Book Description

Steven is afraid.Afraid of ghost stories, afraid of growing up ... just afraid.That is, until he meets the mysterious Showman and his Theatre of the Real.Steven takes a ticket and watches the show on a dare, but getting out of the performance will be harder than he ever imagined.And Steven learns what it is to be truly afraid. Neil Gaiman, internationally acclaimed writer of both prose fiction (Neverwhere, Stardust) and graphic novels (The Sandman, Signal to Noise) and artist Michael Zulli (The Sandman, The Dreaming) team up to create this dark and brooding morality tale.Originally published as part of the short-lived Marvel Music line of the early `90s, this stunning trade paperback features sepia-colored ink on cream paper to better showcase the lush beauty of Zulli`s duoshade artwork in an affordable 6x9 format. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

ALICE COOPER; THE SHOWMAN OF THE GRAND GUIGNOL!
Neil Gaiman is one of the most inventive, respected and popular writers of fantastic fiction for many years now. His run on Sandman for DC Comic's Vertigo has put him in the league of other comic book greats like Alan Moore & Frank Miller...Alice Cooper is a rock legend, forgotten by many, but still... in the world of rock n roll. Alice paved the way for just about every popular "shocker" in the last thirty years.. He is the original showman, an Alice Cooper concert is a trip into a nightmare of violent acts and brutal punishments of torture, usually inflicted on Alice himself... But when Alice Cooper had an idea for a new concept album, he summond the talents of Mr. Gaiman to pen a story to bring his album to life... The story is about a young boy named Steven (a character first met in Alice's greatest solo album "Welcome to My Nightmare") who is the [brunt] of everyone's jokes...he's a scardy cat, and on a few days before Halloween, the boys come across a hidden theatre in the city and encounter a strange man in a top hat with creepy face paint (obviously Alice). The man offers one of the boys a ticket to his show...Steven is chosen and he steps through the doors alone into a nightmarish world where all of his fears will attack him and the mysterious showman will try to steal his soul.

This book is a must for Alice Cooper fans...

Something Well Wicked This Way Comes
In a marketing event guarenteed to drive you nuts the first part of this 3 part series was initially given away free with the last temptaion CD.

This however is the collection and tells the background story of the Alice Cooper Last Temptaion CD. The story is loosely based on Something Wicked this Way Comes (a fact acknowleged in the book (check out Stevens school book)

The Story is competantly told as you'd expect from Niel Gaiman but the star hear is Zulli who makes Aices dark ringmaster look spectacular whilst keeping the air of shlock menace about him.

If you like Alice Cooper or Neil Gaimans work this is a worthy addition to your collection.

Best Book Ever !!!!!
I am a huge Alice Cooper fan and this is the best book ever,well for me at least.This is a tale about a boy named steven always afriad and the brunt of all the jokes. Until Alice invites steven in a hidden theater. After the first comic we follow steven as Alice trys to steal stevens soul. I recomand this to any Alice fan or Niel Gamien fan. Thank You for Reading my review and I hope it is helpful.

Last Temptation, as viewed by a fan.
As of right now, there are 8 reviews for this item ahead of me. Very mixed reviews. With that being said, let us continue.

Having been a Neil Gaiman fan for several years, being weened on The Sandman and Stardust, I had fairly high hopes for this graphic novel. Upon purchase, I sat down and read the dark tale in a matter of about 30 minutes. I was impressed by the fine artwork and twisted story, but overall I felt a little let down.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great read, but if you're expecting Sandman caliber work in Last Temptation then you should just press the back button now. The story was rather predictable and, I felt, was rushed into a mere three parts, or "acts," as they're called in this novel.

Overall, a fun read and a must have for Gaiman fans, but don't expect too much.

One Of Gaiman's Weaker Efforts
I thought the story and the art were both very predictable. Themes familiar from the rest of Gaiman's work made only brief appearances. The art was too clearly a promotion for Alice Cooper. I enjoyed reading it, but it is nowhere near the calibre of _Sandman_. ... Read more

Book Description

This Eisner-nominated anthology mini-series brings the best of Clive Barker's Books of Blood short stories to the comics medium. Barker's work is brought to a stunning visual realization by comics' greatest artistic talent: John Bolton, P. Craig Russell, Klaus Janson, Tim Conrad, Bo Hampton, Stan Woch, Hector Gomez, and more. Collected here are such horror classics as "Skins of the Fathers", "Human Remains", "In the Hills, In the Cities", "Down Satan", "How Spoilers Bleed", "The Madonna", "Pig Blood Blues", and "The Midnight Meat Train" . . . just to name a few. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Falls flat frequently !
Originally I was attracted to this title after playing the PC game CLIVE BARKER'S UNDYING. Highly atmospheric in its conversion from text to interactive graphics, the game left most players with a chill, a tingle - that would haunt and could not be shaken off easily. The graphic novel, however, left me with a bland, dull taste - and with an unquenched thirst of the paranormal. The artwork was apt, the ideas provided were original, the premises were even commendable. However, somewhere along the path of story development and conversion, the psychotic-horror tinge misses its mark. There is no cherishable after sensation to savour. Also sometimes, one needs to grope for the ideas for the 'read between the lines'. 'Pig Blood Rules', `Midnight Meat Train' - were the only well-rounded stories I remember with warmth.

Awesome concept, brilliant artistry!!!
This is one of the coolest things I've ever come by. The psychotic stories of Clive Barker transferred to the graphic novel format. Some of the very best Barker tales are chosen for this collection. The artwork completely captures every aspect of the disturbing yet poetic brilliance of Barker's stories. Bravo! A little spendy, but worth every penny. Trust me! As a die-hard Barker fan, I can say that any admirer, passive or devoted, will love this collection.

