elbarto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Great art, not so sure about the writing
bravesirtoaster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
packagedseph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
just_fighting_censorship's review against another edition
4.0
This has all the Sala hallmarks, a secret society, assassins, serial killers, beautiful women, and people getting shot in the face. It wasn't as creepy and weird as some of his other stories, but it wasn't boring either.
At first you are overwhelmed by characters that seem random and unconnected but Sala pulls the story tighter and tighter the deeper you get. He constructs a nice morbid mystery, even if it feels a little convoluted at times.
At first you are overwhelmed by characters that seem random and unconnected but Sala pulls the story tighter and tighter the deeper you get. He constructs a nice morbid mystery, even if it feels a little convoluted at times.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite of Richard Sala's longer works. The story is complicated and bizarre and honestly it might not even all add up in the end, but I didn't really care. The plot is positively labrynthian. Psychics and Astrologers are being murdered. An out of work writer inadvertently begins investigating the case after finding an alluring photograph of a young woman, and becomes drawn into the deadly world of outsider art collection. A secret society of serial killers begins tracking down one of their own who mysteriously disappeared many years ago, but who may be making a comeback. Sala uses comic art to get at some aspects of mystery novels that have been largely forgotten these days; the art of misdirection for one. This is definitely worth a read for any comics buff as well as mystery or horror fans wanting to get into comics.
annie139d7's review against another edition
4.0
Such a weird noir mystery in a graphic novel, loved the art but the story was too convoluted for me.
nigellicus's review
5.0
What Akira did for E*X*P*L*O*S*I*O*N*S, The Chuckling Whatsit does for murders. Hardly a page goes by without some character getting murdered horribly, usually by a man in a hideous mask with a grotesque knife. Murder, murder, murder. But why? Who is killing all the astrologers? Is it the Gull Street Ghoul back again? What is the secret society called GASH really all about? And why are they in fear of Ixnay? Will poor Mr Broom find his way through the grotesque and intricate murder labyrinth to the truth and survive? Horror and noir and German expressionism and surrealism and murder all mix it up in a ghastly and delightful entertainment of murder and psychosis and dark shadows and evil deeds. Bloody briliant.