GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

No !, 21 Nov 2008
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Demononic, 01 Nov 2008
This has the themes of war between Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, good and evil. It's narrated by a medieval demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell and is set in the 1400s. It's blood thirsty, vicious and gruesome to read, but strangely addictive. Constantly being told to stop reading and burn the book was annoying until I realised that this was the whole point of the tale and was a gimmick to emphasise what words can achieve and the changes they can effect on the world. I felt the story was a little slow at times but a brilliant innovation, nonetheless. Maybe if Barker had made the book a little longer and expanded on the demon's adventures I would have enjoyed this more. As it stands, it's not what I have come to expect from Barker and so was slightly disappointed.

Whimsical and original, 19 Oct 2008
Clive Barker is without doubt a remarkable imaginer. This powerful gift of imagination that he possesses provides us mere mortals such as me some of the most wonderful stories available. One of Clive Barker's strengths as a novelist to my mind is that while most of his stories are contained within the realms of dark fantasy fiction each one is unique. Many of the books that are on the top ten bestseller lists are stories by authors who follow a formula from book to book, tedious, boring, tired, aged old repetitive narratives. Clive Barker is not predictable in this manner and his latest offering, the excellent "Mr B. Gone" yet again gives his readers something fresh and whimsical to savor. "Mr B. Gone" is a little gem of a book, and a worthy 5 star entry to my review list. I also would like to tip my hat towards HarperCollins publishers, as they have done an exceptional job on the production of the book (USA hardcover version only); it really is quite an amazing object. It's a facsimile of a book that could have been printed in the epoch that "Mr B." is set in. They did a brilliant job of the "Abarat" hardcover books also. Speaking of Abarat, Abarat 3 will hopefully be with us next year, Sept/Oct 2009! I certainly hope so!

Seriously turgid, 23 Sep 2008
Mister B. Gone

Seriously turgid rubbish. Barker is better than this book thank god. He must have had some serious problems during the writing of this painfully bad volume, that must surely be the only excuse.

Barker pens a sinsister change-of-pace, 13 Sep 2008
Clive Barker let's loose his inner demon, literally in a tome reminiscent in tone to "The Yattering and Jack."

"Burn this book." The title character exclaims, and begs, and pleads as he is the book and he is talking to you, the reader. Burn it? No, I found it too entertaining. In fact, When coffee got spilled on mine I quickly ordered a new copy for my library.

The Demon in the book, I won't say how he go there but I will say that when Gutenberg invented movable type and set to print mass quantities of a certain religious text, Hell was not amused and set to stop the event. So, who is Mr. B. Gone and how does he fit into this? Well, he's a demon named Jakabok Botch (not sure the spelling here) who begrudgingly gives up his story -- how he was horrifically burned by his father, escaped hell quite by accident and made his way through our world -- in return for your promise to burn the book when he's done.

This is really a novella, a really long - short story. The only issue I had was the constant rambling about "burn this book" that crops up at every chapter mark, I skimmed over and read the meat of the book instead. Some other people should learn the same trick.

What I find funny is that people give really high-marks to the Audio Book read by Doug Bradly (Pinhead from Hellraiser) and really low marks to actual book. Guess you can't find your own voice!

This is a really good, little, sinister piece that would be right at home in the Books of Blood.

So Read this Book.

GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

No !, 21 Nov 2008
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Demononic, 01 Nov 2008
This has the themes of war between Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, good and evil. It's narrated by a medieval demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell and is set in the 1400s. It's blood thirsty, vicious and gruesome to read, but strangely addictive. Constantly being told to stop reading and burn the book was annoying until I realised that this was the whole point of the tale and was a gimmick to emphasise what words can achieve and the changes they can effect on the world. I felt the story was a little slow at times but a brilliant innovation, nonetheless. Maybe if Barker had made the book a little longer and expanded on the demon's adventures I would have enjoyed this more. As it stands, it's not what I have come to expect from Barker and so was slightly disappointed.

Whimsical and original, 19 Oct 2008
Clive Barker is without doubt a remarkable imaginer. This powerful gift of imagination that he possesses provides us mere mortals such as me some of the most wonderful stories available. One of Clive Barker's strengths as a novelist to my mind is that while most of his stories are contained within the realms of dark fantasy fiction each one is unique. Many of the books that are on the top ten bestseller lists are stories by authors who follow a formula from book to book, tedious, boring, tired, aged old repetitive narratives. Clive Barker is not predictable in this manner and his latest offering, the excellent "Mr B. Gone" yet again gives his readers something fresh and whimsical to savor. "Mr B. Gone" is a little gem of a book, and a worthy 5 star entry to my review list. I also would like to tip my hat towards HarperCollins publishers, as they have done an exceptional job on the production of the book (USA hardcover version only); it really is quite an amazing object. It's a facsimile of a book that could have been printed in the epoch that "Mr B." is set in. They did a brilliant job of the "Abarat" hardcover books also. Speaking of Abarat, Abarat 3 will hopefully be with us next year, Sept/Oct 2009! I certainly hope so!

