
4) Christmas Underground: Spirits looming, a castle under siege by some strange curse, and Hellboy Claus? Besides being creepy, it also provides a little laughter.
5) The Chained Coffin: A true gem, presenting the origins of Hellboy (not to be confused with "how Hellboy arrive on Earth") in a most interesting format. Even people who have the original presentation of this should check it out, because the first page has been revamped a bit. Beautiful.
6) Wolves of Saint August: All the pieces of this tale needed to be collected somewhere, so I'm happy for this. As the name implies, something Lupine plagues a town and Hellboy has to investigate. The backgrounding to this story is nice, in addition to the normal Mignola features.
7) Almost Colossus: Another needed piece if you want to understand the inner workings of the BPRD. Here, an addition is made to the cast, and "he" almost ends to life of two field agents right from the get-go. It is referenced to a lot, and is definitely worth checking out.
Anyway, like I said, I am biased. Still, if you like Hellboy, even a little, this is a nice collection that is extremely inclusive. The only problem is finding a copy of it.

Spooky
Buy this book if only for THE CORPS and THE WOLVES OF SAINT AUGUST.

THE CORPSE is just downright spooky, which isn't an easy thing to pull off in a comic book.

THE WOLVES OF SAINT AUGUST are the coolest looking werewolves you've ever seen.

All the stories are great. Hellboy should be read by everyone, particularly fans of the supernatural. If you've never read Hellboy, check out the first graphic book (compilation) entitled SEED OF DESTRUCTION. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's trite but true: you can't keep a good man down. Holier-than-anyone Jesse Custer comes back from the dead--or wherever--in the eighth collection of Preacher, All Hell's A-Coming. Garth Ennis's knack for developing characters slowly and almost effortlessly pays off more and more with each issue, and by now Custer, his lover Tulip, and his vampire friend Cassidy are as complex as anyone you're likely to meet. The story arc focuses on Tulip's own resurrection from her unlife of booze, drugs, and Cassidy as she reunites with the Preacher, and this powerful tale doesn't require any superheroic conflict to affect the readers. (Fans of the Voice will be disappointed to learn that it's only used once, in an amusing throwaway scene.) As this develops, the nefarious Grail suffers from internal struggle, and poor Arseface finds himself on the backside of fame, setting the stage for plenty of future weirdness. In addition to the regular collected issues, All Hell's A-Coming includes the one-shot "Tall in the Saddle," a fast-moving story from Jesse, Amy, and Tulip's younger days. If you've never met the Preacher, isn't it about time you found the fear of God? --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Prelude to the apocalyptic finale to an epic
With ALL HELL'S A COMIN', the name says it all. Garth Ennis sets up for the detonation of a graphic\literary atom bomb. There are a plethora of characters that have graced the pages of Preacher in its long stint as one of the greatest comic series in quite some time, and for Ennis to bring a conclusion to every single one of every single major\minor characters own genius little story would be absurd to assume. But he did it. And he starts here. I won't disclose the major points in the plot because I HATE reading these little reviews and seeing some inconsiderate ... give out a major plot twist, but I will say that Jesse and Tulip reunite again, and Cassidy has to face the Rev. for his actions regarding Miss O'hare. But enough about the plot, you can read that for yourself. This in my opinion is one of the better Preacher collections because of the deep content and great dialouge, and it has plenty of action too in a collected SPECIAL: High in the Saddle with guest illustrator John Mccrea which serves as a funny, violent conclusion to an all around satisfying chapter to the series.

Latest Edition is Full of Romance, Vengeance, and History.
In volume 8 of Ennis and Dillon's "Preacher" series, Jesse finally gets his act together enough to come find Tulip. Tulip seeks her own inner strength, and we learn more about the past of Cassidy, everyone's favorite Irish vampire. Many characters we haven't seen in ages (and most of us have forgotten about) resurface in "All Hell's A-Coming," and fit so beautifully into the story that it is as if they couldn't possibly be anywhere else at that moment.

Ennis continues to craft one of the best long-running stories in comics, giving us characters who are both flawed and heroic, in a classical sense. No, there are no cape-wearing supermen in these books, but we get treated to people who seem to love, and hate, and _feel_ the same way as the rest of us, if perhaps a bit more intensely.

"Preacher" the comicbook series is drawing to a close, and this trade paperback collects the stories leading up to the final story arc, "Alamo." The characters meet one another again, preparing for the final act of this story, and spend most of "AHA-C" reflecting on their own pasts and learning what each other have been up to in the intervening months. The characters have to accept where they've been before they can prepare for where they're going, and it's safe to say that a vast majority of the readers will be along for the ride.

Dillon's art in this book is on par with the rest of his efforts in "Preacher" thus far. Eight big books in and he still shows no sign of slipping. Even the superficial obscenity and violence come across well from his drafting table, making "All Hell's A-Coming" one beautiful book.

Leads up to the incredible finale
This collected volume, which leads up to the incredible finale of the Preacher series, finds Tulip leaving her new life of booze, drugs, and Cassidy to try to get her life back together. After that (and a rousing backstory on Tulip's childhood and her meeting with Amy), she and Jesse are re-united proving one of Preacher's many themes: love is stronger than death. The best parts of All Hell's A-Coming is undoubtadly Jesse learning all of Cassidy's dark and dirty past. This part is pivotal for a few reasons: longtime fans of the series have no doubt grown to love Cass, and now their opinions will be surely changed. Also, this is the plot progressing set up the final, pivotal events that come in the next and final collected volume; Alamo. The final story, a backstory on one of Jesse, Tulip, and Amy's criminal misadventures, isn't one of Ennis' better written stories, but think of it as an added bonus.

Ain't Got That Old Feeling
I had really high expectations for this volume. It didn't quite measure up.
Okay, yeah, the characters are great. Fine. But the Tulip backstory feels obligatory and pointless, and I don't think it develops too much about her. It really didn't require two issues, that's for sure.
The rest of this volume seems kind of useless, repeating all the themes that have gone before. And between this volume and the last one, I'm wondering when Ennis will stop feeling the need to include sexual perversion in every issue. I'm not a prude, I just think it's a little past the point where it enhances the stories. It just feels repetitive now.
There's no real action in this book, and not a lot of solid story.
Finally, the action Jesse takes at the end of this volume, together with his actions towards Gunther at the end of Salvation make me truly question Jesse as a hero. This would bother me less, except that Ennis seems to think these actions are fine and jim dandy.

Almost there...
This is the next-to-the-last (the penultimate, if you will) in the series of collected Preacher graphic novels, and it's a good one. It's probably not as good as Salvation, but still it's one of my favorites.

