Book Description

A completely revised and expanded second edition of the first volume in the Graphic Classics series. It retains seven illustrated presentations from the first edition, including " The Raven," "The Bells," and "The Tell Tale Heart." These are joined by over 60 pages of new comics adaptations including "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," and "Never Bet the Devil Your Head." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Each black-and-white rendition is by a different artist
Compiled and edited by Tom Pomplun, Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe is an outstanding graphic novel anthology of diverse comic-book style adaptations of classic stories and poems by the legendary Edgar Allan Poe. Included are "The Raven", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Tell-Tale Heart", and nine others. Each black-and-white rendition is by a different artist, and the styles range from gruesomely realistic to extravagantly bizarre; all of them deftly capture Poe's brilliant and sometimes shocking dialogue, plots, and the helplessness of man. Also very highly recommended from their "Graphic Classics" series are the Eureka Productions graphic novel editions of H.P. Lovecraft (0971246440); Ambrose Bierce (0971246467); and Bram Stoker (0971246475). ... Read more

Book Description

Just when you thought it was safe to be Goth again! Voltaire’s back to skewer your funny bone with a wooden stake (ouch)! This brand-new trade paperback collects not only the original 4-issue OH MY GOTH series, it also contains the first two issues of the OMG: HUMANS SUCK series, and—best of all—the never-before-seen third issue! Deemed too scandalous to print when first solicited (or something like that), this shocking third chapter in the HUMANS SUCK story is all about vampires! Meet Morty Lipshitz, role-player extraordinaire who pits his plastic fangs against a gnarly gang of actual “Vampires From Outer Space” (guess who wins). Hieronymous Poshe also takes us on a gothic tour of the past to demonstrate the “real” history of vampires. This is the only place issue #3 will ever see print, so if you want to know how to create a monster bride using boysenberry Jell-o, you’ll have to buy this book! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not only for Goths!
I picked this book up as soon as it came out a few years back. I have left my Gothness since then but I still enjoy Voltaire's work. It has a sense of humor and isn't afraid to make fun of everything. And I mean everything. It is an enjoyable diversion from reality and it won't make you dumb. Hmm, something uncommon.

Gothicly (yes that's a word) funny
This book is by far the best Gothic comic i have ever read. I think that even if you do not read this you should check out Voltaire's Music or Stop-motion animation. Visit his web site, www.voltaire.net

Thank God for Goth Satire!
Just when I was convinced that all my fellow goths were sticks-in-the-mud, along comes Voltaire to liven things up. This comic book features an extra-terrestrial named Heironymous Posch (who looks strangely identical to Voltaire), who, throughout human history, has been trying to make friends with Earthlings. Unfortunately, his attempts have been failures, resluting in superstitious beliefs in monsters, and other chaos. Posch spends his free time relaxing in his spacecraft, in Earth's orbit, quite happy with his lazy occupation. Then one day, his bosses decide Earth is going to be destroyed. Their plan being a threat to his laziness, Posch embarks on a mission to save Earth. Along the way, he offends the minions of Hell, resulting in demons as well as aliens chasing him down. Hiding out in the Goth scene, Posch befriends a group of surly teenage Goths, who end up being dragged along on his outrageous escapades. Fun for All!

Great, but with flawed printing.
No book should fall apart within a week. None of them. Period.

You'll Laugh Your Fishnets Off!
If you're a fan of Voltaire's music, you NEED to read his comics! They're difficult to track down one by one, so it's great that they've bound them all into one easy-to-read book for you. It gives you insight into the demented, humourous, and oh-so-gothy mind of Voltaire, while at the same time making you laugh your fishnets off! I have four words for you: Boris the Pocket Goth. ... Read more

Book Description

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola finally reveals Abe Sapien's bizarre history. Introduced in the first Hellboy book and featured prominently in the film, Abe Sapien has remained one of the most intriguing mysteries of Mignola's celebrated work. The recent Hellboy film steered clear of any origin story for Abe so that the tale could be told in Plague of Frogs. The story of Abe's origins unfolds as the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense try to stop the monstrous frog men from the first Hellboy graphic novel, Seed of Destruction. The plague begins its spread across America, lending an apocalyptic new direction to Mignola's stories. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Reverend Jesse Custer is a Texas minister who swears worse than a sailor and is not above killing people who get in his way. One might say he's lost his faith. No, he's just looking for God, and when he finds Him... Proud Americans is another sick and fun addition to the Preacher series. This book contains three story lines: One, a short tale about Custer's father in Vietnam. Two, a recounting of the transformation of Custer's Irish buddy Cassidy into a vampire and his coming to America. And three, the conclusion to the story begun in Preacher: Until the End of the World, the story of the angelic mafia (known as the Grail) who have come after Reverend Custer and the secret power inside him called "Genesis." --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (19)

good stuff...
"Proud Americans," the third trade paperback volume of Preacher, collects issues 18-26 or the series. It opens with Jesse and Tulip in an airport, waiting for their flight to France, and segues into a short story about Jesse's father's time in Vietnam, as told by John Custer's friend.

After that, Jesse and Tulip travel to Masada, the stronghold of the Grail, where Starr is waiting. Jesse and Tulip's relationship is developed well; Jesse can't stand the idea of Tulip in danger, especially after what happened in "Until the End of the World," while Tulip can't stand being patronized. I completely understood Tulip's point of view, of course, but I also sympathized with Jesse. Congratulations to Ennis and Dillon for making those two into real people, in the middle of their hilariously gory chaos.

Eventually Jesse confronts Allfather D'Aronique, Starr, and the rest of the Grail, in his quest to rescue Cassidy. He also learns more about Genesis, the being who gives him his power, and makes a deal with the Saint of Killers. Meanwhile, God appears to Cassidy, with another message for Jesse, and further cements his impression as an asshole.

The last two issues alternate between modern New York and Cassidy's memories, as he tells Jesse how he became a vampire and came to America.

These books are gory, sick as hell, and often truly hilarious. I love that aspect of this series. They also have a thematic undercurrent of friendship, love, and responsibility. I like that too. A lot.

Prime Preacher
Proud Americans is a very good, and very, very funny Preacher graphic novel. It has some of the series funniest (as well as most violent) moments. This is Preacher at it's best. One thing Proud Americans is NOT is a good introduction to the story. If you've never read Preacher before, get Gone to Texas. Don't get this - you'll be really confused.

The first story is that of Jesse's fathers experience in Vietnam and is contained in a single issue. That issue is one of Preacher's all-time best. The story is very, very good and well-written, and it's great seeing how like his dad Jesse is. The rest of the book focuses on the events leading up to Jesse's confrontation with The Grail and the face-off between Jesse, Starr, and the Allfather. By the way, the Allfather's fate (that's all I'll say about it) is one of the series funniest single moments.

