BLACK KISS OMNIBUS - graphic novel

Warning: This review addresses adult sexual and violent content. 

Let me be very clear ... I knew NOTHING about this book, or the series of comics. I recognize Howard Chaykin's name as an artist with both DC and Marvel comics back in the 1970's (when I was a regular comic reader). The cover suggested an erotic series and I've read a couple of very good erotic-themed graphic novels in the past. 

What I was not expecting was ... well ... this.

This is full of raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood. And don't get me wrong ... that's the good stuff!

It's also got some raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood that doesn't work so well.

This is not going to be a popular opinion given how ardent some of author/artist Howard Chaykin's fans can be, but this didn't work for me.

I need to note: when I downloaded my ARC from the publisher, it was not made me evident to me that my copy was NOT the complete omnibus edition. After doing some research (I shouldn't have to work so hard to make this clear to myself), it appears that I was granted the 2012 Black Kiss 2 sequel/prequel. For someone like myself, going into this blind, this was not helpful. This story - my story - starts in 1906 and through twelve chapters, ends in 2010. The main characters, who look very much alike (on purpose), span the century. Talk about confusing!

And the confusion grows when there seems to be specific people who are targeted for being killed, who also have voracious sexual appetites. And that sex is always the same. Same kink, same darkness, same ending.

It's not the gratuitous sex or overt violence that bothers me about the book ... I'm more than will to have adult-themed graphic novels ... it's the sameness about it. Same kinks. Same positions. Same violent killing. Yawn.

The artwork ... hmm. The artwork did nothing for me. In fact, I would go so far to say it was sub-par graphic novel art. Typically I love B&W art more than color, especially color done via a computer, but Chaykin's work here was much more sketch-like with the people simple and almost child-like:

I should have liked this book - it would seem to have everything I'd enjoy reading, but sadly I didn't. I found it confusing, disjointed, boring, and poorly drawn. In my search to understand what portion of the book I received as an ARC, I discovered there are a number of people out there who've been waiting a long time for this book. Fans of the series (which began in 1988) will be thrilled to get their hands on this book. I'm glad for them.

But for someone who didn't come to this already as a fan, but out of curiosity and the desire to read a good, mature graphic novel, I am not converted.

Looking for a good book? Black Kiss Omnibus (or Black Kiss 2) by Howard Chaykin underlines the word graphic in graphic novel. Fans won't need any encouragement to buy this, but those who aren't already familiar with the series may want to preview the contents before buying.

I received a partial digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

* * * * * *

Black Kiss Omnibus (Black Kiss 2)

author: Howard Chaykin

artist: Howard Chaykin

publisher: Image Comics

ISBN: 1534378316

hardcover, 400 pages

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KIM STANLEY ROBINSON: APPRENTICESHIPS IN NARRATIVE - Andrew Rowcroft

Image
I am a sucker for anything by or about Kim Stanley Robinson. Since I first read The Gold Coast sometime in the late 1980's or early 90's; I haven't missed any of his books since. So, when I see a book about Robinson, or examining his work, I'm all in. What I don't like, is reading a research paper, a university-style thesis, posing as a book. In classic research paper tradition, we begin with an introduction that tells us what we are going to read. Chapter by chapter, taking up nearly 15% of the book's pages, author Andrew Rowcroft tells us what we're going to read in. In detail. With 114 endnotes. There are six chapters .... well, five chapters and a coda ... dealing with different aspects of Robinson's work. But first ... what does "Apprenticeships in Narrative" even mean? In his introduction, Rowcroft notes: "This book argues that one of the most striking aspects of Robinson’s fiction is his concern with literary apprenticeship." ...
Read more

STAR TREK: YEAR FOUR - THE ENTERPRISE EXPERIMENT - graphic novel

Image
I am one of those faithful Star Trek fans who will gladly read stories (stories, novels, graphic novels) featuring the original Star Trek cast/crew.  When you add in an author such as D.C. Fontana, who wrote for the original series, and the excitement level for a book like this is high. The book reads like a classic Trek episode. Here, while the Enterprise is testing a new cloaking device (having stolen such a device from a Romulan ship) Kirk and Spock find themselves boarding the ship from a shuttlecraft  only to discover that they are out of 'phase' with the rest of the ship's crew. Only Lt. Arex is slightly visible to Kirk and Spock (due to some technical, fortuitous accident). It is during this time that the Romulans arrive, with Ambassador Sarek, and an old-fashioned pistol (phaser pistol) fight may ensue in the corridors. I will almost always have fun reading new adventures from my favorite starship crew, and I definitely enjoyed this, but scribe Fontana does some...
Read more

LAP DANCE LUST - Rachel Kramer Bussel

Image
WARNING: THIS BOOK AND REVIEW CONTAIN WORDS AND THEMES OF A SEXUAL NATURE I debated, a LOT, over whether or not I would even publicly post a review of this book. I mean, it's kind of embarrassing to admit to reading erotica. And yet the genre is one of the best selling subjects these days (thanks, in part, I'd guess, due to the anonymity that digital books afford) so why not read it (and, to be very honest, I was equally embarrassed to admit to reading Louis L'Amour westerns the first time I posted one of those reviews). I am not familiar with author Rachel Kramer Bussel so I'll trust Goodreads' quote that she is "one of the biggest names in the literary world of erotica." With nearly 200 works attributed to her name (many as editor) she's certainly got some experience with the genre. Overall I was impressed with the quality of the writing.  I have to admit to going into this expecting some really cheesy writing with the sole goal of getting the reader...
Read more