This is the last bit of breathing space we're allowed in the series before the plot takes over and bulldozes us towards the conclusion in book nine. Here there's still some room to move sideways as well as forward.

The books starts with some backstory on Tulip. We visit her childhood and find out why she's who she is, and why she's so good with a gun. Then at long last Tulip and Jesse are reunited.

There's also some Grail business to take care of, and we get some QT with Arseface before Cassidy shows up at the end of the book like a mangy dog at the door step. Jesse makes an appointment with him to settle their difference like real men...at the Alamo. And on we go to the rousing conclusion of the series...see you there. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In many ways, Season of Mists is the pinnacle of the Sandmanexperience. After a brief intermission of four short stories (collected as Dream Country) Gaiman continued the story of the Dream King that he began in the first two volumes. Here in volume 4, we find out about the rest of Dream's Endless family (Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, Death, and a seventh missing sibling). We find out the story behind Nada, Dream's first love, whom we met only in passing during Dream's visit to hell in the first book. When Dream goes back to hell to resolve unfinished business with Nada, he finds her missing along with all of the other dead souls. The answer to this mystery lies in Lucifer's most uncharacteristic decision--a delicious surprise.

There is something grandiose about this story, in which each chapter ends withsuch suspense and drive to read the next. This book is best summed up by a toasttaken from the second chapter: "To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and theseason of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil hisdue." --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Amazing Modern Mythology
Upon my first reading of this story of The Sandman series, i was struck by how simply and profoundly Gaiman interwove so many mythologies, all the while writing the most original modern myth of our time -- dare i say _all_ time -- something that a dust cover blurb would say "if William Blake and Mark Twain colaborated on the story of what Lucifer is doing these days..." Everything from the Angels, Duma and Remiel (quite wonderful choices -- check out G. Davidson's "Dictionary of Angels" for how accurate!), to the enraged expelled demons, Azazel and company, and the self-admitted profound absence of the Greek dieties. With each successive reading, i found these threads are strung together into an amazing story of what might happen should the Ruler of Hell abdicate. Told through the perspective (and responsibility) of the Prince of Stories, the Lord Shaper Morpheus himself. i found this to be a as great a starting point as any for the series, if for no other reason, because of the wondrous introduction of Dream and his family, The Endless. The resolution of plot and every subplot, is quite tasty, and having Lucifer acknowledge the beauty of sunsets that The Creator (and his nemesis) provides daily, gives me chills just to think of it. And the bookended cliche phrases of "Once Upon A Time" and "Happily Ever After. In Hell." Give this esoteric mythos tale the finishing air of mundanity (?) that place it within the realm of each and every one of us. Aside from being my own personal favorite longer story within the series, it is in my opinion, the best. ["The Kindly Ones" would be a close second.]

Excellent...as usual from Gaiman
_Season of Mists_ (volume 4 of 10) isn't my favorite installment in the Sandman series, but it's a very good one. The story is exciting, cool, and intelligent, as expected, and the ending made me cry. I like the way this story introduces some important themes (like the beginning of the change in Dream's character, Lucifer abandoning Hell...) which you probably won't see the significance of until much later. There's always more to discover...

The only thing I don't like about this story is the art. While the prologue and epilogue are very well drawn, and the interlude is okay, Kelly Jones, who drew the rest of the story, is my least favorite Sandman artist. In one panel Dream grins like a chimpanzee. Death is just weird, and bears almost no physical resemblance to her usual self. And what happened to the Lucifer from issue 4? He was cool, but I don't like the way he looks now. BUT...none of this should impact your enjoyment of the story. Can't judge by appearances, and all that, yes? Season of Mists remains one of the best Sandman story arcs (aren't they all). And *you* may like the art; some people consider it the best in the series. I just don't, that's all. Definitely, whether you're new to Gaiman or already a fan, pick up Season of Mists; you're in for a really great read.

Gaiman is brilliantly
Uhm...this guy is like really really good. Favorite book of the series. Thank you.

Where Dream Meets Myth
With this fourth instalment to the Sandman series, Gaiman finally takes the time to introduce us to Dream's elusive siblings, the Endless. Although we briefly encountered several of them in The Doll's House, Gaiman allows us to spy in on the family dynamics as all six (or is it seven; note the one empty chair) sit around the table together and bicker and argue as most families are wont to do. The brief little write up for Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, and Dream in the introductory chapter is most welcome, but why not one for Death?

Although the art was generally good, I found it a little off, at times. In particular, I didn't like the depiction of Dream or Death. I much better preferred how they appeared in Preludes and Nocturnes. To compound this problem, the text oftentimes had inconsistent images of both Dream and Death. I'm not sure why Dream sometimes appeared strikingly different in different cells on the same page, and I must say I found such occurrences distracting.

I have no complaints on the story, however. Gaiman raises the bar here, and deeply immerses the text with the various myths held by civilizations past and present. Gaiman is obviously very familiar with these themes; his firm control of the narrative and adept insertion of these various complicated mythologies provides the reader access to people and places no other graphic novel does. Further, only someone with as puckish a sense of humour as Gaiman could contrive a situation where the Norse God Thor would put the moves on the Egyptian cat Goddess, Bast. Thor appears to be quite the party animal, too: drinker, swearer and maker of rowdy jokes.

Like the other texts in the Sandman canon, I highly recommend Season of Mists. It is with this tome that Gaiman flaunts his 'literariness' and proves that comics are capable of high art, too.

Easily the Best of the Sandman
...While the first volume was easily the weakest, right next to "World's End." Still, any of these books are so much better than those Marvel superhero special FX fests you see in Hollywood movies.

The covers by Dave McKean are gorgeous, and if you're a sucker for worldly mythology, this is the book for you. It's a wonderful story that sets the tone for what's coming in the end of the Sandman. "Death: at Death's Door" is a cute retelling of this story from Death's point of view, which does not do it justice since it's much shorter, condensed and does not recreate the epic sense of mythology that the Sandman is. ... Read more

Book Description

The second collection of short stories by award-winning cartoonist Mike Mignola includes the 1999 hit series Box Full of Evil; "The Right Hand of Doom," which concisely and thoroughly examines Hellboy's history; and "Pancakes," Mignola's most hilarious and surprising story to date; and others - many presented here in color for the first time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A grand short story collection
"Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom" is Hellboy at its finest. Like HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, it is in the short story that Mignola really shines with his hell-born characters.

This short story collection contains a host of odd and enjoyable adventures for Anung Un Rama, otherwise known as Hellboy. Making his way through the mythologies and folklore of several countries, he encounters beasties like Japanese vampires, King Vold and Roger. Well-researched, Mignola threads together these various traditionals into a cohesive story, with the Christian God and Devil at the center, and Hellboy bridging the gap.