Proud Americans shows, again, that Preacher simply rules.

good
After two inspired efforts, Mr. Ennis finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to catch lightening in a bottle yet again with "Proud Americans;" capturing that delicious combination of over-the-top pathos, humour, and violence. Does he succeed? Well, not entirely, but that doesn't mean "Proud Americans" isn't deserving a respectful place on the Preacher bookshelf; it's just not that great. The book has its moments, though: a colourful, emasculated hitman (don't ask); an impossibly obese leader of the Grail; a 'chosen child' given to obsessively exclaiming, "humperdido." Ennis, by this point, knows how to create interesting characters and how to insert them in interesting scenarios. However, the book is missing a bit of the flair with which I was becoming accustomed. I think this is because of the retrospective feel of the book and that little plot is actually advanced; we have the intro story that details Jesse's father's experiences in Vietnam, and the book's latter half that comprises of Cassidy's origin. Granted, "Gone to Texas" and "Until the End of the World" were heavily retrospective, as well. However, they contained stories that, to me, were much more gripping. Honestly, Ennis' construction of Vietnam is nothing I haven't seen a thousand times before, and the Cassidy feature wasn't overly impressive. Although the part dealing with the Grail was Preacher-quality, there frankly wasn't enough of it to make this a great read.

Dillon is good as usual. Not overly flashy, but really conveys the moods Ennis is hinting at. Check his depiction of the Allfather; hilarious stuff. One small gripe: my edition (4th printing) had relatively poor quality paper, not the bright sheen of the earlier editions. This correspondingly gave the art a rather drab and muddy look. Unfortunate choice, really, since Dillon's art plays such a crucial role in the whole 'feel' of Preacher.

Shocking Series!
One of the most controversial comic book series ever released can be at your finger tips for just $14.95. This 232 page book is by one of the most acclaimed authors ever: Garth Ennis. Garth Ennis as most of you who are into recent and 90's comic books know is an author who can shock you , make you laugh, inspire debates, provide social commentary and in general makes you have one hell of a time. Buy it before it goes out of print as very few copies of this book have not been sold and are in near mint condition.

Different from the Previous Work
The third installment of this collected series about a Preacher mixed up with the divine, his hit(wo)man girlfriend, Tulip and their vampire friend, Cassidy is not as good as the previous two chapters.

The story divided into three parts. The first part is a flashback story about Custer's dad. A well told poignant story that finally speaks out wha the heck of a relationship it was with John Wayne.

The second has Custer following the path of his kidnapped friend Cassidy who was taken hostage in the last book. From all the stories, this one is the best told, though not as strong as the previous chapters in the previous books. Some light is shed on what is the being that is sharing Custer's body and why the beings in Heaven and Hell are just scared to confront him.

The last story is an origin retelling of the vampire, Cassidy. More questions stem out of this story than those attempted to be answered.

I have to admit the books was not as good as the previous installments. Ennis has toned down the content and the humor of the storyline. Dillon, however, just seems to move on like a locomotive, complteley and utterly unstoppable. The work here is comparable to the work Ennis has worked on the Punisher. The problem with this book is that you can't not read it. Some important aspects of the characters are showcased.

A wonderful read, just don't expect to much. The guys were taking a break and so should you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While technically the fourth book in the Preacher series, Ancient History isn't part of the main Preacher story line and doesn't even use any of the main characters (Reverend Jesse Custer, his girlfriend, Tulip, and his vampire buddy Cassidy). Instead, this collection of side stories delves into the freakish, perverse, and downright mythic supporting characters. The main feature is the 106-page demonic Western featuring the "Saint of Killers." In many ways this guy--and the spirit of the ruthless frontier he represents--is the soul of the Preacher series. Writer Garth Ennis said, taking all of the characters of the series into account, "I felt one more character was needed to round out the cast: someone who would directly represent the Old West, who had walked straight out of history, and who brought with him the horror and terror of those times." If this is the soul of the book, then its heart is the "Story of You Know Who," a reference to the character Arseface, whose self-imposed shotgun wound to the face has left him rather disfigured. This boy's abusive family is so overblown, his tragedy so all-encompassing, that a lesser writer would let this swerve into complete silliness. Ennis's talent is to pull pathos out of such outrageousness. He succeeds here again. --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Near Perfection
In an interesting diversion from the story that "The Preacher" has been looping back and forth through, Mr. Garth has decided to give us three stories focusing on minor characters in the series. Only one of the three disappointed me. In "Gone To Texas" we met Arseface, and although his situation was grotesque, it always carried some degree of twisted, twisted humor. However, with "The Story of You-Know-Who", Ennis removes all traces of humor, stripping away his trademark irony to show us a truly depressing, somehow unoriginal and after-school-special-like origin of his strange monster. But, even if though I was disappointed by this story, I couldn't say enough about the other two. The Origin of the Saint of Killers is astonishing. We finally get an intense, sad, strange, gorgeous explanation for the presence of this creature. And there are moments in it (such as the saint turning his guns on a certain, very powerful fellow) that are some of the finest of the "The Preacher" thus far. And then, after two very depressing, low key tales, we are given "The Good Old Boys", one of the funniest comics I have ever read. It's enough that Ennis takes us back to the Bayou, where we meet the ugly, fish-loving cousins from book 1. But, somehow, he got the idea to suddenly invade their swamp with characters from some terrible, direct to video action film. I don't mean that the characters are shallow or stupid. They actually scream lines like "I'm a cop with a dangerous secret!" Ennis takes these living cliche's, and then throws them into the muck with two men we know to be sicker than any within a thousand miles. The result is truly disgusting and really quite brilliant. Ennis is a real life artist. I can't wait for the next one.

Really Ancient History
It's flashback time. So to make this even happening, let's keep our regular mad writer and bring three different artists to make this story work out. Guess what? They do make it work out!

Garth Ennis takes us back in flashback sequence one four major characters of his Preacher series to make us see, what makes them tick. Saint of Killers, TC and Jody and last but not least the well named, Arseface.

The story of the Saint of Killers is perhaps in this three part trade paperback in the ever popular Preacher series. You never would have guessed that a cold hearted killer was really human. Heck you might never even guess what this guy's true function in this life is really all about, until you read this for yourself. Anything I say can be considered a spoiler. The art works well. I can't see Steve Dillon's work working well here so it was great having Steve Pugh filling in. His art is grittier and darker and makes this character just a teensy weensy meaner than anything you've ever seen.

Arseface comes in next. This guy is just plain old out of this world. You would never even believe he was human before, but it turns out that he really was. This is the most human of the stories depicting the origin of the character and what makes him who he really is rght now. The way Ennis makes him talk and ctually have the translation for you is unbelievably insane.