Great idea pulled off with excellence
The stories from Clive Barker's The Books of Blood are ideal for a graphic novel adaptation because of their visual intensity and visceral power. Here Barker and various artists have made a series of comic books in the tradition of EC comics but with stories more powerful and with more depth than the old comics ever achieved. Although I like Stephen King's comic homage, Creepshow, Tapping the Vein is a much better buy and contains adaptations of some of the most original short stories I've ever read. The combination of great artwork and great storytelling make In The Hills, The Cities the best. And the great artwork for Pig Blood Blues adds much to this lesser Clive Barker story. One dissapointment is that I didn't care much for the artwork for The Skins of the Fathers, my favorite of the stories chosen for this collection. Still fan's of Barker's The Books of Blood will love this collection. I'm eager to see more adaptations like this, especially for his stories, The Last Illusion and Rawhead Rex.

Myth, Fantasy, and Horror from Clive Barker
Tapping The Vein is a collection of Clive Barker tales - originally from the Books of Blood I believe - that were adapted to comic stories and published by Eclipse comics. The new edition from the Checker Publishing Group contains reprints from the Eclipse books.

The artwork throughout is first rate and favorite illustrators include Scott Hampton, John Bolton and Tim Conrad. The book itself is a handsome, well produced volume that was printed in Korea on thick glossy paper and has a sturdy you're-getting-your-money's-worth feel.

The stories themselves are something of a mixed bag. While they are of generally high quality, the volume contains not only horror but also fantasy, some of it with a mythic quality. They are generally well written and interesting but whether or not you will enjoy them all depends on the type of story you like.

Being a horror buff, The Midnight Meat Train and Pig Blood Blues were personal favorites. If one prefers myth, Human Elements and In the Hills, the Cities are entertaining. The remaining stories are generally fair and offbeat as well.

The problem with the volume is that horror fans expecting wild EC style comics from the Hellraiser creator are apt to be disappointed. On the other hand, someone who wants stories a little out of the mainstream in a fairly diverse collection should be pleased - provided they aren't easily offended by such sexual topics as homosexuality, bestiality, and transgenderism. (For the record, the reviewer is not.)

If you're looking for something different from the biggest horror phenomena since Stephen King definitely buy the book. But if you're looking for good old fashioned EC type thrills and chills check out the available EC collections or Bruce Jones marvelous comic Twisted Tales that was published by Eclipse and is long missed. ... Read more

Book Description

A sinister presence stirs among the charred rubble of what used to be Sunnydale High. It seems that the ghost of Sunnydale’s former Mayor has a bone to pick with Buffy. Now, on top of dealing with her nightmares about a certain raven-haired, trash-talking former Slayer, she’s got a body-snatching, blood-sucking, poltergeist stalking her every moment she’s awake. Buffy’s left to face the thing without knowing whose hand guides it, armed only with an enigmatic message from Faith: "You’re already dead." Fans of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show should not pass up the most Faithful collection of Buffy comics ever! Jane Espenson, long-time writer for the Buffy TV series, brings you the first and only appearance of Faith in comics, picking up directly from the Season Three finale! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not very good
I checked this book out of my local library, and boy was I glad I hadn't bought it because after the fourth chapter i wanted to stop reading. It really is a boring book compared to other buffy books, such as child of the hunt, or note from underground.I would recemend not buying this book.

"Well, Gosh!"
You just can't keep a bad Slayer down - not in Sunnydale, at least!

Buffy finds herself up against a body-hopping nightmare with attitude - a single intelligence animating all sorts of evil undead nasties, with a special taste specifically for her and her Scooby Gang. What - or who - could it be? Buffy's best clue should probably be who is suddenly haunting her dreams: Faith the Fallen, still in coma in the hospital, but active as hell on Buffy's psychic psyche. Every time the battle-weary Slayer falls asleep, her arch-nemesis combats Buffy in "Dreamland" - a place Faith has learned to navigate especially well, given the several months she's been in that netherworld between life and death. Which raises the old question as to whether or not, if one dies in a dream, they will also die in real life - but then (so Faith informs her), Buffy is already dead...

Veteran Buffy series writer Jane Espenson penned this little goodie, which heralds the welcome arrival of that great diabolical duo, Faith and the Mayor - yes, the discarnate intelligence stalking the Scoobies is, of course, the Mayor (which is revealed in the opening panels, so I'm not spoiling anything) - to Buffy's comic book adventures. The artwork, in common with all the Buffy graphic novel series, is spotty - sometimes good, sometimes not so good - but the story is strong, and the writing of Faith and especially the Mayor is fabulous. There are also some nice tie-ins between the third and fourth season of the show (when this story is set), bridging the demise of Sunnydale High and Buffy's discovery of the military underground Initiative.

Given that the evil Mayor Wilkins is such a nerd, there's as much humor as horror to this particular story, making it one of the most entertaining the series has to offer. Perhaps his own exit line from Season Three - the best ever, in the show - sums "Haunted" up best: "Well, gosh!" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The "Rebirth" of Vampire Manga
I just read "Rebirth" Vol. 2. It was extremely good. "Rebirth" is a classic story of "well-meaning scientist and very attractive daughter accidentally resurrect ancient vampire and team up with novice exorcist to help vampire lift evil curse of evil sorcerer of light." The story is a little cliche for vampire manga, but the art is very good and most of the lines are pretty well written.

The problem is that, as with all good manga, it grabs you and makes you sit there with your nose to the paper, glued to the story, for an hour or so. At this point, you flip through the omake (extras) at the back, put down the book, frown, and head back to the bookstore to dish out more money to see how it turns out. I suppose it's worth it, because as manga goes, "Rebirth" is pretty cheap. My reccomendation is either to not buy it at all or to buy all the volumes of it that the bookstore has. If you read it, you'll like it, but you'll also be spending a lot of money. Borrow it from a friend if possible, but "Rebirth" is worth your money.