By far some of the most intelligent and well-written stories in modern comics, Hellboy never disappoints. Non-comics readers as well enjoy Hellboy, and my copy has been well-read by many people. "Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom" is an excellent starting point, and can be read with no previous knowledge of the characters.

"He has eaten the pancakes. He will never come back to us now."

For any fan of the comic books!
When hellboy came out I thought he was one of the coolest things to come into the world of comics in a long time. I was takin a liking from the first page to the last and I have alot of the hell boy editions but this one is just as good as the others but it's certainly not the best!

A Remedy for Even the ParaAbnormal
The Adventures of Hellboy have gone through many different venues, from short stories collected in obscure DHP issues to one shot trials that are oftentimes easy to miss. Still, many of these are important when trying to understand the entirety of the Hellboy saga, and other, less crucial stories are still worth reading. That's why I'm glad to see the Trade Paperbacks The Chain Coffin and Others and The Right Hand of Doom. Between the two, you can find so many things that are nearly impossible to find.
In the Right Hand of Doom, you get:
1) Pancakes, a short comical approach to Hellboy's youth involving pancakes and hell's fate. Also, it appears in color for the first time here.
2) The Nature of the Beast, a DHP story involving the testing of Hellboy, a dilemma with a dragon, and blood that turns into lilies. Definitely good, and in color for the first time.
3) King Vold, a tale meshing many Norwegian tales together into a very entertain story pitting Hellboy against man's great adversary, human greed.
4) Heads, from Abe Sapien: Drums of the Dead (a comic you should definately pick up because the Abe Sapien story hasn't been reproduced), involves Hellboy's encounter with Japanese folklore and floating heads. Its really nice looking.
5) Goodbye, Mister Tod, from Gary Gianni's The Monstermen, a tale that meshes more Lovecraftian themeage than normal into Hellboy's life.
6) The Varcolac, a completely redone piece that first appeared in Dark Horse Extra, something nice in its new version but not as good in its original. Here's a tale involving Romanian vampires that, according to Mignola's knowledge of folklore, "eats the sun and the moon and is able to cause eclipses."
7) The Right Hand of Doom, a story leading into a pivotal part in the understanding of just what's going on in Hellboy, mentioning his hand and its origins. It makes its first appearance here in color.
8) Box Full of Evil, a wonderful story that explains the "beast of the apocalypse" connotations floating around Hellboy all the time, complete with an extra four page epilogue to help out with clarity.
This is a wonderful collection of tales, and is really worth reading for the Hellboy fan and newcomer alike. To say it strays from the atypical would be an understatement.

A great place to start
When I first saw this book at the library, I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it was going to be another one of those: "lets kill a bunch of people, in-between stupid wise-cracks, because that's what the kids think is cool today." Thank God I was proven wrong. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Hellboy is a paranormal investigator who also happens to be the son of the Devil. In this collection we follow Hellboy's journey, from his earlier days when he first taste of pancakes costs Hell the grip on his soul--to his later years where Hellboy learns that should he ever lose control he will bring about the Apocalypse. All the stories are good, most are modern retellings of old folklore stories ("Heads" for example is an old japanese ghost story about a group of headless ghouls who lure strangers to their home, and then eat them. This story along with many others in collection can be found, in their original form, in Time-Life's Enchanted World series--particularly "Ghosts", "Night Creatures", and "Tales of Terror".) My favorite story is the one about King Void-- The Wild Huntsman who every night rides forth seeking the souls of damned. Less psychotic than John Constantine, more grounded than Fox Maulder, Hellboy is without a doubt one of the most original characters in comics today. The artwork alone by Mike Mignola is worth 5 stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In and of itself, the story of a man with one foot in Heaven and one foot in Hell is hardly original. But in the hands of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, the story of Jesse Custer becomes a blasphemous masterpiece seething with originality. Custer is a former Texas minister who was joined with a spiritual being called "Genesis." Now Custer is on a journey to find God, but not in the traditional enlightenment sense. I mean track Him down and give Him a piece of his mind. Along for the journey are his gun-friendly girlfriend and his Irish punk vampire buddy. Until the End of the World starts with a flashback to Jesse's childhood, when he watched his father get shot in the head. That kicks off "All in the Family," the first of two stories in this collection. The second story, "Hunters," features the character Jesus de Sade. Yes, even if you've known for years how hip and cool comics are, you won't believe you're reading something this outrageous. And as Kevin Smith points out in his introduction, this is one book "that actually surpasses its hype." --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Best example of "comic" book writing you'll find
I read Spider-Man, Justice League and other "super-hero" comics. Preacher belongs to a completely category. No subject or situation is safe from writer Garth Ennis. The first story, which reprints the monthly Preacher issues 8-12, is an outstanding example of brutal storytelling. Yes, there are injections of particularly violent scenes every few pages, which could be described as gratuitous, but what makes the story so readable is the characterisation. You really feel hatred towards the filthy, murderous Jody, T.C. and Gran'ma. A masterstroke is the use of a ghostly image of John Wayne, who acts as Jesse Custer's guardian angel. The second story, which reprints issues 13-17, isn't quite as compelling but that's only in comparison to what has come before. Preacher: Until The End Of The World is a graphic novel that I wouldn't recommend to everyone, purely because of the extreme nature of the story contained within; but for the open-minded, it's a real treat.

Ennis and Dillon are sick, sick men! Bless them.
About a month ago I went to my local comics shop and spent over thirty dollars on "Until the End of the World" and "Proud Americans." It was money well spent, though I don't think this series is for everyone. In fact, people who can't accept an outsider's view of Christianity or a lot of gore and depravity should stay far away.

"Until the End of the World," the second volume of Preacher, collects issues 8-17 of the series, continuing the story of Jesse Custer. There are two story arcs in this volume. First, Jesse and Tulip travel south to deal with the man who hired Tulip as a hitwoman, only to be kidnapped by Jesse's incredibly twisted family. God finally makes an appearance; he's a bit of an...

In the second half of the book, Jesse and Tulip head to San Francisco to meet Cassidy, and become involved in a depraved party at the home of Jesus de Sade, a most *interesting* man. The mysterious Grail, an organization mentioned in "Gone to Texas," finally appears; Starr, a man high in the Grail, wants Jesse to play the messiah in Armageddon. The Allfather of the Grail also wants Jesse captured, for reasons as yet unknown. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

There are times when the violence and sexual depravity are tiresome, not funny, especially in the second story arc. When the gore and depravity get gratuitous, they detract from Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy, who are the heart of the story. I would remove a star, but the rest of the book is so good it makes up for occasional lapses.