TC and Jody's story is fun. These guys are whacko. They have always been whacko ever since they were first introduced. So unlike the other stories, this one would be the goriest of them in terms of things done to people that you never thought can be done. TC's fetish for making out with creatures really is turned up a notch here.

Despite the inconsistence of the art, the 4the volume of the Preacher series stands as an important part. The telling of the origin of these characters makes them more accessible to the reader. It was good for Ennis to talk about these characters. Dillon or no Dillon, Ennis continues to fight the good fight.

The trees instead of the forest? Works here
As some of the longer graphic novel series are wont to do at times (see Sandman, for example), Ennis introduces a 'break' to the Preacher arc with "Ancient History," temporarily halting plot development and placing several Preacher characters outside the timeline. "Ancient History" contains two origin stories, one of Saint of All Killers and one of Arseface, respectively, and a broad-brush satire of the action movie genre, featuring those rapscallion down-home boys, Jody and T.C.

The two origin stories speak to the past pain and anger that the Saint and Arseface experienced, and how these emotions molded their desire to mete out vengeance. Saint is the 'simpler' of the two characters. As Ennis himself acknowledges in his excellent Foreward, Saint is the virtual embodiment of the Clint Eastwood movie-western archetype, an innately violent man unable to contain the demons within when the good in him vanishes. Arseface, however, is painted with a subtler brush: a sad and isolated loner whose physiological transformation 'triggers' (pardon the pun) a paradoxically sunnier and more violent outlook on life. Note also how Arseface comes to relate and sympathize with the things he most fears. Although these tales are both downers, the book finishes with a rousing send-off, thanks to the fanciful "Good Ole Boys." The unlikeliest of heroes save the day and get the girl, and, er, dog. A bumbling Middle Eastern terrorist who utters a constant stream of scatological malapropisms 'leads' the bad guys. People (and animals) are killed, mutilated, and abused. Hilarious, violent, offensive, politically incorrect; in short, Ennis at his crackling best.

For the first time in the series, Dillon is not involved with the art. However, Steve Pugh's rich illustrations, the masterful Carlos Ezquerra's evocative imagery, and Pamela Rambo's skillful colouring, among others, ensure the visuals are up to par with the story.

Although I'm not generally a fan of graphic novels that wander from the series arc, I have to admit that the book was very well written and a heckuva lot of fun to read.

AMAZING
As a college graduate, writer, and teacher of writing, I can honestly say that I loathe most comic books. However, Preacher is one of the most amazing things I've ever SEEN, let alone read.

That said, this particular collection is BREATHTAKING, mostly for the backstory behind the Saint of Killers, the coolest character ever created in the history of Western fiction.

I still get chills thinking back to the Gettysburg panel...

Mediocre, but good for a laugh
This is just a collection of background stories for Preacher's supporting cast. With this compilation of Preacher special editions, we probe the past of The Saint of Killers, Arseface and the good old boys, the evil Jody and TC. The Saint's story is the only one that actually moves the story along. His story is interesting, but it would have been better (and earned the volume another star) if Dillon had done the artwork. The Arse's story is the most down to Earth read in all the Preacher comics. It is a much edgier after school school special. As you might have already guessed by my screenname, I am a fan of Kurt Cobain's music, and I don't appreciate seeing him put down. But as much as I want to believe that he was murdered, who the hell am I kidding? of course he killed himself, he is a horrible role model. And it was this role model that Arseface was emulating when he tried to kill himself, leaving his face vicously scarred. The final story is that of two major villian from earlier on. Jody and TC, two of the sinister Gran'ma L'angelle's enforcers have their own little mini action movie. It does nothing for the story, nor even provide any insight into the theme of the comic, it is just a show of the series' trademark dark humor. The good old boys battle an international terrorist who's english is so bad that he doesn't know how to swear. It is meant to be stupid and laughable, as it is lampooning the action movie genre, casting two VILLIANS from Jesse Custer's past as the action heroes. If you are reading the Preacher series from beginning to end, this can be skipped over, because it is just a filler. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Stuff! Ennis Rocks!
I've read a couple of Hellblazers here and there, but Son of Man was the first complete story arc I read. I picked it up because I love Ennis's work on Preacher. I have to say that I was throroughly entertained and could not put it down till I read the whole thing. Ennis is a great writer. The story was really twisted but flowed nicely. This book is worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

Intense and full of psychotic action, Hellsing continues its fevered pitch into a dark chaos that defies human logic. Human? Well, there are only a few left in the storyline as the emerging Millennium Project, an army of Nazi undead, is unleashed upon the world. What will surely ensue is a war of blood and nostalgia, with a cool gothic style and increasingly frenetic pace. Envision the Hindenburg, old sharpshooter rifles, and throwback uniforms, mixed with new jet technology and incredibly bold vampires. Hellsing is packed to the gills with radical mysticism and scary apocalypse ... and it's fun as Hell! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Showdown in the Desert
War in the Sun is easily one of the best Preacher stories. From beginning to end, this is also one of the most action packed Preacher story arcs as well. From the battle in the desert between the Saint of Killers with Starr and his men to Jesse falling out of an airplane, this truly is an exciting story, and of course is filled with all the violence and humour the series is known for. This is definately recommended reading for anyone who is either a fan of the series of is juist getting into it as it realy gives a feal of what the series is all about.

Excellent! Garth Ennis is back!
Ennis and Dillon did it again. And it's about time.

After 2 and a half dissapointing TPBs, we finally get back on track with War in the Sun. We start out with the Herr Starr special, which was extremely well done. If only we'd been given this info earlier in the series, maybe some of Starr's motivations actully would've made sense. Arrgh!

There's a little bit of set up and character development here, but not much. We basically dive right into the big climax, where Jesse, Tulip and Cassidy take on Herr Starr, The Saint of Killers, and a whole buncha tanks! And all of their lives are changed forever!

The resolution to this climax takes up the second half of the book, and is one of the best story resolutions a comic has ever had. What happened to Herr Starr? Where's Jesse? What about Cassidy? Tulip? Nearly all of your questions are answered by the end.

In conclusion, this is easily one of the best TPBs of the series.

Brilliant, possibly the best in the series
Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon have created another masterpiece with this sixth collected installment of the Preacher series. The beginning is the one shot back story called "One Man's War" and delves into the past of Herr Star as we learn his secrets and his unyielding motivation to get the job done. This explains quite a bit about Herr Star's intentions and you can almost sympathize with him. From that point on we catch up with Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidey as they wind up in the desert along with Herr Star and the entire army thrown into the mix, and the Saint of Killers not far behind. This is undoubtadly the most action packed of the series and contains all of the blood curdling violence and very dark humor that the series is famous for. Ennis' storytelling is great as always, although some of Dillon's art seems to get a bit scratchy towards the end of the book, War in the Sun is still a great read. All in all, this is possibly the best in the Preacher series, and next to Until the End of the World, is my favorite of the series.