Island cameo!
John, Pan & Miwa(? the rich girl--I forget her name other than it means fox) put in a cameo at the temple--comparing the groups--dark(Pan & Deshwitat), light(John & Millenear) & good-for-nothing(Miwa & Remi). This series is getting interesting(ok, a bit predictable--the light magician is evil, the dark magician must save the world). Shades of Bastard!(no, not as consistantly funny & Dark Schneider is the coolest dark magician turned hero around) & others with an eye to role-playing fantasy games, the art & story are cool enough to be entertaining. To defeat Kal, Deshwitat must learn light magic(ok, I'm reminded of the cold spells bit against Efreet in Bastard, but that was a one-shot & this is basic to the plot for our hero to learn)(Yeah, Rett Butler's reminding me of Gara the Ninja Master so far in personality). There's a bit more back-story & we see what Kal's been up to while Desh has been sealed up for 357 years. ... Read more

Book Description

In the midst of its hottest summer, the town of Sunnydale faces the worst infestation of insects anyone has ever seen. Innocent people have begun to transform into giant, demonic insects. Buffy and her friends have to find a way to stop the supernatural force that has got everyone buzzing, literally. Light up some citronella candles, remember to close the screen door, and join us for the crunchiest, gooey, most creepy-crawliest adventure in the history of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Novelists Tom Fassbender and Jim Pascoe reveal Buffy’s horrible summer between her freshman and sophomore years of college with the help of the fan-favorite Buffy art team of Cliff Richards and Joe Pimentel. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hive and Go Seek
Everyone has a little bug problem or two during the summer. Ants in the kitchen, wasps in the picnic, they are all part of the grand scheme of things. Ancient creatures trying to get on in a world full of Raid-bearing humans. It only figures, though, that if Buffy were going to have an infestation problem they would be larger than life and twice as nasty. Welcome to the summer of Buffy's fourth season.

Buffy has already had one confrontation with these bad news bugs during the term. She and Riley barely managed to stop the infestation and they thought they had solved the problem. But, that was then, and this is now. When the ghost of a vagrant killed by a vampire puts Riley into a coma, Buffy is back on her own, and worried to distraction. While she desperately tries to hunt down the cause of the ghosts anger the bugs show up - right in the middle of Giles date with a beautiful librarian. Giles loses and Rebecca the cataloger disappears.

Now both Buffy and Giles are at their wits end. Fortunately, the rest of the gang is there to pitch in. Even Spike tries to do his part. Tara and Willow find out that the insects are Urukhai, cheerfully bent on the conquest of the earth. Even as the magical duo start to work on supernatural insecticide, it is obvious that the team is in for a tough struggle. To or three really bad vampires are one thing, but thousands of superbugs the size of Volkswagens is an entirely different challenge.

This is the perfect summer graphic comic. Lots of fiend bashing, suspense, and, if you count Giles, even some romance. Fassbender and Pascoe once again turn out a potboiler, and Richards and Pimentel get it down beautifully on glossy paper. Now you can worry about things that go 'chitter' in the night. ... Read more

Book Description

"And then they killed me."Kolchak finds himself on death's door in defense of a beautiful woman with strange powers. Rekindling a part of him he thought extinguished, she haunts every thought his mind can hold. What is her secret, and why are so many willing to kill to control it? And how will Carl survive the twin bullet shots to his body and soul? ... Read more

Book Description

A thrillogy of emotional, macabre & blood-sucking tales that will leave you breathless! This volume contains the critically acclaimed first three graphic novels based on the White Wolf role-playing game: "Toreador," "Nosferatu," and "Ventrue." A tale of a tempted TV show host, a beauty queen whose masquerade of a mortal life is viewed from the mirror of a forbidden world, and the twisted "who's who" tale of two female friends and a suspicious new boyfriend are but mere tasty morsels of what awaits you between these pages. Things are never quite what they seem like in Vampire the Masquerade... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Some nice art, mediocre stories
The artwork is an improvement on the earlier volumes. The stories are action/plot oriented; some character development. A standout scene occurs near the end of "Dracula," which shows intensity that is lacking in some of the other stories, acting like a point of culmination, when tension is pushed to near breaking.

The stories are not as complex and well-developed as vol. 3, in my opinion. But unlike the popular vote around here, I did actually enjoy the premise of "Dark Horse," not for the plot or character interaction, but merely for the concept of bloodlines and acquired traits and the twist at the end. It's not particularly noteworthy otherwise, but it's clever. (Only because I study genetics and biology do I find it interesting.)

I've enjoyed the other volumes (1-3), and 4 has its moments, but the stories lack the greater depth and complexity found in 1-3. Worth the price if you're wanting to collect the entire series. But it might be worth waiting for a revised edition without the typos found in this edition.

Count D rules!
I love Petshop of Horrors. But compared to the previous 3, this book is kind of feels like an intermission rather than a continuation of the story. "Digital" was a little sad, but not as tragic as "Delicious"; "Flowers and the Detective Pt.1" was a wonderful interlude that gives proof that Count D has precognitive powers; "Dark Horse" was kinda lackluster, but its not as bad as people say. I thought Count D and Leon were hilarious at the race track (escpecially how Count D does a "Yoink!" on Leon's ticket from his jacket!); "Flowers and the Detective Pt.2" was one wierd acid trip on Leon's part, too bad we didn't get to see his "next morning" reaction as Count D hinted. I loved the part where Leon was feeding Pon-chan (D's tanuki/magic raccoon)! ; "Dracula" was great, especially when the vampire first shows up and molests Count D and Leon walks in on them ^_^ And their next encounter was funny too!
On a final note, I hate it when people call D a crossdresser. Fact: Formal cheongsam for men are long-sleeved while the ones for women are either short-sleeved or no sleeves at all. But Count D prefers flowery prints-type of fabrics instead of the more solid colors of traditinal male chengsam, so I guess D is "fruity," but crossdresser? Nah. And oh, "Dark Horse" might make Count D seem like he dabbles in "bestiality" (I.e. getting googly eyed about a horse's perfect rump), but in truth, he just really likes pretty things in contrast to Leon's more "sexual" attractions.

There are other volumes that stand out in my mind...
This is PSoH, so I can't say that I *didn't* like this book.
But I can't say I really liked it either.

It's unfortunate that this volume was such a let down. After being positively thrilled by volume 3, I was anxious to see what would happen next. Unfortunately I was treated to some rather empty and--heaven forbid--boring stories. "Dracula" was probably the best, and the "Flowers & The Detective Pt.1" was mildly entertaining. All the stories seemed rather underdeveloped or rushed, and really didn't do much for the continuity of the story.
Another nag I had with this volume was the constant punctuation mistakes in the sub-texts (and since there's lots of subtext, this is very noticiable). Hopefully TokyoPop will reissue this volume later with corrections.