My favorite book
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? It's violent? Yes. Is there a whole lot of cussing? Oh yeah. But is the violence and language really that gratuitous? Well the language is pretty much how people talk, like when the characters are just talking a f-word might slip occasionally but isn't that how normal conversations are? The language gets pretty rough but think of what the characters are going through. I'd be cussing just as much if someone just kidnapped me or just shot a roomful of people. And about the violence being gratuitous? Hell do you know what it looks like when someones head is blown off? Well let me tell you it's much worse in real life than in the book. So yeah it's a violent book but that justs shows how sick some of the characters are. The main characters resort to violence but never cold blooded murder. But beyond the gore and language there lies one of my favorite stories ever. The first story in this book about Jesse's family is my favorite story in the whole series. But the series as a whole is the reason I read graphic novels again. Best book ever, go pick it up.

Ain't it fun
Hard as it is to believe, this second installment to the Preacher series is even better than the first. While "Until the End of the World" again relies on the formula that made "Gone to Texas" so unique - intriguing story-lines, extreme and disturbing violence mixed-in with equally in-your-face humour, a fascination with language- it manages to juice the volume to 10 on all of these elements. The first half of the book dealing with Jesse Custer's childhood rates as some of the most gripping (and horrifying) reading I've done in years: my eyes were literally glued to the pages well into the wee hours of the night. The second half was equally enjoyable, with Ennis building on the story arc and introducing the shadowy international organization, "The Grail." Only someone as twisted as Mr. Ennis could make sodomy so darned hilarious, and provoke us with such difficult issues as child (sex) abuse, drug addiction, and mental illness. Kudos to Steve Dillon for keenly depicting the cruelty of child abuse and the evilness of some of the darker characters e.g. the freaky looking Gran'ma, who Glenn Fabry also has a hand in illustrating. Ennis never takes the easy way out, preferring to discard the boring cookie-cutter superhero protagonist we all intrinsically root for, challenging us with a 'hero' who is a recidivist criminal, violent and cruel towards people (and a particularly curmudgeonly feline), and subject to bouts of insanity. Ennis' keen take on the human condition enables him to create such a character that we nevertheless care about.

As funny as "Until the End of the World" can be at times, the truth is, at its heart, the book is actually quite poignant. If Ennis can be said to be conveying anything as hokey as a "central message" here, my interpretation is that while our worlds are constantly intruded by loss and loneliness and death, our only chance is to have faith in ourselves and be lucky enough to have those who reinforce that faith. Otherwise, we'll wind up like the umpteen discarded and tortured souls that grace the pages of this masterful series.

Fun for the whole dysfunctional family
A man from Texas confronts the demons of his past in a bloody showdown. Even this seemingly tired plot device is sheer dynamite in the hands of Garth Ennis and this is easily the most emotionally gripping Ennis storyline in his usually irreverent career. I don't mean to suggest some jaring change of pace from the familiar doses of dark hummor associated with Preacher... But even with such mood lightening antics, the darkness of this tale is so pervasive that these clever bits don't provide the familiar relief we are expecting.
This is a good thing. I am all about making the reader/listener/viewer uncomfortable and "Until The End of the World" is a master study of discomfort. This shows the genius of Ennis goes way beyond some routine physically gross torment of protagonist Jesse Custer. Ennis strips Custer of EVERYTHING! His father, his mother, his inbreed hillbilly mutant buddy and his childhood itself are all cast away. But even then Ennis gives us, and Jesse, another black hearted kick in the guts: His woman executed right before his eyes...with a shotgun!!! If your not already up to date on the whole series to this point then stop being lazy and start at the beginning!
This is NOT like some light viewing TV series you can drop in and out of on a whim to see what's up. This is a full scale pop art epic culminating in no less than the ouster of God Almighty himself.
And though nothing on that level of cosmic importance occurs in this particular collection, "Until the end of the World" is still something that can literally put a tear in my eye. The horrors of an abusive childhood put right and put there by Texas justice. ... Read more

Book Description

Fifty years in the making.This is the definitive story of EC Comics, the most notorious and well regarded mass-market publisher in comics history.The EC line - having published such seminal titles as MAD, Tales from the Crypt, Two-Fisted Tales, and so many others - was a high point in terms of craft and presentation.From the humanistic, well paced writing of editor Harvey Kurtzman to the artwork of lauded masters like Wally Wood and Bernie Krigstein, what truly sets EC apart from other pinnacles in comics history is its wider influence on American pop culture.Tales of Terror! is the most comprehensive overview to date of the EC Comics line: a visual checklist, creator index, guidebook and more!Tales from the Crypt, Weird Science, Frontline Combat and all of the other EC titles are included in this comprehensive volume that uncovers the amazing history behind the comics, from the very beginning to the bitter end, when the U.S. Senate drove EC out of business for allegedly corrupting America's youth. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

In a Class by Itself
If you have any interest in EC comics, horror comics, or the history of the comic book genre at all, this is THE book to have. I cannot praise it highly enough. The scholarship is incredibly thorough and the details the authors have dug up is amazing. Also, the book is beautifully well done, with top-notch production values. This book is the ultimate, believe me.

the ultimate history of EC
This is, simply put, the greatest work of comic book scholarship ever in print. The authors delve so deeply into EC facts, history and lore that you can depend upon the thoroughness of this work. Much more than a history, this tome is also a beautiful art book. Don't delay......buy it now!

Superb bibliography, but not the ultimate EC art book
While the bibliographical data is literally a life-long labor of love, I was disappointed by limited amount of images reproduced from the original artwork; the illustrations seem to be limited to photographs of the author's personal collection. The complete series of Graham Ingels' Old Witch paintings and sketches screams out for inclusion. I would have liked to see panel pages reproduced from the originals; full-color reproduction of line art reveals editorial changes, paste ups, blue pencil, and other subtleties undetectable in conventional reprints. A greater outreach to the art collector community could have yielded a definitive reference book/coffee table art book, but TALES OF TERROR fall short of this potential.

Only Need One Word
WOW! Okeh, I'll use some more words. If you wanted to know about the history of EC Publications this is the book to own. Very well researched and a labor of love that comes shining through!