WHAT A BOOK!!
I have been reading the Preacher series from the start and they kick some major butt. Sure, they have some pretty offensive stuff to just about anger everybody, but who cares! First of all, if your new to the series start with Book 1 and work your way up to this book. This book had some intense scences, such as The Saint of Killers (who by the way is very cool) kicks some major butt in an all out war with tanks. I loved every part of that. This is so much stuff that happens in this book that at the end you have to sit back and go WOW! Some characters that you started to like from the start might make your blood boil a little in this book (the Irish vamp named Cassidy)and others you feel really sorry for. All in all this was another great book in the series.

If a bubble is trouble, then this sweating pot has got a lot
"War in the Sun" is one of the better Preacher books. It gets things--as the saying goes--cooking with gas. Some of the story lines that have been left to simmer indefinitely finally come to a boil here in book six.

With two best friends and a beautiful girl between them, you knew it was only a matter of time until trouble reared its head. At the end of book six, with Jesse presumed dead and Cassidy left alone to make his designs on Tulip, trouble's knocking loud and hard.

There are only three more Preacher books after "War in the Sun" and it's obvious that the end is near and the stakes are high. You've got the feeling that you've just crested the last big hill and all the lights of home are spread out ahead of you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Can anything be darker than noir? Try Frank Miller's Sin Cityseries. The tasty Hell and Back features Wallace, a brooding artist with a decided talent for hurting people, and Esther, a stunningly beautiful actress accidentally mixed up in a slavery ring that extends far and deep enough to transcend the word conspiracy. The tale twists, turns, and backtracks, teasing the reader with hints of terror to come--until the explosive climax. Miller's art is exactly right for his words; he uses more black than white, and color only when appropriate. The chapter dealing with Wallace's drug hallucinations is beautiful, heartbreaking, and terrifying in turn. Readers interested in the human dark side should find out what fans of Sin City already know: Frank Miller has seen it and wants to share. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (11)

To graphic novels what film noire is to the cinema
Set in Frank Miller's dark world of "Sin City", his latest epic, Hell And Back, is to graphic novels what film noire is to the cinema. The dialogue is terse, the artwork is as powerful as it is gritty, the story is of an ex-soldier who aspires to be an artist becoming tangled up in the nightmare of a beautiful woman he saves from suicide only to discover that she is the target of an immense, powerful, and corruptive conspiracy populated by a pantheon of memorable (and sometimes surprising) villains. Forcefully illustrated in black and white, Hell And Back, is enhanced by a vividly colored segment totally appropriate to the story line involving a drug induced hallucination. Of special interest at the end of this outstanding, highly recommended graphic novel dedicated is a gallery of Frank Miller's work inspired by this particular story, and a second gallery showcasing the art of a number of artists inspired by, and in tribute to, Miller's "Sin City" world of death and desire, the horrific and the heroic.

Good, but not the best Sin City story
An artist/mysteryman named Wallace meets and falls in love with a mysterywoman named Esther. When she turns up missing, he goes into and through Hell to find her.

I am a big fan of Frank Miller's work. I am a big fan of his Sin City work. That being said, this collection just seemed to be missing something for me, and I cannot figure out what it is. The art is stellar, the story is engrossing, and the characters are interesting. This is still better than 95% of the other graphic novels that I have read in my life, but there is just something missing that prevents me from giving it a perfect score.

If you like Frank Miller's work, then pick it up. If you like love stories with a film-noir feel, then definitely get it. If you are looking for the very best of Frank Miller's noirish love stories, then get A Dame To Kill For, then after you get one come back for this and maybe you can tell me what this one is missing.

Not for me
I am not really familiar w/ Frank Miller's Sin City works, I had mostly read his Batman: DKR, Year One, Wolverine and Daredevil books, So, I decided to give the Sin City books a try. I really didn't enjoy the story and seems like your run-of-the-mill hot damsel in distress with the "hero" to the rescue. But the rescue soon turns to a Stevel Segal movie with a lot of violence, topped off with nudity and sex. It's not a bad story but it's not a great story, not for me anyways. Maybe, it's because I've been reading superhero comic books for nearly 15 years, so it wasn't to my liking.

Lovely ladies...who may be deeper than we think...
In Miller's most recent installment, Hell and Back: A Sin City Love Story, the plot centers around a mystery beauty by the name of Esther. Our hero, a former black op agent-turned-artist named Wallace, meets Esther while saving her from drowning. His first thoughts are telling: "She's a little heavier than she looks. Strong body...Strong body. She's in good shape." Once revived, she falls in love with his art, and he with her. It's a bond so deep enough that, when Esther is abducted, Wallace vows to find her and make her captors pay. It's not an uncommon plot for a Sin City tale. The original 1991 12-issue arc focused on a redemptive, disfigured thug named Marv looking to avenge the one woman to ever show him physical love: "The perfect woman. The goddess," named Goldie. Marv is aided by his tough-as-nails probation officer, Lucille, and his gun named Gladys. Similar to all the women in Sin City, Gladys is portrayed as powerful and sensual. It's a trend that continues into Hell and Back. Esther never begs for release, never cries. But she is also seldom clothed and often exposed. Likewise, her "roommate" Delia is a lethal nymphomaniac, only challenged as the embodiment of power and sexuality by the equally potent assassin, Mariah. Frank Miller goes to great lengths to always draw his women dripping with seduction. They pose either with skintight clothing, drenched in moisture, bare-nipples, or entirely nude. However, the happily married Miller is no misogynist nor a capitalist of the female form; I believe he's a progressive. As I said, the women of Sin City are strong and, paradoxically, gain even more strength from each seductive pose Miller draws. They are not victims of the male gaze; they ensorcel their viewers. Like the black widow or Basic Instinct's Catherine Tramell, they only allow men to look at them; they enhance their power by enthralling viewers. Miller's "good guys" certainly respect both women's beauty and power.

