Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Collected Best Volume 1

by Neil Gaiman and Mike Mignola

One of the most popular horror movie series of all time spawned a landmark comics anthology edited by the Master of Horror himself. Featuring short stories illustrated by top-drawer comics talent like... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971024928
• ISBN13: 9780971024922
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Checker Book Publishing Group
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.0" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

beautiful

I just loved it.When I first opened it, it wasn't very apelling to me, and I took several days to start reading.The first story I found a little lame, but the art was beautiful.And then I started reading all the others stories.Man, I couln't stop felling that thrill, the stories are so great, especially the last one about the actress.It just gives you that chill in the spine combined with pleasure that Hellraiser gives.That thing about "you shouldn't open the box, but you HAVE TO open it" I gave it to a friend for birthday, but I'm definelly getting another one for me to keep. (sorry bad english, not the first language)

Well, it is, after all, the Hellraiser mythology...

Clive Barker's Hellraiser Collected Best I has some contributions that are just much, much better than others, but also some that are much, much worse. Fortunately none of the comics are completely worthless; when it comes to the storyline they're all well thought-out and some of them quite original, but quite frankly, style-wise some of the contributions don't seem to go very well with a story from the world of Hellraiser. Not that they're not great artists, because they're all highly skilled. But I just cannot see them as suitable for the realm of the Cenobites. But on the other hand, few things are as subjective as one's perception of art... And speaking of being subjective; the story entitled "Life Flies to Wanton Boys" from 1990, written by Bunny Hampton-Macks and illustrated by Scott Hampton, is a stunning story, perhaps one of the best ones I've ever read. Lemarchand's puzzle box is present in no more than two frames, and not Pinhead nor any of his fellow Cenobites make a single appearance. But that's perfectly fine, because it's such a great story, immensely beautiful and highly original. Easily the highlight of the book! Almost exclusively throughout the book, the theme of choice is punishment in Hell, resulting from earthly desires, and that's not very surprisingly when it's all about gnarly Cenobites and their funky torture-talents. However, believe it or not, but in one of the stories, not one single human being is killed! Not only that, this particular story even has a happy ending! (Well, actually, one more story has what can be considered a "happy" ending, but at least that one got some good old fashioned pain and suffering, too.) I've rarely, if ever, been disappointed with anything related to Clive Barker. Still, if you don't think horror is the sweetest thing in the world, then you'll probably not be too excited about Clive Barker's Hellraiser Collected Best I, either.

Tsanger Banger's Answers

This collects 12 stories (if you count Harrowing as two), though some early prepublication materials said there would be 13. The complete list can be seen by hitting the Table of Contents link on the upper left of this page. The Vault is not here, nor is Lips. Not sure on actual issue numbers, but years of publication are Dead Man's Hand (1989), Harrowing I and II (1992), For My Son (1992), Like Flies to Wanton Boys (1990), The Girl in the Peephole (1992), Wordsworth (1992), Mazes of the Mind (1990), Dead Things Rot (1992), Dear Diary (1992), Death Where Is Thy Sting? (1992), Losing Herself in the Part (1991). Hope this helps.

Excellent Graphic Collection

This collection of comics from the Hellraiser series is a must-own for any Hellraiser fan. The stories are entertaining, often complex, and beautifully drawn by the artists. Certain stories will keep you on the edge of your seat, while others will send you into a contemplative quandry for a time. The artwork alone is worth the price. Highly recommended for both Hellraiser and comic book fans.

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.