No Tales!
Customer, listen! This is a book full of wonderful pieces of art, covers in abundance etc. But there are definitely _no_ Tales of Terror, as I foolishly presumed.... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's a book guaranteed to offend a bunch of people, not only because of its profuse profanity and graphic violence, but because it's the epitome of iconoclasm. Like a brutal accident, you can't watch but you can't turn away. The story follows an ex-preacher man, Jesse, who has become disgusted with God's abandoning of His responsibilities. So Jesse starts off into the wilds of Texas with his hitman girlfriend and new best friend (a vampire) to find God so that he can give Him a piece of his mind. Despite its superficial perversity, this book contains what may be the most moral character in mainstream comics. A cult hit in the making. Fans of Quentin Tarantino take note. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Truly Much Better than Going to the Movies
I had to quote Kevin Smith on the back cover when describing this book. It was one heckuva good read that seems to capture you from the first page to the last. Garth Ennis works his magic on one ofhis earliest works to create character that are so out of this world, it's real. Steve Dillon provides the visual afterworks for a story that is well laid out and planned from day 1. These guys were having fun with this book and they just didn't care who they were offending while doing just that.

The story begins like any good story. In a bar. Here everyone starts telling how things came to be. Ennis portrays this aspect beautifully, creating a marginal line between the insane and what is to be of reality. The Preacher, the main character, gets his main share of the pie. The others still remain a mystery to the reader which only makes you want to read more and more about their backgrounds. Ennis seems to be telling his readers: "Look, I'll get to this, just hold on a sec and enjoy the ride." And boy is the book a rollercoaster.

The Preacher's spirit is a product of an angel from heaven who mated with a demon from hell and whose spirit sought a mortal soul, to find the true meaning of life??? Heck, you maybe surprised at first, but that is the smartest way any author has tackled the prospect of what life is all about and how creatures relate to God. Ennis wants to know the answer and wants you all to know that answer, but he'll make it out so that everyone can enjoy his or her time with this. This is not just a piece of fiction, but a piece of theology. It may provoke a lot of debate. I was offended at first and still am, but you have to give credit where it's due. Ennis, brilliant evil British genius that he is, uncovers all the horrors of the heavens. I had thought his work on Punisher was smart and sassy, but his work on Preacher just blows that away completely. Here we have smartness, ingenuity and let put some sexy in it too. Did I forget to say funny? Even his depiction of some horrors, like a boy who has his face blown and lived to see the next day has the funniest way of talking and speech. Is that funny? Yes, but you WILL feel guilty for laughing to such real horror.

Dillon's work is gruesome!!! Very graphic depiction of violence. Is it a bother? Hell NO!!! This just provides the scheme of things. It plays out like a good horror movie. Lots of gore, lots of blood and lots of faces getting blown up and brains spilling. Steve is not here to lush you with bleed art on every page like comics these days. He'll stick to his regular rectancles and squares, but he'll make your eyes glued to them the whole time. His work is like a 35mm Scorcese movie, not an MTV video clip. Only downside with his art, however, is that the faces just look too damn alike. They look that everyone is somehow related to the other in some sense.

Great work by this fabulous duo. DC Comics fails to tell Warner Bros about this gem of a book. It would make a good movie if ever was made. You don't even have to change the script to fit in with the screen, because reading this collection is waaaaay better than going to the movies.

Lots of Hype
Preacher Gone to Texas begins the tale of a wayward ex-preacher, his girlfriend that he left out of the blue years before, an alcoholic vampire, and a wide array of supernatural beings and misfits. The story is quite inventive, especially the origins of Genesis, the spirit being that has escaped from heaven and into the preacher. The artwork is suited to the story's characters and it's probably the best part of the graphic novel.

Most of the reviews I've read stated that this work is extremely violent and hilarious. They are all right on the first point but I profoundly disagree with the second. I couldn't even crack a smile to tell the truth. The dialog fell flat, especially any attempts at portraying human relationships (such as the preacher and the woman he suddenly left). The scenes between those two were especially lackluster and never once rang as true or insightful on an emotional level. The most interesting character was actually the saint of murderers, a most unsavory and irredeemable creature that doesn't say too much but wreaks havoc just about everywhere he goes.

I grew up on comics, I am one of the few women I know who has a taste for the medium. But I have to admit, I love comics that are equals to great literature such as the works of Neil Gaimen, Alan Moore, even Dave Sim. Preacher had a promise that was never fulfilled. I expected to be laughing out loud (Arseface is just not that funny), I really wanted to like this story but the characters did not have enough real depth to ever make me care. I'm not expecting Shakespeare every time I pick up a comic but I do expect to have at least a small part of my world and the way I see things altered for the better. Is that too much to ask for the money, time, and effort?

Preacher, or maybe my reaction to it, reminds me of Guy Ritchie's movies, which many people find quite funny and almost profound. I sat through two of them yawning, scratching my head, asking my friends "What the heck did they say", and looking at my watch way too much. That's exactly how I felt reading Preacher.

This is not a feminist review but I don't recommend this series for women or anyone who is expecting "great" writing. Even women that have a high tolerance for the usual violence, swearing, and cookie cutter misogyny that is unfortunately a trademark of the mainstream comic will find that it does get old.

A fantastic start
There's a Tarantino-esque quality to Preacher. Beyond the most obvious similarity- the gratuituous violence- there's also a fascination with dialogue. Note the coarse language; the raw, edgy humour; the emphasis on storytelling; and it's almost like you've entered a down-home version of Pulp Fiction. Ennis is clearly concerned with replicating the words as we would actually hear them. Particular speech patterns are inserted into the text, making the characters' words more credible (particularly noteworthy is Ennis' insistence on having us read a speech-challenged character's words as they would actually sound. The words are 'subtitled,' though). I think that Ennis' usage of dialogue is what makes this a great work. One small fault is that, as other reviewers have noted, Ennis occasionally misses with his characterization of the Texan accent. Nevertheless, he should be applauded for his intriguing and unique construction of dialogue, a too often overlooked feature in the medium.

Ennis is clearly a very gifted storyteller. He uses the archetypal figures of movie westerns we all know (the John Wayne type, the bad-guy gunslinger, the stern, tough-as-nails cop) and places them in absurd situations. How he came up with such unique characters as Arseface or the Saint of Killers I'll never know. They certainly added to my interest in the story. The 'hints' section really made me want to pick up the next installment to figure out how the tale develops.

A tip of the cap should also be given to Steve Dillon. His clean and detailed lines were sometimes touching, sometimes disturbing, but always tastefully done. His visual interpretations of the characters are right-on: I couldn't possibly imagine a more appropriate looking Jesse Custer or Cassidy.

In short, this is a brilliant start to a brilliant series. This is one very rare case where you can actually believe the hype.