Far from the best of Miller
It is a good work, but it doesn't keep the level of the others Sin City tales. This time, the main character - Wallace - is an ex-soldier, extremely well trained (almost a Ninja) trying to save a girl from a secret organization. But Wallace is a good Samaritan, the kind of person we'd never expect to find in Sin City. Personally I prefer the anti-heroes normally found in Frank Miller's stories.
Action and violence are present as well as in other Sin City tales, what makes this story worthy to be read, but don't expect to find the best of Miller. ... Read more

Book Description

America in the Roaring 20s. On the surface, it's a positive, peaceful time after the violence of the Great War. But lurking in the shadows is a dark element ready to snatch that peace away. Sister Rosette Christopher, an exorcist working as a part of the Magdala Order, has a duty to fight the demons which appear and cause destruction. But along with her companion Chrono, she usually ends up causing more destruction than the demons themselves! On one particular mission, they meet a young girl with a beautiful voice named Azmaria, who is being targeted by her own stepfather. As Rosette and Chrno work to save her, more is revealed about the relationship between them. There is more to these two than meets the eye. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply one of the best manga series I've ever read
I really can't praise this wonderful series enough. The first volume serves as an introduction for a much darker, highly emotional series, yet is still excellent, full of action and lots of funny moments. The characters are very well written, three dimensional and each one with a very complicated past that gets revealed little by little in the following volumes. In this series nothing is what it seems, but you have to read it for yourself to fully appreciate it. I'm sure everyone is going to fall in love with the characters, most specially Rosette, a strong-willed, optimistic, cheerful person who never gives up, despite her tragic past and uncertain future; and Chrono, a kind and loyal person who supports Rosette in every way possible, keeping all his troubles and his dark past for himself. The story is also excellent, full of twists and very addictive. The artwork is also great. I highly recomend this series, I consider it as one of the best mangas I've read.

If you, by any chance, have seen the anime "Chrno Crusade", simply forget about it and read this manga instead, is at least a thousand times better in every way imaginable (no absurd plot holes or filler episodes), and also has a different, more fluid storyline. Can't go wrong with it! ... Read more

Book Description

This story follows Stella Olemaun's efforts to warn the world about the threat the vampires pose - the vampires who overran Barrow, Alaska, killing her husband and most of the town. With an exclusive introduction by screenwriter Eric Red (The Hitcher, Near Dark), the flat-out terror of Dark Days will reaffirm the dominance of Niles and Templesmith over the realm of illustrated horror fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

a good sequel
Being a new fan of Mr. Niles work, I picked this up and quickly read it. I admit that the story has weak plot elements to it, namely the end (which I wont spoil). I felt a bit betrayed by the conclusion but understand its horror and shock value. Overall well done and the artwork continues to be top notch, one of the best. The setting moves from a forlorn Barrrow, Alaska to sunny Los Angeles (which makes for a great contrast). I wish the some of the minor characters had more development, but understand the limitations of this genre. I highly recommend it.

Niles and Templesmith do it again
Perfection? Not necessarily. But a great read? Absolutely.

Having already read (and reviewed) "30 Days of Night" by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, I already had a pretty good idea of what to expect from them: angry, bloodthirsty vampires. And that's what you get in "Dark Days", the sequel to the last trade. "Dark Days" is composed of six issues, providing a chronicle of the vampire-hunting career of Stella Olemaun.

Stella is the wife of the sheriff killed in the aforementioned book, and these issues sees her tracking down the wife of the vampire that led the original attack on Barrow. She's had to evolve into a hard-as-nails hunter with issues with trust. This makes it even more difficult when she is forced to take a vampire into her confidence. The storytelling is not exactly revolutionary, but Niles still puts out an extremely competent storyline.

For me, however, its Templesmith who makes these stories. No artist better captures the horror and paranoia that go with the story as well as him. Eyes wide in terror, mouths screaming for blood...no one draws the fear and the fearsome like this guy. Combined with Niles' story, you have a hell of a combination: a story for any comic collection, provided you don't scare easy.

A good read
I love Steve Niles work, and became interested in his stories after reading 30 Days of Night. I found Dark Days to be an excellent read, picking up the comics as they were released. Niles tells a great story revolving a survivor from Barrow trying to convince the rest of the world that vampires do exist. While character development may not be great, for a comic its good enough. Besides, most of the character development was done in 30 Days of Night, and doesnt need to be rehashed here. Templesmiths artwork, as always, is great and lends itself well to Niles storytelling. If you enjoyed the first book, I highly recommend this sequel.

Fantastic sequel
Having only discovered Steve Niles' work a few months ago, he is rapidly becoming one of my favorite comic book creators. In "30 Days of Night," a small Alaskan town was beset by bloodthirsty vampires during a month-long period of darkness. In this series we follow one of the survivors, the wife of the sheriff who sacrificed his life to save the town, as she fights to make the world believe in the menace that destroyed her husband.

Niles has an incredible ability to take concepts as old as vampires, zombies and werewolves (in his Cal McDonald stories) and find new and intriguing angles to view them through. We get to see a woman try to convince a skeptical world that vampires are real, that they have worked for centuries to cultivate the belief that they are fiction, and that they are very dangerous. Niles doesn't go for the easy ending, either -- this is a story even more brutal than "30 Days," and one that leaves you shivering.

Ben Templesmith's artwork isn't something I'd always go for, but it fits the tone of these stories perfectly -- scattershot, disjointed... horrific, but with a strange elegance to it.

This is one of the best horror comics on the stands these days, and I can't wait for the paperback of the third book to hit the shelves.

Terrible! Trees died for THIS?
Being moderately intrigued by the Thirty Days of Night, I decided to pick up the second installment. While the first book didn't blow me away, it was decent enough. This book astounded me with shoddy writing, character development, and UNFORGIVABLE transparency in regards to the plot and the "shocking" developments thrown in by Niles. The art is solid the entire way through, but essentially we are given cardboard cutouts of characters that are supposed to be edgy and cool. The few characters that do have some depth are instantly thrown into ridiculous situations by Niles that defy belief. I felt punished reading this comic. In reality, I didn't care when the secondary characters got cut up, sliced, diced, etc. In any circumstance if there existed were an obvious choice to be made by the writer, it was made with lightning speed. I wonder who thought that this script was anything even approaching acceptable? Not to mention the "SHOCKING" ending sequence that was mind-numbingly dumb. I am still so angry after reading this comic, not because the ending did not please me, because the ending was obvious. Perhaps someone thought, "This will be edgy, they won't expect it, it'll be cool." WRONG WRONG WRONG. I want my twenty dollars back. Since the rights to Thirty Days of Night were bought for a hefty sum, I think that someone owes me some money. I will not read anything by Niles again. This comic is so self-aware in its attempt to be edgy and hip I could hardly stand to read it. Niles does not impress in this unforgivably lame excuse for a horror comic. Just terrible. Stay far away! Don't buy this if you value your time, money, or sanity. Horrible beyond comprehension. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great series takes a turn into the grim
With "Ghost Circles," the seventh of nine volumes, the "Bone" saga gets very, very serious. While still appropriate for all ages (there is nothing here you wouldn't let your eight-year-old read), this is hardly kiddy fare. It's dark, grim and rarely funny.

"Bone" is an epic story about three "bone creatures" and their adventures in a valley peopled with an assortment of crazy and interesting characters. Looming over it all is the menace of a great evil, revealed slowly over the course of nine volumes, intent on unleashing itself over the world. The series starts off lighthearted, but grows less so as the story unravels itself, as is evident with "Ghost Circles."