If you're new to PSoH, pleeease don't base your opinion of the series on this book. Check out one of the previous volumes and come back to this one when you simply need more of Leon and Count D ~_^.

Count D/Leon forever!
Dracula was pretty cool, but Dark Horse seemed pointless. I couldn't really care any LESS about bloodlines (no offense to those who do)...

I really didn't get the point of the second plant one (though the first one was alright. I suppose we see that Count D has a huge effect on Leon).

Digital was great, especially when Leon...nevermind. =D But when Leon uses the line "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?", I was laughing my butt off ranting how "Leon and Count D belong together". The people sharing my hotel room stayed far away from me.

All-in-all, I'm glad it's in my collection, but I'll never read Dark Horse and the 2nd plant chapter again.

a few bobbles, but overall very enjoyable
I agree with chiisuchi that the Dark Horse episode was a bit of a puzzler, but I found it fun nevertheless. I was far more confused by "Flowers and the Detective Part 2." I also had some issues with some of the translation, but I've come to expect that with anything Tokyopop does. Nevertheless, I had been waiting for this volume for months, and I enjoyed every second of reading it. D and Leon continue to have a wonderfully suggestive relationship, and the whole thing is tons of heebiejeebie-inducing fun. I think this manga (and the too-brief anime series) is really underappreciated. Tokyopop says there shouldn't be such a long wait for volume 5 -- thank goodness!! ... Read more

Book Description

Cal McDonald has made a career helping and hunting the dark creatures that haunt the world, and has made as many friends as he has enemies. Among the docile ghouls of the city he is a friend. But to most, those who prey on innocent human lives, Cal is a sworn enemy. After years of cases, Cal finds himself in the middle of the strangest adventure of his life. People are dropping dead all over Washington, D.C., and the cause is a mystery. The bodies are unmarked, yet all brain matter is missing from their skulls; in fact, the brains are completely gone¨. In the tradition of the hardboiled fiction of Hammett and Chandler, Savage Membrane takes readers on a bizarre trip through an America populated by monsters, freaks, and ghouls. In the dark corners of the everyday world, strange beings walk among us. They live as postal workers and taxi drivers, lurking in the sewers and roaming the streets, ever awake and always on the hunt. And only Cal McDonald has the special talent for spotting and seeking out what most of us will never see. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A breath of fresh air
Like a cross between Kurt Russel's character in Big Trouble in Little China and F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack, Cal more or less stumbles on solving cases than actually figuring anything out himself.Both humorous and scary, Cal McDonald is a character for the times, not to be missed.

Let's Hunt Monsters
Cal McDonald was once a cop.He has seen the dark that inhabits our world.His best friend is a ghoul.But still, most of the world refuses to believe in the creatures that walk among them.Now Cal has been called by an old cop buddy to look into some very strange happenings.Bodies are starting to turn up.Bodies where the brain is completely missing with no signs as to how they were removed.

The case reminds Cal of an old case that should be closed.Could something similar be happening again all these years later?The search for the answers will take Cal to the scene of the previous case and ultimately to the sewers and other tunnels under the city.There he will have his final confrontation with this new horror.

Cal McDonald is an interesting character.He is rare in that he believes the evidence of his own senses.At the start of the book the tone is similar to a classic hard-boiled detective tale but it quickly develops its own flavor and style.I had fun reading this one and look forward to the next one. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The devil you know? He's worse than the devil you don't.
Midnight Nation is a heavily allegorical comic book that draws on classic biblical themes to tell a story about people who "fall through the cracks" in life. Although it starts off as a straight-foward story about a man who journies to reclaim his soul (at least, straightfoward for JMS), it evolves simultaneously into a much bigger story, and a far more subtle one.

Included is my all-time favorite single issue of any comic book, "The Devil You Know" (issue #4). JMS isn't known for having many stories with an obvious moral in them, so when he does include one, he makes sure it's good. In short, JMS uses the world he created extremely well to tell a story about the dangers of fear and not accepting responsibility for your life. (But that brief summary doesn't even begin to do this issue justice.)

Although "The Devil You Know" can almost stand alone from the rest of the book, the moral in it sets the stage for the entire series, and defines what Midnight Nation all about.

I highly recomend this book. Once it gets going in the later issues it you can really see it distance itself from other comic books, and presents a far more subtle and well crafted story than even JMS is typically known for.

Flawed, but well worth the read.
This comic has got a number of flaws in it as most readers will recognize relatively quickly, but once you get going you just cant stop, and by the end one finds themselves (or at least I found myself) so wrapped up in the story, that JMS could have injected pink floating hippo's into the story and I would have accepted it and moved on. This is a mental avalanche that just cant be stopped once you get into it. One of the best parts for me actually (and this rarely happens but i assure you in this case its a good thing) the introdcution by JMS was one of the better parts of the book for me. Just a little bit of biographical info that made the whole thing seem just that much more real, personal and poignant to me.

All in all a great book. Highly reccomended!

Filet of Soul
Cop's soul is sttolen. Cop is not pleased. He goes for a long walk to get it back. Yes, I'm leaving out a lot of the good bits (Laurel) but I don't want to be a spoilsport.

One reviewer compared this to Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" because of the "slipping between the cracks" lost people imagery. It's not a stolen idea, or if it was it was stolen from someone else a long, long time ago. It's a recurring theme in societies with large populations. There have always been and probably always will be people who just get lost. It's a frightening thing to us.

My opinion: I really liked this one. It's dark, but not obscure. The darkness in this comic is not gratuitous or unnecessarily violent or just there to get some emotions stirred up in people. It's crafted and placed and worked into something that's like wrought iron. And the themes in it; the things that people in despair think, the hopelessness; those are real things. The fear, the stories about going nowhere, those are real.

It's like holding two strong magnets with their oposite poles together. You see nothing but you can really feel it, like a shape made by that unseen force that has a texture. You expect your fingers to be able to touch it but there's nothing there; you can only feel how it's making the things you hold react. This story doens't put all the ideas in but you can feel them, taste them, see them by their lack. They are as clear as the patch of paper left unbleached when you take a picture off old wallpaper.