Began quite so good...
What to say about preacher? I think this series was one of my great disappointments with comics in the last years! I was one of the guys that bought all the trades in this series. I loved this first trade, and I was anxious to buy the other ones... In some moment, though, the charm of the stories began to vanish to me, and not too many trades later, I began to realize that the stories were getting worse and worse... But, anyway, it was a limited series, let's see if it gets better towards the end... And I continued buying... And I found out that it didn't get better, much on the contrary, this series stinks in the end!
Man, and it didn't even last 75 issues!!! I mean, some people criticize Cerebus, but Dave Sim was getting awards until issue 186 (but then there was the mysoginistic thing, etc...), when Gaiman finished Sandman he still had good ideas in mind (and, recently, we've had a new trade), etc...
*
What I can tell about this first trade is that it is really engaging. Unless you get shocked for some reason, or think it is blasphemous, etc, you really will want to follow the series.
*
The basic premise (I will tell, for the sake of completeness of this review) is that one angel and a demon decided to make sex and they had a baby (funny this part... now we know the sex of the angels and demons!!). This baby (Genesis) is so powerful that makes God leave heaven fearing it...
*
By some reason this creature possesses a preacher (Jesse Custer) in the middle of a ceremony and kills everybody in the church...
*
Then Jesses's girlfriend shows up, with a new vampire friend, they take Jesse, just to be confronted later with a lot of police guys and the Saint of Killers...
*
Man, I really liked that part with the Saint killing everybody, and Jesse using his new power of commanding anyone that hears and understands him... It had as much action as any other mainstream comic. I thought: "hey that's great, why didn't anybody make other comic book so explosive like this?" (or like Cerebus, reading the work of Garth Inniscent, "this is great work, after all, the author is so creative that he kills a lot of guys in different ways in each issue").
*
Garth Ennis really had a great original idea to play with. He had a powerful guy looking literally for God, a crazy girfriend that knows how to use a gun (that later in the trades will become a very shallow character, because Garth Ennis don't know how to write a woman - I still hate to have waisted my time reading her story... and that ridiculous part with her father dying, with another shot in the head? - it could be, just to change a bit, a shot in the heart... - and that friend of her being raped? hahahaa. hahah... - man this guy really began to lack imagination), you've had angels, vampires, a Saint of killers (some kind of death angel, that was able to kill the Devil, any angel, even God himself - he just couldn't kill Cassidy!!!!). An stupid "Arse-Face", a boy that decided to shot his head to imitate that Nirvana singer. John Wayne also appears to counsel Jesse. Later, we will have Starr, a guy so powerful that can force the United States president to throw an atomic bomb anywhere in the planet (even in the USA) when he sees fit... (HAHHAHAHAHAHAAHhhaahha... haha... :) I'm sorry guys, I know that this is just a comic book, but that Graal thing, and they controlling all leaders in the world was ridiculous).
*
I really don't know how Garth Ennis lost completely his creativity to be able to screw up things... I recommend this first trade, and some others, but I would recommend anyone to stop after the "War in The Sun" trade. That trade, in my opinion, is where the story gets its climax, but after that it falls completely and never gets even so-so anymore...
*
Someone talked about the Kevin Smith's introduction to the second volume of the series... He talks about Preacher's intelligent and provocative commentary on religion. Man, Preacher has no religious commentary at all... I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Garth Ennis never even bothered to read the bible to make these stories...
*
I think some problems with preacher begin just in this trade. We see very fast that Preacher is just vulgarity by the sake of vulgarity, violence by the sake of violence, F-words for the sake of F-words, shots in the heads of characters by the sake of shooting the heads of characters (this happens so commonly in the stories, that later you get bored). You just don't notice in the first read. Actually, this is quite a trade in the Vertigo line... A work with these features is surely not a work for children (that is, should be read by a mature reader), but just because a work has a F-word, it doesn't make the work mature either (that is, it wouldn't necessarily attract a mature reader).
*
I'll finish paraphrasing what other guy here said... Do the comics community a favor, when you're looking for something to give your non-comics reading friend to introduce them to the genre, leave Ennis for later (better than that, don't show it at all). Stick with Gaiman, Moore, Sim, and others, instead; Preacher's exactly the sort of thing that makes the non-comics reading public think comics are nothing but sex, violence, blasphemy, and garbage.
*
PS. I was forgetting to mention the "art" (art?!)... The art in Preacher is something that also begins very creatively, and you even think that Steve Dillon is a good artist... But, not too many issues later, you will notice that intead he's a very limited artist... Most of the women in the stories have the same Tulipa's face (he just changes their hair), the shots in the head are all the same, besides he doesn't even know how to draw someone that took a shot by a higher caliber gun... It's always the same, you see a guy with a big hole in some part of the body, but the bleeding effect is missing...
*
PS2. (...)

great reading!
read volume's 1 and 2.loved them!found volume's 3 to 9,bought those quick.haven't read yet,but eagerly waiting to.want a good story?read the "Preacher" series,you want be dissappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

What's the result when the Nazis hiding in South America engineer an army of vampires and mount an all-out campaign of deathly dominance? Well, one thing you get is a little unity - seems the Protestant Hellsing Organization and the Catholic Iscariot agency might just have to think about teaming up. Looks like the First World War of the undead is about to erupt in history's biggest battle of blood and fangs. Things are just beginning to heat up in the fourth volume of Hellsing! ... Read more

Book Description

It's the year 12090, a dark time for the world. After being dominated for 300 years by a race of Vampires known as "the Nobility," humanity is beginning to fight back. Yet as the humans struggle against the Vampires, they also struggle against themselves - cities lie in ruin, and nations are fragmented into small villages and fiefdoms. Every village must have a Hunter, a warrior that eradicates the Nobility and their genetically manufactured demons one vile night stalker at a time. But some of the Hunters are dangerous to more than just the Vampires. Some of them are not friends of humanity at all. Previously unavailable in the United States, Vampire Hunter D combines gripping narration and beautiful interior art by one of Japan's most renowned artists to bring forth a fright-filled futuristic thrill ride. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Horrific Goodness
The saga continues with this third volume in the collected works of Alan Moore's helming of the Swamp Thing comic series spanning issues 35 through 42. Although this middle arc is seemingly lacking in a grand storyline of sorts - important ground is covered with the Swamp Thing discovering new abilities (mainly his ability to abandon his physical body and re-generate a new one), introducing some new characters, espousing on social issues and oodles of horror mainstays (vampires, werewolves, zombies) doing battle with ol' Swampy himself. As far as contributing to the overall story arc this volume is somewhat lacking, but nonetheless makes for a very entertaining read all the way through.

