david_agranoff's review against another edition
4.0
During most of my life Clive Barker has been my favorite author, as far as professional heroes go he is one of them for sure. He has had a rough go of it lately. Lots of projects and books have been promised and only half of those (mostly films) have seen the light of day. Publishing wise Barker was dropped by his long time publisher after failing to deliver a collection of horror shorts called the Scarlet Gospels.
This collection has been rumored for almost a decade, and was said to feature Barker's return to the hellraiser-verse with a story about the death of it's villain Pinhead. Delay, after delay followed. In part because what was supposed to be a short story about Pinhead, became a novella, then as Barker kept writing it became a very, very long novel. The Scarlet Gospels became a separate project and different short story collection was said to be on the way.
Neither happened, I suppose Barker and the publishing powers that be had different ideas on how to market the work. The publisher claimed Barker couldn't stop revising it, or that he got distracted by other books(Mister B.Gone, Abarat 3) and film projects. Who knows for real.
Hellraiser is one of my favorite films ever, I am sure for Barker it has special place as it was his first film as director. So like many Hellraiser fans he helplessly watched as shitty sequel after shitty sequel was made with Pinhead that seemed to have little to do with his story. Personally I have found even Hellraiser 2 which Barker was somewhat involved with doesn't hold up well.
Barker clearly fell back in love with the story while workin on the Scarlet Gospels. Good thing because he decided to get involved in writing this graphic novel series. Not only does it return to the mythlogy of the story but follows the first stories heroine Kristy Cotton. After 25 years of haunting memories a trip to hell and back she has devoted herself to destroying the box and any gateway to hell.
Pinhead on the other hand is bored. The painand pleasure is all getting to be tiresome. Barker seems to be building up the character for a rebellion against hell. This is classic Barker, weird tools and gadgets. Deep non-tradtional mythos, and erotic horrors abound. This is the first Hellraiser story, since the first film that I could really get into. The art is perfect and disturbing.
Is it perfect? Besides a Pinhead that is a little to talkative and a throw-away lover for Kirsty it's pretty close to a perfect Hellraiser story.
aleoreading's review against another edition
5.0
5 out of 5 stars
Breathtaking writing and stunning visuals.
Just amazing.
Clive Barker is a mastermind of literature.
Breathtaking writing and stunning visuals.
Just amazing.
Clive Barker is a mastermind of literature.
aleoreading's review against another edition
5.0
Clive Barker is definitely my favorite writers of all time and an inspiration to me.
The art and story is so much better that the first volume.
But altogether is was a magnificent experience.
The art and story is so much better that the first volume.
But altogether is was a magnificent experience.
tobin_elliott's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great art, great story, and a great addition to the Hellraiser mythos.
What else do you want?
What else do you want?
catra121's review against another edition
4.0
This was GOOD...I really liked the turn this one took and I am really excited to read the next volume. Free with Comixology Unlimited.
cantrememberthedreamthatihad's review against another edition
5.0
***Review may contain very minor spoilers,but nothing past what is listed on the back of the volume.***
Generally speaking, I'm not a huge graphic novel fan. I have nothing against the medium, but I tend to prefer to create the images in my own imagination. That being said, I've come across some graphic novels that's have really been a treat, such as Neil Gaiman's Sandman series and Alan Moore's Watchmen.
With all that out if the way, I love Clive Barker's work, and his novella 'The Hellbound Heart' remains a magnificent work of horror that can still make my skin crawl with its gory sensuality. The Cenobites, amoral sense freaks are some of the most unique and fascinating creatures in all of the dark fantasy/horror genre. The first two Hellraiser films, the first of which Barker adapted from his original novella, remain among the most original and ferociously powerful horror movies of all time.
The graphic novel series, of which I've finished the first volume, serves as a sequel to the first two or three films. Kirsty Cotton returns, leading a band of those who have encountered, and survived, the sadistic denizens of hell, and seek to destroy every device that summons forth the Cenobites. Meanwhile Pinhead, the hell priest himself, tires of his existence and wishes to become human again, but must find a replacement.
While so many of the Hellraiser sequels failed to deliver on the promise of the first two films, this series seems to have successfully picked up the mantle and expanded the mythos. Looking forward to reading the rest.
Generally speaking, I'm not a huge graphic novel fan. I have nothing against the medium, but I tend to prefer to create the images in my own imagination. That being said, I've come across some graphic novels that's have really been a treat, such as Neil Gaiman's Sandman series and Alan Moore's Watchmen.
With all that out if the way, I love Clive Barker's work, and his novella 'The Hellbound Heart' remains a magnificent work of horror that can still make my skin crawl with its gory sensuality. The Cenobites, amoral sense freaks are some of the most unique and fascinating creatures in all of the dark fantasy/horror genre. The first two Hellraiser films, the first of which Barker adapted from his original novella, remain among the most original and ferociously powerful horror movies of all time.
The graphic novel series, of which I've finished the first volume, serves as a sequel to the first two or three films. Kirsty Cotton returns, leading a band of those who have encountered, and survived, the sadistic denizens of hell, and seek to destroy every device that summons forth the Cenobites. Meanwhile Pinhead, the hell priest himself, tires of his existence and wishes to become human again, but must find a replacement.
While so many of the Hellraiser sequels failed to deliver on the promise of the first two films, this series seems to have successfully picked up the mantle and expanded the mythos. Looking forward to reading the rest.
kokoro's review against another edition
2.0
Creo prefiero la película, ninguno de los humanos me pareció interesante y Kirsty versión novela es algo patética, hasta desee se la llevaran los cenobitas, únicos aciertos, lastima no hay desarrollo en estos personajes, . Al menos se lee muy rápido y es entretenida.
Spoiler
no aparece Pinhead, en su lugar está el Ingenieroscarrykid's review against another edition
dark
3.0
Ein sehr gutes Buch. Habe den Film vorher gesehen und muss sagen, das Buch ist deutlich besser. Die Zenobiten kommen nicht so viel vor, wie man es sich wünschen würde, aber ein gutes Storytelling aus der Sicht von verschiedenen Personen.