In "Ghost Circles," despair rules over all. It begins with the death of a supporting character, leads into suffering for all, and sees the main characters trudge through hopelessness before leaving the reader lingering with the hope that maybe, just maybe, a good end will come for the good guys.

Here, several story threads move ahead independent of each other, the characters separated by a great calamity in the valley. Throughout the volume, the threads appear to be drawing together - even as evil grows. When finishing this, you'll reach for the next volume right away.

Smith combines the kind of classic storytelling perfected by the likes of the legendary Carl Barks (Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge) and Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) - pure cartooning with outrageous and expressive faces and gestures - with the epic and engaging plotting of a sweeping fairy tale. "Bone" manages to balance the two well enough to be something fans of both Donald Duck and Frodo Baggins can enjoy.

Jeff Smith's "Bone" series may be critically acclaimed, but it is also criminally overlooked. And that's too bad, because this deserves to be read.

And in the long run, it will be.

There is no doubt people will still be reading "Bone" 50 years from now. Broad and epic in scope yet personal and quaint, this is a charming story in every way that will surely outlast most other comic works on the shelf.

Pogo characters and a Disney heroine lost on another planet.
Sure, sure, the art and the storytelling are great as usual (even spellbounding at times), but I'm still not comfortable with the fact those Bone creatures were superimposed over well-known characters from an ancient comic strip, so that's why I still hate the series so much I no longer buy the books anymore and instead check them out at a local library.

And the plot itself is nothing new, either; a pubescent young princess-disguised-as-a-human-mortal discovers her own magical powers to go on a perilous quest and save the world. It's been done a billion times before in countless Disney movies and many manga books for the girlie audience. So why the eternal fascination with budding females of the royal status? No wonder Di never got a moment's peace.

Ghost Circles Review
The dilagoue is very exotic damped in the usual supense. I admired the well crafted drawings in ink text. Perhaps the ending leaves you lingering for a settled outcome and not held in high climax action. A well balanced adwantage to the epic saga is the modern humor clashing with the medival views.

Jeff Smith has mastered this comic with another inspiring idea of his imagination. He clung to some of the old traits he devloped in his pervious books. However,this is forgiven and I wish for you to read this. Get some hands on experince by reading the whole printed script collection first.

Good, but I'd be glad to see some advance in the story
Drawing and writing is great. Comic and dramatic mix uncannily, and the athmosphere is unique. Everything is great, but could'nt we go on whit the story? ... Read more

Book Description

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's own Amber "Tara" Benson takes up scripting duties on these collected stories of everyone's favorite Wiccan couple with the help of writer Christopher Golden (Angel, Buffy TVS: The Watcher's Guide, BPRD). This volume will collect the Willow and Tara one-shot "WannaBlessedBe" drawn by Terry Moore, the two-part Willow and Tara: "Wilderness" story and Andi Watson's two- part Willow and Tara comic strip featured in Dark Horse Extra! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful collection
This collection contains three stories , "WannaBlessedBe", "Wilderness" and "Demonology Menagerie".

The first one, "WannaBlessedBe" is five by five! This story is written by two of my favorite people, Chris Golden & Amber Benson. I loved the way they handled Willow & Tara's relationship, very subtle, very BtVS 4th/ fifth season.(This story takes place in the fifth season.) What I also loved about this story was the way it was drawn (done by Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise genius).Beautifully done.5/5
Oh, and check out Tara reading "Strangers in Paradise"!

The second story, "Wilderness" was awesome! It takes place in the sixth season. I love this action-packed story of Willow, Tara and Dawn taking a fieldtrip. Also written by Amber Benson and Chris Golden. The graphics aren't as beautifully done as in the previous story, but it totally suits the story. 5/5

The third instalment is a short story written by Andi Watson. It's a cute story that takes place in the fifth season. 3.5/5

I recommend this collection to any Buffy fan or comics fan, especially if you're a fan of Willow and Tara.

Wonderful collection!
This collection contains three stories , "WannaBlessedBe", "Wilderness" and "Demonology Menagerie".

The first one, "WannaBlessedBe" is five by five! This story is written by two of my favorite people, Chris Golden & Amber Benson. I loved the way they handled Willow & Tara's relationship, very subtle, very BtVS 4th/ fifth season.(This story takes place in the fifth season.) What I also loved about this story was the way it was drawn (done by Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise genius).Beautifully done.5/5
Oh, and check out Tara reading "Strangers in Paradise"!

The second story, "Wilderness" was awesome! It takes place in the sixth season. I love this action-packed story of Willow, Tara and Dawn taking a fieldtrip. Also written by Amber Benson and Chris Golden. The graphics aren't as beautifully done as in the previous story, but it totally suits the story. 5/5

The third instalment is a short story written by Andi Watson. It's a cute story that takes place in the fifth season. 3.5/5

I recommend this collection to any Buffy fan or comics fan, especially if you're a fan of Willow and Tara. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The New Age in Graphic Horror
I was just a junior high school comic book freak when Alan Moore took over the writing duties on the Swamp Thing series. I can clearly remember that even back then the comics world was abuzz with the incredible new realms that Moore and his collaborators were opening up. In an unusual fashion, this new ground was broken on a tired old series, as the Swamp Thing title was moribund and probably headed for cancellation. It's quite surprising that Moore was given free rein to completely reinvent this established character, and in the process he both proved himself as one of the strongest writers in the field, and sent the comics world in new and darker directions that are still being felt today.

Moore makes use of the best methods of horror writing, and the stupendous artwork of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben accentuate the dark feel of the storylines and send the Swamp Thing series to new heights of terror. Much credit should be given to colorist Tatjana Wood as well. In this volume, check out the artists' very groundbreaking (for the time) use of frames, placement, and coloring to accentuate the psychological horror of the story. One of my favorite examples of this can be found on page 27 here, with the accented focus on the crazed eye of the villain Floronic Man. In fact, this initial volume highlights Moore's intentional connection with the standard comic universe as well, with creative reintroductions of both Floronic Man and Etrigan (Jack Kirby's Demon), who had both been little heard from previously, plus a cameo appearance by the Justice League of America.

This early in Moore's run, the gutwrenching plotlines were still building up steam, and the subsequent volumes of this series really deliver the goods. The most haunting and rewarding installments here are the trilogy that are listed as Books Five through Seven (or Swamp Thing 25-27 in their original form), which feature disturbing turns by troubled kids with connections to the dark side. This graphic novel series from DC constitutes some of the most tremendous works of art and writing in comics history, and this first volume easily shows what all the fuss was about. Whether you're new or re-experiencing the best original comics of your past, prepare to be blown away.