The Elemental Awakens
In this third collection of Alan Moore's important and groundbreaking run on the Swamp Thing series, both character development and sheer gothic American horror become the keys. During this period (original issues #35-42), Swamp Thing learns that he is an elemental spirit in true communion with the plant kingdom. This would become monumentally important to the further development of the character. Moore was tackling both social issues and horror devices at this point, and he was delivering tremendous plotlines in all areas. There are werewolves, vampires, and zombies appearing in the series during this stretch, but this is not cheap slasher fare but strong and innovative literary horror writing. On the social commentary side, the first two installments here, "The Nukeface Papers Parts I and II" tackle chemical and nuclear dumping. Moore dives into women's issues quite believably in "The Curse" (an extreme rarity in comics even today), while "Southern Change" and "Strange Fruit" are very disturbing examinations of slavery and racism in the Deep South. This edition of the Swamp Thing series does not contain any written introductions, but there is a gallery of individual covers featuring the always amazing art of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. For some reason only four of the eight relevant covers are included, and the withholding of cover art is an overall disappointment in this series of graphic novels. However, that is ultimately a minor concern as the incredible work of Moore, Bissette, Totleben, and their other important colleagues has the power to blow the minds of readers of any kind of fiction.

The Best of Swamp Thing
This collection reprints the best issues of Swamp Thing. For those not at all familier with the character, it is an excellently written and drawn comic about a good swamp monster battling evil (and is much better than that description makes it sound).

Notable in this third volume of the series, which reprints the beginning of the "American Gothic" story arc, is Moore's greater use of social critique, elevating these stories above mere entertaining, well-written horror stories. By combining fantastic horrors to such real-life horrors as racism and sexism, these stories are far more effective than any in the earlier collections at terrifying the reader.

In "American Gothic", Swamp Thing is sent scurrying to different parts of the U.S. by a manipulative figure (Jon Constantine) to battle all of the classic horror figures (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.), but each are handled in an absolutely brilliantly unique and new manner. For example, there is a whole town of vampires living underwater, completely shielded from the sun, in the process of, for the first time, living communally and cooperating to breed a second generation of vampires that are more powerful and horrific (the dedication of the vampires to family is contrasted by the dysfunctional families of the normal humans). The title story, "The Curse", is a unique Werewolf story, tying in the monthly transformation according to the phases of the moon to the menstrual cycle. The Curse was controversial due to its misinterpretation by illiterate readers as being a sexist comment on PMS when in reality it is an extremely feminist story condemning society for its male-driven fear and shunning of the feminine, and the subjugation of women into sexual objects or housewives.

The American Gothic story arc does not conclude in this issue (although the individual stories can be enjoyed on their own) so hopefully a volume 4 will follow.

By this point, Moore was also using word games in his text more frequently (read carefully) adding an extra level of enjoyment. This collection also contains the first appearance of Jon Constantine, and it is a period I miss. Here Constantine is a totally mysterious, manipulative character whose only real power is his mysteriously obtained knowledge and who always adds an element of dark humour (he is still a great character, but far less mysterious, and he now has magical skills, the extent of which appear to change from appearance to appearance).

This collection represents, if not Moore's best, then the best of Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing in Transition
Alan Moore, one of the legends of comics writers, made his mark on mainstream comics during his long run in the 1980s on the "Swamp Thing" title. His work on the title transformed it from a more-or-less straightforward superhero title into a mythic saga, unafraid to tackle adult topics and themes.

Originally, the Swamp Thing was a man killed in a lab accident in the Louisiana Swamps, somehow resurrected as a living plant, who battled the usual assortment of villains. Moore's Swamp Thing became a plant elemental, an aspect of a worldwide, Gaian web of plant life called The Green. Moore emphasized Swamp Thing's continued connection to humanity by giving him a human lover, Abigail, and a quest for self-knowledge that Joseph Campbell would have recognized instantly.

DC Comics is republishing Moore's work on Swamp Thing under their Vertigo imprint, as a series of collected graphic novels. This is the third in the series, and probably won't make much sense without having read the first two. It continues the changes in Swamp Thing's character and brings new complexity to the plot and themes of the Swamp Thing's story.

It says a great deal for Moore that even his minor characters can take on a life of their own. In one of the issues reprinted here, Moore and the artists created legendary Vertigo character John Constantine, as a mysterious young Englishman (revealed later as a magician, although that's not explicitly stated in this book) who travels the world, knows a great deal about the Swamp Thing, and is willing to share that knowledge for a price. Constantine proved so popular that DC Comics later made him the star of his own long-running comic book, called "Hellblazer."

Fans of "Hellblazer" will find Constantine's introduction most amusing in retrospect, both for his appearance and his attitude. As originally drawn, Constantine looks a great deal like Sting in the "Synchronicity" days, and his character lacks the blood-bought wisdom and ghosts of his failures that are the hallmark of the later series.

Constantine's appearance signals the start of one of Moore's longest and most mythic sagas, as a Lovecraftian evil arises to challenge all Creation. Only hints of the tale to come appear here, but the introduction itself is worth the price of admission.

If you've never read Moore's work before, start with "V For Vendetta" or "Watchmen," which are self-contained stories (and masterpieces.) If you know Moore's work, but not on the "Swamp Thing" title, start with "Saga of the Swamp Thing" and buy all three collected editions currently in print, including this one. These are classics, and worth the price.

Note: As of the time I wrote this review, Amazon.com listed Moore, Rick Veitch, and Ron Randall as "creators" of this book. Moore was sole writer of these comics when they were first published, but he worked with many artists, some of whom aren't properly credited here.

The birth of a legend
The third volume in the Alan Moore Swamp Thing collection, this one may not be the best, but it's certainly one of the more memorable. The stories are amazing, as can be expected, but the true star of this graphic novel isn't the creature in the Louisiana swamps, but a chain-smoking, trench coat-clad Brit with a sharp wit by the name of John Constantine.

Who would have thought that a simple request of a character who looked like Sting would have birthed perhaps the most important character of the entire Vertigo line of comics from DC? Probably no one. But there's certainly something magical about his scenes in this trade, which can't be denied from any "Hellblazer" or "Swamp Thing" fan. At the very least, it gives us wonderful stories with that kind of addictive pace that only makes us want to read more. Perhaps rummaging through the back issues at your local comic shop would be a good idea after this read, if you can't wait until the next volume to be published. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben accomplished during their time on the comic book series Swamp Thing shouldn't be underestimated in the history of comics and, specifically, the history of horror comics. The modern comics landscape has been changed by the Vertigo line of books--an imprint that traces its roots back to this version of Swamp Thing. By taking a horror character fully entrenched in a superhero world (as silly as that might seem), this creative team put a new face on horror comics and on horror in general. Swamp Thing: Love and Death is the second collection of the team's work on the series, presented here in full color. Don't let the mediocre Swamp Thing movies fool you, this book is filled with sophisticated suspense and terror. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Worth it just for, 'The Rite of Spring'
Vol. 2 of Alan Moore and Steve Bissette's, 'Swamp Thing,' collaboration continues the 30 issue horror epic in excellent fashion. Readers are treated to 200+ pages of horrific goodness encompassing everything from the Swamp Thing's backstory, to his descent into a highly imaginative realization of Hell to a whimsical homage of Walt Kelly's, 'Pogo,' comic strips. As good as these bits are the absolute strength in Vol. 2 is found in its final chapter - "The Rite of Spring.' Published originally in 1985 as issue #34 of, 'The Swamp Thing,' this episode from start to finish deals with the physical/metaphysical consummation of love between the Swamp Thing and Abigail that will blow your mind. Forget all that you've heard that this episode is nothing but 'sex with a vegetable.' At its base, 'The Rite of Spring,' recreates the swooning emotions of love and passion in comic book form more effectively then 99.99% of every page of published prose out there on that matter. At its original time of publishing it was a watershed moment in comics history and reading that chapter some 20 years later it still retains every bit of its artistic strength.