There's temptation and despair and anger, and a little humor. There's the dregs of your soul and what keeps you going even when you've got nothing left. Duty, but it's never named. It really touched some feelings in me. It's real art.

But like art, different people will see differnt things in it and some will see nothing at all; the art that will touch them is not the same as the art that touches me. I could say that some people will get it and others won't, but that sounds patronizing. And people throughout their lives change; someone might get it at one point and then not get it later... You see what I mean, and that's more a rant about art than about this comic in particular.

My favorite part is that for all the social themes there's not a hint of patronization or holier-than-thou attitude in the tone of this book, and I can smell that bull a mile off.

Much better than i think some reviewers give it credit for
This was a really good book. Especially for a comic book. It was one of those dark, gritty, realistic(ish) comics but not as dark as Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns or Kingdom Come. Some little touches i liked, like how they had to walk and how the story unfolds over 12 months. And Lazarus' character, although not there for long, was pretty neat. But one thing really bugged me. This comic comes pretty close to being a knock off of Gaiman's 1998 novel Neverwhere. Neverwhere, of course, is much better, which stands to reason since novels generally have more room. In this case, Neverwhere had more characters (there are only 2 characters of any significance in Midnight Nation; space constraints?) and the hero was a dweeb, not a tough-as-nails cop protected by an invincible badass. Did MN copy Neverwhere, which came out ~5 years earlier? i don't know. But it sure seemed like a tough cop comic book knock off. Despite that, i really did like this story

Certainly not a masterpiece, but enjoyable
I was not impressed with J. Michael Straczynski's RISING STARS and had written him off as of several years ago. Last week, however, I picked up his rewrite of Marvel Comics' Squadron Supreme, SUPREME POWER, and was blown away. That got me looking for anything by JMS that I may have missed in the interim. The shop owner handed me MIDNIGHT NATION, saying that it was definitely worth the cover price. I can't agree with that, but I certainly didn't hate it.

MIDNIGHT NATION boils down to two basic themes: hope vs. no hope, and making up for past mistakes. David Grey has put everything second to his job on the police force, including his marriage. An encounter with some supernatural beings hospitalizes him, and, slipping into a coma, he enters a "shadow earth", populated with the forgotten and marginalized of society. He is, unfortunately, marked for a greater, more horrific purpose by the ruler of this realm, so he must journey on foot with his guardian/guide Laurel to New York, where he may have a chance to regain his soul. Along the way, he comes to realize the errors of his life, as well as how many inhabitants of this other world are in the same situation. Overall, it's a great quest story with a Twilight Zone flavor and a few doses of allegory. What made it a difficult read for me, however, was the dialogue: it's pretty formulaic and stilted. I hate it when writers use unwarranted conflict to build plot and characterization. This is especially apparent during David's arrival in the Midnight Nation - his meeting with Laurel, et al., is a tedious exercise in who can sport the biggest attitude. Also, while Gary Frank's pencils have definitely improved over the years, he hasn't quite shuffled out from under the Image Comics style in this book. As another reviewer mentioned, almost every female character in this book is unnecessarily drawn in some type of pin-up style, from high school guidance counselors wearing mini-skirts to ex-wives always walking around in panties or taking showers.

The "really good" about this book is that it reads somewhat like an early Stephen King story (quite reminiscent of THE STAND). Also, it's fairly long, so you won't finish it in a day. Finally, included as an afterword of sorts is MIDNIGHT NATION 1/2, a.k.a. "Precious Objects", written by JMS and beautifully illustrated by Michael Zulli. Originally available as a mail-away through Wizard Magazine, this was my favorite part of the collection. ... Read more

Book Description

The Goon and Franky have been best friends ever since they was tykes. Find out how the two little ankle-biters became best pals and how they muscled their way into the rackets of big-time crime-boss, Labrazio - who, incidentally, nobody's seen in a while. This trip down memory lane ain't gonna be no joyride, neither. Franky and the Goon are going to have to take on a horde of zombies, an army of hoboes, a couple of grave robbin' freaks, a guy with a gold head and his killer robot, a pie-crazed skunk ape, one homely, man-crazy sea hag, and a whole lot of other things that smell just as bad, if not worse. Pick up a copy, because those uptown rich people may have the cops and their G-men, but down here all we got is the Goon! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

spooky and magical
This series was the first series I ever bought in comic book form and it was a great way to start off too. Ted Naifeh, who has done illustrations for Gloomcookie and the Nocturnals, started his own series.
Courtney Crumrin moves to her great uncle's house with her parents. The house is located in a suburb, which gives Naifeh the opportunity to mock suburban life through clever writing and very well done illustrations.

There are four stories in this volume,
the first is our introduction to Courtney, her great-uncle, and parents and the neighborhood.
the second, Courtney secretly begins to practice magic
the third, Courtney has her first babysitting job and her first journey into Faerie
the fourth, maybe a story that would make more sense after reading the first three

Looking back on what I've written, I don't know if I've really conveyed what I liked about this miniseries. The writing is good, the illustrations are good. Courtney starts out not being the most sympathetic of characters, she's sharp tongued and generally pretty grumpy and doesn't much like people. However, as the plot progresses you grow to like her which sets this series apart. The stories are told with genuine heart, and there is emotion, danger and character development.