Gorgeous work
Alan Moore used his break into the American market to take a third-tier monster book and triple its sales within a year.

How did he do it? By chucking all conventions and expectations. His first issue in this volume, "The Anatomy Lesson" (reprinted from Saga of the Swamp Thing #21), gives Swampy an entirely new origin and background, and outlines Moore's plans for the character; a complete dissection and rebuilding, from the ground up.

In successive issues, Moore continues to defy expectation, with his poetic method of writing becoming the reference point for everyone who wanted to prove to their buddies that comics "weren't just for kids". Coupled with the wonderful artwork, this volume should earn a place on even the most discriminating of bookshelves.

Granted, Saga lacks the the sheer genius of Watchmen, the power of V for Vendetta, or the disturbing atmosphere of From Hell, but its a smorgasbord of Moore, with attributes and positive characteristics entirely unique unto itself.

If only the rest of his run would be collected as well...

The setup is what's important here...
This first volume collects the first seven chapters of Alan Moore's highly acclaimed helming of the 'Swamp Thing,' series. Groundbreaking for its evocative bending of the horror genre in a major-label comic series, this collection of 'Swamp Thing,' chapters is not to be missed by anyone interested in comics as a legit form of narrative storytelling.

While Vol. 1 isn't the strongest in terms of story-punch and raw emotion, it certainly is required reading, in order to appreciate the full arc of this 30+ chapter series. While the strongest chapters do take place in later volumes this initial volume does offer oodles of horrific goodness not to mention some intriguing layout design in its panels. Definitely not to be missed!

An atmospheric and evocative book
Despite representing only a sixth of Alan Moore's famous run (#21-27), this trade paperback offers two complete story arcs and can be seen as a self-contained work. The first four issues feature a new look at Swamp Thing's nature through an autopsy done by the Floronic Man, Jason Woodrue, and the far-reaching consequences of the latter's discovery; issues 25-27 resurrect Jack Kirby's Demon in an intense exploration of fear. The 'new origin', far from nullyfying all that went on before, enables the reader to experience Swamp Thing and his world differently. Whereas Len Wein and Berni Wrightson's work on the character - collected in the excellent 'Dark Genesis' trade paperback - could be read as a reflection on the link between body and soul, Alec Holland being fully conscious but trapped in a bodily prison, Moore's rather deals with the link between two realms, human and vegetal. It thus keeps the tension and duality of the former but sends it in a personal and intriguing direction. These stories are not only conceptually ravishing, but also visually: ingenious and beautiful page constructions are far too numerous to mention, from the brilliant title pages to the dreams scattered throughout the work. From the first page to the last, this is a very atmospheric and evocative book.

The best of the series...outstanding
This trade collects issues 21-27 of Alan Moore's heralded run on Swamp Thing, which he took over way back in 1983. (Issue 20, which was actually Moore's first issue wasn't collected, which is a shame.)

Simply put, this first ST collection is magnificient: some of Moore's best writing ever. Moore re-invents Swamp Thing and then delivers the goods with some of his strongest plots ever. (Jack Kirby's Demon as a guest-star is particulary strong.) Bissette and Totleben's artwork is also equally beautiful and horrific.

DC has since collected the rest of Moore's run on ST (28-63 and ST annual #2). While good, the rest of the series doesn't hold up quite as strong. The American Gothic storyline for ex., is interesting, but (to me) it simply doesn't have the impact of these early issues. Also, the romance between ST and Abby just isn't believable...But that doesn't matter, these early issues still hold up quite well-20 years haven't diminished their impact. ... Read more

Book Description

Neil Gaiman and Alex Ross are among the heavyweights who contributed to this landmark comicbook anthology based on the horror classic, Hellraiser, which ran from 1989 to 1993. Featuring short stories in the Hellraiser millieu written and illustrated by the leading lights in the comic book industry, this series shocked and entertained millions of comics and Clive Barker fans. Checker Book Publishing collects for the first time the best of these short stories into a single full-color trade paperback collection. A must have for Hellraiser, Clive Barker and quality comics fans ... Read more

Reviews (10)

If you never read the hellraiser comics, read this.
I have collected about 15 Hellraiser comics over the years, but there were many stories here I had not read. Though not written by Barker, they are well researched and keep the myth alive. We would not have hellraiser 3,4 and 5 without the comics and whether thats good or bad they are still worth the indulgance (and Franchise). Alot of the artists used were fresh talent at the time, so there are some interesting spins on the traditional cenobites. Still v. bloody and sadistic. Created for all die hard fans.

I've seen the movies and read the comics
Clive Barker is one of the more amazing writers that have come out of the 20th century, and into the 21st century. His imagination is dark and fertile, something to be admired even if you dont personally read every one of his novels.

Hellraiser is an intriguing mythos, something darker in a more sexual sense than a mythos say by H. P. Lovecraft or Stephn King. The first movie was a new version of the old haunted house routine. The second one, however, was amazing, a new cosmos of hell. The movies after that were watchable, but I think they did not do justice by excluding the universe of hell itself instead of having Pinhead come around the corner every so often and tearing some poor fool apart.

The stories of the Hellraiser comics were fascinating at first, dont get me wrong. But, but the main problem is this. What was so at heart about the movies is the reaction of the humans to the inhuman, the heroes male and female toward the damnation around them. This was not so in the comic book series.

You see the Centobites are important to the hellraizer universe, but they are a part of the "sentence" not the "punch line" if you get my drift. Salvation for characters like Cirsty is what is important, at least for me, from the original two movies. The Centobites in these comics, though well drawn and having personalities which yes is a good point, they come in, say some "relavent" concept toward damnation, then kill the poor sods. Again. And Again. And Again.

It does grow tiresome. There is now in my eyes a throw toward the other side, you see hell so much it does not become shocking anymore. It doesn't have the punch as it did when you first saw Laviathin in Hellraiser 2.

I want to see the human heart succeeding or failing against the growing odds. Yes I dont think every story should have a happy ending, but if you read the same ending...after awhile...it just grows tiresome. So that is why I stopped reading the Hellraiser comics.

Now yes there are some very good short comic book stories in this collection, if you really enjoy the artwork which is VERY good, then yes by all means get the book. Just dont read it in one sitting or you will grow ... in my opinion ... bored.

pretty good
It's actually pretty good (I had read another collection of Barker comics that wasn't so good, so I had my doubts). A couple of the stories seem to make little or no sense, but as a whole, they are well written stories. Most of the art is pretty good too. All in all, the collection is, well, pretty good-- and Gaiman is here too.