Shush Your Cyanicisms
I can't take credit for the title of this review. That's a line uttered by the incongruously adorable guest character Pog in this volume of the Swamp Thing series. This is the second collection of the brilliant run by Alan Moore. This edition is a little bigger than the others in the series, as it contains seven original Swamp Thing issues (#28-34) but also the double-sized 1985 Annual issue. Due to the very high quality of the Swamp Thing series, especially in terms of art, the plotlines got a little jumbled during this period. As described in the very cool introduction by Neil Gaiman, regular artists Stephen Bissette and John Totleben were unable to complete all the intricate artwork for each issue on time, especially with the addition of the Annual. So "fill-in" stories had to be used to relieve the deadline pressure, and guest artists were utilized. Much credit goes to Shawn McManus for contributing two issues during this period, including the bizarre and whimsical "Pog," which is Moore's very unusual tribute to Walt Kelly's original swamp denizen Pogo. In this run of Swamp Thing installments we are still learning more about Swamp Thing's origins and abilities (as he is himself), and getting much closer to the Abby character, who is surely one of the most intriguing and bewitching women in comics history. Moore even brilliantly incorporates a reprint of Swamp Thing's first appearance in the House of Secrets series from back in 1972, deftly clearing up some kinks in the character's continuity. The most amazing story here appears as the last installment, "Rites of Spring" from issue #34, a tremendous poetic composition made all the more incredible by the art of Bissette and Totleben, in which Swampy and Abby find true earthly love. And impossible as it might be to believe, the series got even better after this.

Flawed Collection of an Excellent Story
First, let me just say that, along with its companion piece (Saga of the Swamp Thing), this is one of the best horror stories ever written in any medium and it's also a definitive work in the history of comics. Saga is the setup, and Love and Death is the payoff, so be sure to read the ond before the other. That said, a few minor issues need to be addressed - first, this is part of the patented Irritating Collection Scheme that DC does so well. This book does not contain an entire story; it has the end of the Saga of the Swamp Thing story and the beginning of American Gothic (which is very long and comprises the next two trades). Another bizarre choice (or perhaps a mistake) on DC's part is the fact that there is a page missing. That's right, in the middle of the chapter called "The Brimstone Ballet," Moore segues into a scene with the Monitor with the words, "No celestial force that watches over us..." For those of us that read Moore, this is an obvious transition, but the entire scene is inexplicably cut, which feels more than a little jarring. All this aside, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated, tightly plotted, and simply elegant stories in the medium. Buy it, but if you want it complete, you'll have to have the originals.

FAR OUT!!!!
A great storyline, beautiful art, surprise cameos. The section where the girl trips on Swamp Thing's "fruit" is strange and delightful. BUY IT!!!!

The title says it all
This book is some of the best story telling I've ever read...even for Alan Moore. The drawing is top notch too, having a very grim and bleak feel to it, that fits the comic horror genre perfectly. I'd say more, but I don't wanna spoil anything. I will say however, that all the loose ends from the last volume are delt with. If you liked the last book, you'll worship this one. Thanks again, Alan. ... Read more

Book Description

The Grendel-Khan, Orion Assante, is dead, leaving his only son as heir, a political pawn for the Khan's widow. The passing of the Khan, the military ruler of the earth, left the world warrior society in fragments, the once-controlled planet shattered into rival clans and apocalyptic zombies.But the Khan left a paladin behind to protect his only son from political ping-pong, a half-man, half-machine weapon of ultimate destruction: Grendel-Prime! Upon kidnapping the rightful heir from his mother's "protection," Prime begins a high-speed chase, ending the lives of many and ultimately deciding the fate of the tattered world. As it did when first printed, Grendel: War Child features dynamic pencils by Patrick McEown and dynamic colors by Bernie Mireault. Additionally, this new printing will feature a brand new painted cover by Grendel creator Wagner himself. Vivat Grendel! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

It got me hooked
Grendel: War Child tells us the story of a alternative world were ONE emperor is ruler over the entire world (called) Grendel Kahn. Unfortunately the Grendel Kahn just passed away so the entire world is out for power and possession. The only one who is in the way of the wife of the passed away Grendel Kahn becoming supreme ruler is his son. So it's essential to get this son to safety away from his mother to grow up and rise the throne when he's ready for it. Only the way to safety is long and dangerous in a world where everybody is out for his head. This particular trade got me hooked on the Grendel Legacy and I can advise people who are into Fantasy/Mad Maxx/Waterworld to get this trade without a doubt. It's well worth your money both qualitywise as quantitywise (there are 10 issues in here).

Sweeping
Another epic tale by Matt Wagner. This is the only one I felt came close to the glory of the Hunter Rose stories. (In the back of the Mage: The Hero Discovered books)This one has it all. This Grendel is a perfect warrior with flawed masters....beautifully balanced

Adventure! Excitement! Grendel! It's all here!!!!
This is a must for anyone who loves a good adventure story, sci-fi or otherwise! And for the Grendel followers, a DEFINITE MUST READ if not OWN!!! I love what this book did with the story and image of the dark hero, and how past enemies were incorporated into the picture! Can't say enough without giving it all away- except "make more!!!!!" Vivat Grendel!!!!!

Without sounding trite, it's Mad Max meets the Terminator.
Matt Wagner is one of the best storytellers in the modern age of comics and his Grendel series has made huge strides in pushing the envelope and changing the face of comicbooks forever. Grendel:Warchild is a extremely violent, apopcalyptic look at future world peopled with fanatical warriors, blood thirsty vampires and an unstopable cyborg paladin charged with protecting the savior of and heir to the world conquering Grendel Khan. ... Read more