As in any good fairy tale, there's also the hint of violence beneath the surface. And there are a few people who do get eaten, Naifeh's world is dangerous as well as magical. On the whole it's one of my favorite series. Check out Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics, which is even better. ... Read more

Book Description

Horror Classics is an anthology of great fiction adapted in comics form for readers of all ages. This tenth volume of the Graphic Classics series presents stories by eleven of the original creators of the horror genre, including H.P. Lovecraft's "The Thing on the Doorstep," Edgar Allan Poe's "Some Words with a Mummy," and W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw." Plus Saki, Balzac, Jack London, Olive Schreiner, Bret Harte, Howard Garis, Fitz-James O'Brien and Clark Ashton Smith. With art by Michael Manning, Richard Jenkins, Gabrielle Bell, Ryan Inzana and nine more great illustrators. ... Read more

Book Description

Emily Spook's reputation in the indy art scene is growing. Her paintings have a devoted following and the ranks of that group continue to swell more every day. Emily should be thrilled but instead she's terrified. You see, ever since she was a young girl, Emily has been somewhat of a hostel for ghosts. Visitors from the ether would drop in for a few days or a month or even years and from those specters Emily would draw inspiration. But lately the ghosts have disappeared, leaving Emily alone and unable to touch a canvas. When Simon's consciousness first shows up inside Emily's skull she's relieved, but before long she's fallen into the same web of mystics and murder that ended Simon's life. Can the unlikely pair discover the truth about Simon's gruesome death or will Emily join the spirits she's played host to all these years? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Spooky thriller!
I gave this dark, spooky thriller 5 stars because of the incredible illustrations by Ross Campbell. Emily is so expressive - you can feel her anguish. The story itself gets 4 stars because Johnston wraps up the ending too fast. I'm not really sure what road Emily is going to choose, but I sure do hope that he's writing a sequel so I can find out and that Campbell will be doing the illustrations! ... Read more

Book Description

Doc Horror knows there are sinister forces at work trying to bring the downfall of the human race. They have already ravaged his home planet, and now he has traveled to Earth to try and stop them once and for all. Once here, however, he finds that this world's inhabitants aren't all sweetness and light themselves. Some of them are busy creating freakish mutations out of their fellow man, and others are helping the invaders in their quest for domination. An outcast, Doc Horror is forced to live by the dark of night, and there he finds compatriots who must also shun the light of day. Polychrome, The Gunwitch, Starfish, Firelion, Komodo, and The Raccoon have all their share of knocks from humanity, but they want to save their homeworld anyway, and they don't care how many monsters stand in their way. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun, violent, creepy horror graphic novel
"Nocturnals: Black Planet" was my first exposure to the Nocturnals, and I'd recommend it as a good place to start the series (in fact this book collects the first six issues of the Nocturnals).

The Nocturnals are essentially a bunch of misfits and freaks (I won't spoil any of their origins or specific abilities here, that's part of the fun in reading Black Planet) who have run-ins with both the mob and a strange alien menace. Outcasts from society, they band together and seem to form a real family, even though they are what most would consider to be "monsters." The action, pacing, and violence are all intense, and the main characters are truly well-conceived and have some neat abilities. The book is plotted pretty tightly and flowed nicely; I found myself having to reread the beginning a bit just to make sure I understood what was going on and who the characters all were, but that wasn't a big deal.

The book isn't illustrated in a traditional "comic book" fashion. Instead, each panel in the book is essentially a painting, and most are extremely well done. I don't know a lot about art, but I'd kind of describe them as looking a little like watercolors, as there's a lot of color blending and few sharp edges. They look very nice. In addition to the six issues collected in this book, there is a pin-up gallery in the back that has all the covers as well as full-page color art by a variety of artists inspired by the series.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror comics, gunplay and mobster violence, pulpy action (of the more the violent persuasion, like the Spider), and Lovecraftian critters and weirdnesses. I definitely plan on picking up the other Nocturnals graphic novels.

Best. Comic. Ever.
Dan Brereton is one of the most amazing artists I have ever seen. His books are a treat to read, his paintings literally a feast to the eye. To even call Nocturnals a comic is almost an insult. This is sequential art at it's best. Do yourself a favor and order this book!

Not Just a Brilliant Illustrator
Dan Brereton is nothing short of a genius. I actually picked up one of the individual comics of this collection several years ago, intrigued by the art. Then I fell in love with the characters and story line, searching all of the local comic shops for years to get the whole story. Halloween is, without a doubt, my favourite time of the year and Dan Brereton has made it into a believable year 'round exisitence. The symbolism and imagination is all there, with the D.B. added magic. Everytime I hear that Mr. Brereton is putting out another story I anxiously await its release. I would recommend this, or any other Nocturnals story, to any lover of the great "graphic novel" or art, as the art is what really sets this apart from the pack. For any "Halloween Girl" (or Boy), it is a must have in your collection!

Nocturnals shall live again!
Nocturnal's Black Planet is a compliation of previously release issues. It wasn't given the recognition it deserved due to the over-population of other new comics at the time. Dan Brereton is the creator of this epic. He vividly & lusciously illustrated each and every panel to a point where you can sense it. The story consists of what you don't see often enough these days...imagination. Isn't that what comics try to aim for? To enhance visually and intellectually? Nocturnals exceeds in both fields and then some. It has elements of fantasy, horror, and even a little comedy. All in all, making it a well worthwhile journey. If you enjoy Nocturnals, spread the word. Also, if you would like to see more, go check out The Crow: Shattered Lives & Broken Dreams, which features the Nocturnals in a short story. ... Read more

Book Description

The fabulously creepy story of The Ring takes a side step from the plot of the original Japanese film, taking the reader into life after all of that tragedy and mystery. And guess what? Sadako, the psychic killer, isn't so easily disposed of. Drafted wonderfully by the adept Meimu, Ring 2 takes the reader into the life of Mai Takano, after her beloved Professor Ryuji is killed by Sadako. Adding to the sci-fi element, both Mai and little Yoichi, son of Ryuji and Reiko, have developed psychic powers and are often haunted by the powerful Sadako. Ring 2 takes on the kind of sci-fi action and horror reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Whoa...
Koji Suzuki, Ring (Vertical, 1991)

So you've seen The Ring. Or, better yet, the Japanese film Ringu. Or both. (You should watch both. See Ringu first.) Or you haven't. It doesn't matter. You must read Ring.

The story is relatively similar, but both Nakata and Verbinski took very large liberties with the original text (for example, both made Asakawa's character female-- which allowed the world to get weak-kneed at seeing Nanako Matsushima and Naomi Watts gracing screens again, but was otherwise seemingly gratuitous), including some major messing with the backstory. So if you've seen the films, the book will be familiar, but will still end up being a whole new experience.