Series description & new review, a different opinion
Hey readers out there, don't be dismayed by the last 2 reviewers. They were looking for somethng different. Their opinions are valid, but if you want another point of view, read on. The comics never meant to be a direct followup to the movies. The writing in the movies was pretty lame. The writing in the comics is MUCH much better. The goal of these comic stories IS NOT just to reach an ending but to portray HOW these people got to where they ended up. To only look for the ending is a very narrow field of vision. That would be like saying sex is to just reach a climax - if that's so, why taken an hour to do what can be accomplished in 5 minutes? Get it? Yes, the ending is always the same (cenobites, hell, death), but you always knew that anyway didn't you? So, what can we change here? All the stuff that happened BEFORE they ended up in hell, of course. The comics focus strongly on DESIRE, and how it controls people to lead them to their doom. The comics are a GREAT study in human behavior and weakness. It was never about the Cenobites.

I Forgot How Bad The Original Series Could Be!!!
The Hellraiser comic series is like going to the greatest comedy club ever. All of the greats are there to perform for you: Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Jay Leno, Robin Williams, Garry Shandling, etc. Jerry Seinfeld starts: "Why did the Chicken cross the road..? To get to the other side!" Robin Williams is next: "How many Blondes does it take to screw in a light bulb? To get to the other side!" Pretty soon you realize that no matter what the set-up may be, the punchline is always going to be "To get to the other side". That pretty much sums up Hellraiser in a nutshell. Different creative teams telling different stories that all have the same ending: A bad person gets his comeuppance from The Lament Configuration and The Cenobites. Wow.

I had collected the Hellraiser series when it was initially released, and was never really impressed by it. I always kept being lured back to the next issue by the stellar creative teams, and kept feeling let down. Stupid me, I actually ordered the Limited-Edition Leatherbound Hardcover of "Collected Best", thinking that maybe I just didn't "Get" the stories as a teen-ager. No, they really DID stink....

There ARE a few good ones, don't get me wrong. Dead Man's Hand and Like Flies To Wanton Boys break from the standard Hellraiser mold, Dear Diary and Wordsworth hew close to that selfsame mold, but are well-told nonetheless. For My Son starts strong, but falls into the "Same Punchline" trap outlined above. It doesn't so much end as just STOP; I think there might be a page missing from the end of the story because, for a Fifty Dollar Limited Edition, the book is riddled with production errors. The final, crucial, dialogue panel of Mazes of the Mind is blank, thereby rendering the whole story pointless, and the final story, Losing Herself In The Part, has the majority of it's pages printed out of order. Not that the sloppy story is any better when read the right way. The two-parter "The Harrowing" was NOT written by Clive Barker, as widely advertised. He came up with the plot, and three other so-called "Writers" did the wooden dialogue. The Harrower stories were some of the WORST Helraiser stories EVER, and I really have to question their inclusion here. (One of the heroes is a little blue Cherub that kills Cenobites by FARTING on them, another is an escaped Death-Row Inmate who has lethal SPIT! Pure, unadulterated [stuff].) I'd advise any but the most hard-core fans to avoid this at all costs. A few good stories, but they're FAR outweighed by the awful ones. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excuse me if I fawn
I thought it was great, just great.

Carey functions within Gaimen's world, yet he goes way beyond stale imitation. Weaving together eclectic mythological influences, he makes a series that is very much uniquely his own. This series contains many elements I don't think many authors could make work. How do you build up, ehem, sympathy for the Devil? With a main character of such incredible skill and power, how do you put him in suspenceful situations. Similarly, how do you get him out of those situations without it looking like a silly Deus Ex Machina?

I've only read this first trade paperback of the series. Sure, there a lot of open questions, but that's the way it should be. This is, on the whole, a darker series than Sandman, it's mostly about despair and imprisonment, whereas Sandman conveyed a fair bit of hope and freedom. But you have to consider the main character.

Overall, the only comic to make me want to stick with the Sandman Universe.

Good start for a promising series
Positive reviews makes me curious about any comic book and I picked this one up with high expectations, after I finished I was a bit dissapointed because it didn't filled up all my expectations.
Lucifer series is a bit slow moving and vague for my taste but I heard that it gets better and I'm looking forward to read the next issues.Carey's writing is stylish and erudite and his main caracther is well developed.The art of Chris Weston is very good ;unfortunately he left off after issue 3 and was replaced by Peter Gross(Books of Magic).
In some parts Lucifer lacks narrative drive and demands attention because Carey loves cryptic sentences.Overall a good comic book but a little overated too.

Worthy of Neil
Okay, this isn't Neil Gaiman's genius level work. What is? But this is the first work I've seen in the Sandman universe that's worthy of Gaiman's imagination. It is compelling, horrifying, enthralling, and true.

Not Bad - But Not Gaiman...
In Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series, Lucifer Morningstar - the devil - was a fairly minor character. During the "Sandman" series Lucifer lost his wings, resigned from hell and went on to pursue other unknown activities. In "Devil in the Gateway" we finally learn what happened to him - that he started running a nightclub in LA. "Devil in the Gateway" contains three stories.

The first one tells us how Lucifer is being contracted - by none other than God almighty himself - to eliminate some ancient competition: terminate some
primordial gods. I think this was an interesting story, but it didn't have Neil Gaiman's "magic". It just didn't have "it".

The second story tells about Lucifer's encounter with an angel - an encounter which gives strange superpowers to a mortal. Again, this was an OK story, but I didn't find it to be particularly good.

The third - and the shortest - story tells about a young girl who has magical powers. Lucifer barely

appears in this story. Nevertheless this one was my favorite story - it was a definite improvement over the previous two.

All of these stories tie in together - but this pretty much happens in the next graphic novel. Overall, the stories were good, but felt unfocused, vague - and sometimes just plain cryptic. Even though this is Neil Gaiman's world, Mike Carey did not capture its spirit successfully. I was hesitating
whether to continue with the series, but (as I later found out) it is totally worth it. I recommend this graphic novel mainly because the sequel is much better!

Lucifer working for Heaven, but mainly for himself
It's been over a decade since Sandman #23, in which Lucifer closed up Hell, had his wings cut off, and (as we later learned) opened a night spot in L.A. Now he stars in his own saga, under a new team of writer and illustrators. The result is the most successful to date of the various attempts to keep the Sandman franchise going since the climactic events of Sandman #69. As is usually the case with compilations from an on-going series, "Lucifer: Devil in the Gateway" leaves too many loose ends to entirely succeed as a stand-alone graphic novel. Nevertheless, the cast of characters and original stories are very much worthy of its progenitor. The stories in this collection aren't really dependent on familiarity with the Sandman series to understand what's going on. Still, Gaiman's Sandman is a classic and the keystone of DC's Vertigo line to which "Lucifer" belongs, so I would recommend reading at least the collections "Preludes and Nocturnes" and "Season of Mists" first. Those who have done so are very likely to enjoy following these new tales of Lucifer. ... Read more