Asakawa is a reporter. He was disgraced a couple of years ago during a sudden, unexplained outburst of popularity of stories about the occult in Japan (though you don't find out exactly how early on). One night, on the way home, he catches a cab, and he and the driver strike up a conversation about an event that happened a month previously to the cabdriver: a kid on a motorbike died of sudden heart failure. The death is eerily similar to that of Asakawa's niece on the same night. And from that coincidence, Asakawa starts to research the connection between the two deaths, which turns out to be far more than he bargained for.

What made for a creepily effective thriller on screen actually reads more like a hardboiled detective thriller (those familiar with the premise will note the obvious similarity to certain crime films of the past, notably D. O. A.). Suzuki keeps the horrors even farther offscreen than did Nakata (and the difference in the "revelation" at the end will surely startle those who are expecting the same kind of special-effects extravaganza Nakata used as a payoff), focusing on the mystery and the bond between Asakawa and his best friend, Ryuji, who gets involved in the investigation with him.

The book's flaws are minor, and conducive to mystery writing. Asakawa's edtor is a dead ringer for Tony Vincenzo (the editor in "Kolchak: The Night Stalker"), and a few of the other minor characters are about as shallow. Still, there are less obvious "kill me" characters running around, and the minor characters aren't really given enough screen time to make it an issue.

Compelling, well-written, expertly translated, and full of twists, even for those who have seen the movie. Highly recommended, and a shoo-in for this year's ten-best list. **** ½

A great read!
After seeing both Ringu and The Ring, I had to read the novel that inspired it all. It's the same basic story from the movies: people watch a strange video and die exactley seven days later. The beginning of the book should be familiar to those who have seen the movies. However, as the story continues, it proves to be very different from either film. It's intricate, creepy, mysterious, captivating and often quite disturbing. The translation is very smooth despite what you may have heard and it was an easy read. It's such a great modern horror tale that's written so well, you'd think it could actually happen. If you've seen the film, read the book to see where it all started. Can't wait for the next book in the trilogy: SPIRAL

Added Substance to the Well-Known Plot
Being a big fan of both "Ringu" and its American remake "The Ring," I was intrigued to read the book that started it all. As one might suspect, much of the plot will be very similar to those who have seen one or both of the films. However, the book does hold a few of it's own surprises.

Asakawa is a reporter who unintentionally comes across a story while taking a cab home from work. The cabdriver is explaining how a young man died on the street one day right next to his car. The day and time he notes that the event took place is the same day and time that Asakawa's niece died. Both deaths were described as sudden heart failure. Odd coincidence? Further digging reveals that two other young adults died the same night, at approximately the same time, from the same strange unknown cause. Asakawa's investigation leads him to a resort in the woods, where he discovers and watches the infamous mysterious videotape with the odd, surreal images. Asakawa enlists the aid of his friend Ryuji, a philosophy professor, to help him solve the riddle and save his life. Together they are in a race against time to survive an ill fate.

The two gradually peel away layers of a distant past, and a child named Sadako who was known to have psychic powers. What is Sadako's wish? What is the ultimate purpose of her tape? Will Ryuji and Asakawa discover the truth in time to save themselves?

Some of the differences between the book and the movies are small, such as the fact that the main character in both films was female while the reporter and main character in the book is a male. In addition, the age difference between the reporter's child in both films was slightly older than the child in the book. However, there are some major differences as well. I loved the differences in the plot surrounding Sadako and her mother, as well as the video Sadako mentally produced. The process of discovery varies immensely as well in the book, and for the better in my opinion. The book did a wonderful job of keeping the tension level high as Ryuji and Asakawa painstakingly researched every tidbit of information they could ascertain from the videotape. Every aspect every step of the way is described with great detail and in a way that is easily understood by the reader. The author never asks the reader to take any great logical leaps. Yet another big difference is the way that the deaths of Sadako's victims are described. Clearly the directors of both versions of the film took a great deal of artistic liberty in this area, which is what was needed in order to make this book into a scarier film. Don't get me wrong, the story is still quite intense and even scary. However, it is quite different in the form of text. Suzuki focuses on the thrills and the detective-like inquiry rather than the in-your-face horror and vividly gory description that might have detracted from the plot. Furthermore, the bond between Ryuji and Asakawa and their clashing personalities are expertly described and make for an intriguing side-plot.

Overall this is a great book that any fan of the movies, or even horror or suspense in general, should definitely read. Koji Suzuki gives the reader a slightly different and highly unique spin on the well-known films that should not be over-looked. I most definitely look forward to reading "Spiral" and "Loop" next!

Pretty good....
Ring of course the movie is based on this book; in Japan it was released on the title Ringu, and it was remade in America as The Ring staring Naomi Watts. Now of course the book is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the American version. Investing the deaths of four young people, under their autoposy showed they died from heart failure. Now Asakawa a reporter is now investing the death's of these young people. Now he traces their steps to this hotel he rents for the night. It is then he discover's a tape that is unmarked. On that tape is a strange images on the tape. At the end of the tape it say's whoever is watching this tape will die in seven days. So now with only a couple of more day's to live, he the teams up with a serial rapist Ryuji to help him discover some of the images on the tape. One of them being a volcano in rural Japan. As they get deeper, it gets scarier! In a long time, I have never read a novel that chilled me through the bones. Koji Suzuki has been called the Stephen King of Japan. This novel is worth reading to anyone who wants to be scared. Especially King fans.

A very nice story...
This is a sharply, almost scientifically written horror story. The author manages to offer a modern view of Japan society as it tries to put together a very objective and technological life style, along with very subjective issues as ethics, culture,
traditional family links, etc. One of the principal characters is a researcher who does science this way; combining an older philosophical and spiritual approach with modern knowledge of biology, physics, and others. All in all, my particular opinion is that this is an excellent book telling a very smart and entertaining horror story. The book is better and deeper than the japanese movie which in turn is superior to the american version. ... Read more

Book Description

Ivan Isaacs was once a priest. Devoted to his faith he would have given up anything for it. Then the establishment he believed in turned on him, sending him headlong into Hell. Now, he's back. With the priesthood now corrupt with demons, the undead and black prayers, he has returned with the help of the demon Belial, a voice in the darkness who offered Ivan a chance at vengeance, in exchange for his soul. With his six-shooter, a bowie knife at his side and the white collar of his former life adorning his neck he is a lost pale rider in a barren Wild West where past and future collide. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Priest...seen it before, but never this cool
First, I will admit that a lot of the elements presented in Priest has been done before in several movies. But never has so many cool elements brought together in one story. For the people expecting this to be a gothic/scary book, don't pick it up. It's mainly an action manga with a slice of cool. The first two volume is fast place. Ivan Issacc, the protagist is kind of like Spawn. The next two volume explore his past and reveal more of the story so the reader can get a better understanding. What some closed mind reader will tell you that it's just "this" and just "that"...it's highly complex. You question the motive of the character, the desire and ambition each character present. The presentation is truely excellent. The cover/text/panal/art is carefully crafted to make it highly enjoyable...it's different from typical manga.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who like fast action manga. It puts religion in perspective and testes faith and love. Love over relgion? Religon over love? If you like Berserk, Spawn or anything dark with action, then pick this up.

Fast Paced Horror in the Old West
This manga is a wonderful start to a series. The main character is a Priest who cursed God, and sold half his soul to a demon. In return, he was given immortality, and a quest to destroy a rival demon.

These facts are only sparringly revealed through short flashbacks, and this helps add to the drama. However, drama does not appear to be the main focus of this series. The focus is on action and no-holds-barred fighting, all of which takes place in a western setting.

This book is almost cover-to-cover action, from train hijacking to assaults by the undead. It is definitely not for younger readers due to the vast amounts of blood-letting, but there is no real carnage beyond this. Still, the book's suggested audience is 16+, and I whole-heartedly agree.

Beyond the violence, this is a great opener to what promises to be a very memorable series.

More like 2.5 stars
I picked up a copy of "Priest" from Borders. I scanned through it: trains... zombies... zombies on trains... zombies on trains being killed by religious leaders... Wow! Sound good! The first book wasn't terrible, however this is basically a review for the entire series. It's a very, very typical plot about a man who sells his soul to the devil: the overused plot has been disguised with the setting (old west) and the fact the character is a "priest." I got the next couple of books, to find out that it was the same thing: gore, gore, gore, gore, blood, zombies, blood. A reason that I got the next two books was because I was left somewhat confused by book one (although there wasn't much to understand) and I believed that the loose ends left from book one would be explained. It was like a little, graphic novel mystery. As soon as I understood everything from book one, there were more "mysteries" to solve. There are much, much better, action, gore graphic novels out there.

Cons:

1.Plot? Plot! Who needs a plot?
2.It seems as if there was another artist who filled in once, and the style changes somewhat.
3.Not suitable for younger teens.
4.Poor religious grounding. A well-researched comic book is always better.
5.Okay, there was plenty of zombie killing in book one and two, do we really need an excess?
6.No key for the Korean (right?) sound effects.
7.The main character had minimal personality and no character development.
8.The human proportion needed work: tiny heads and tall, twig like people.
9.Tries hard to be "goth." I don't say that it fails, but it's definitely not what I want to see in a comic book.
10.That "Jenna" (unsure if this is the correct name) thing it overplayed.

Pros:
1.Interesting and detailed pen and ink drawings.
2.Setting (old west).
3.Steam trains... steam trains are great...
4.It's like a 1980's horror movie in graphic novel form!
5.Has gotten many good reviews.
6.The sort of "mini graphic novel mysteries" which are explained above.
7.Instead of black drawings on white, it's more white drawings on black, which is a nice visual effect.

Uniquely entertaining
Since there is plenty of plot summary to be found in the reviews below, I'll concentrate on why "Priest" is a unique,moving and enthralling series.
My first bit of praise has to go to the artwork, which is hands-down the most 'western' of any manhwa/manga I've read. It defies both the typical Korean and Japanese cartoon styles, and indeed the author says that he was influenced by the stark black and white style of "Hellboy" and spaghetti westerns. Although I'm in love with the cover paintings, the inside art is equally as wonderful, even if it is different.
As for the storyline, in this first book there is precious little for a shoujo fan to look for, as it primarily focuses on violence, massive zombie slaughtering and vengeance. This may turn some off, but the tragedy that is Ivan Issacs life reveals itself slowly over subsequent books. There is a bit of romantic tragedy that I found was similar to that in Wuthering Heights even. And the religious politics and secrecy are certainly very realistic and true to life. But the supernatural is dealt with equally as well, as it appears that Hyung has done his homework in regards to apocryphal allusions. And lets not forget that this whole things plays out in a demented vision of the old west, which adds an unusual dimension to the story.
As the series doesn't have an ending yet, I find this to be a surprising and unique series in a genre filled with overused plots and ideas.

It's gothic, 'cause it has the word 'Priest' in the title
I've seen a lot of horror flicks and such in my life. Nowadays, the horror genre becomes predictable, unconvincing, boring, and not-so-scary. This Korean manga, or manhwa as people call it, is no exception. Well, that's not entirely true, there are a few good things.

I love the concept in its artistic value. Although the overall design in Priest is just so-so, when it comes to scenes with the negative effect, it actually makes the design look a lot better than it originally was.

If there's one thing that peeves me about Priest, it's the linear storyline. Here's how it sets up: Some guy died, then a supernatural devil revived him, and now he's an inhuman monster-slayer sworn for revenge; same as how Spawn sets up. Also, what is up with that train sequence? Every suspenseful, deus-ex-machina action scenario always took place in a train sequence. I know this is western-themed, but man, that's just getting old.

The brutal, bloody action scenes did much to bring some enjoyment in this manga, but they were not all that convincing. Let's face it, what I see from the cover is what I get in this book: over-the-top action, an antagonistic hero with a dark past, bland stereotypes, and an amalgamation of monsters. With books like that exisiting, even better, like 'Berserk' and, of course, 'Spawn', why would I need to read the same thing?

Priest did entertainment me, but it's just generic at heart. Go right ahead and add this to your collection if you're into action-horror, but otherwise, don't expect much more to this title. ... Read more