Seriously turgid, 23 Sep 2008
Mister B. Gone

Seriously turgid rubbish. Barker is better than this book thank god. He must have had some serious problems during the writing of this painfully bad volume, that must surely be the only excuse.

Barker pens a sinsister change-of-pace, 13 Sep 2008
Clive Barker let's loose his inner demon, literally in a tome reminiscent in tone to "The Yattering and Jack."

"Burn this book." The title character exclaims, and begs, and pleads as he is the book and he is talking to you, the reader. Burn it? No, I found it too entertaining. In fact, When coffee got spilled on mine I quickly ordered a new copy for my library.

The Demon in the book, I won't say how he go there but I will say that when Gutenberg invented movable type and set to print mass quantities of a certain religious text, Hell was not amused and set to stop the event. So, who is Mr. B. Gone and how does he fit into this? Well, he's a demon named Jakabok Botch (not sure the spelling here) who begrudgingly gives up his story -- how he was horrifically burned by his father, escaped hell quite by accident and made his way through our world -- in return for your promise to burn the book when he's done.

This is really a novella, a really long - short story. The only issue I had was the constant rambling about "burn this book" that crops up at every chapter mark, I skimmed over and read the meat of the book instead. Some other people should learn the same trick.

What I find funny is that people give really high-marks to the Audio Book read by Doug Bradly (Pinhead from Hellraiser) and really low marks to actual book. Guess you can't find your own voice!

This is a really good, little, sinister piece that would be right at home in the Books of Blood.

So Read this Book.

Wonderful novel, but be careful about the edition, 24 Nov 2008
"Frankenstein" is one of those books one ought to have read, and, as is rarely the case, one that also thoroughly rewards the reading. The figure of the monster is a remarkable creation, and the narrative itself is compelling. For that reason, five stars, without a doubt. However, I've given this edition four stars largely as a warning to students of the novel: this presents the 1818 text, which contains substantial differences to the 1831 text that is more common nowadays. While this (the 1818) text may be more acceptable in scholarly circles, you may well encounter frustrations if others (and in particular teachers) are referring to passages in the later, revised version of the text. Where this book excels, as most Oxford editions do, is in the quality of the editorial material on hand, which is genuinely useful and illuminating. As long as you know what you're getting, you will be very happy with this edition, but if in doubt, check.

The 1831 text is available in the Wordsworth classics edition. Unfortunately, it is much less well served in terms of notes and introductory material.

GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

No !, 21 Nov 2008
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Demononic, 01 Nov 2008
This has the themes of war between Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, good and evil. It's narrated by a medieval demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell and is set in the 1400s. It's blood thirsty, vicious and gruesome to read, but strangely addictive. Constantly being told to stop reading and burn the book was annoying until I realised that this was the whole point of the tale and was a gimmick to emphasise what words can achieve and the changes they can effect on the world. I felt the story was a little slow at times but a brilliant innovation, nonetheless. Maybe if Barker had made the book a little longer and expanded on the demon's adventures I would have enjoyed this more. As it stands, it's not what I have come to expect from Barker and so was slightly disappointed.

Whimsical and original, 19 Oct 2008
Clive Barker is without doubt a remarkable imaginer. This powerful gift of imagination that he possesses provides us mere mortals such as me some of the most wonderful stories available. One of Clive Barker's strengths as a novelist to my mind is that while most of his stories are contained within the realms of dark fantasy fiction each one is unique. Many of the books that are on the top ten bestseller lists are stories by authors who follow a formula from book to book, tedious, boring, tired, aged old repetitive narratives. Clive Barker is not predictable in this manner and his latest offering, the excellent "Mr B. Gone" yet again gives his readers something fresh and whimsical to savor. "Mr B. Gone" is a little gem of a book, and a worthy 5 star entry to my review list. I also would like to tip my hat towards HarperCollins publishers, as they have done an exceptional job on the production of the book (USA hardcover version only); it really is quite an amazing object. It's a facsimile of a book that could have been printed in the epoch that "Mr B." is set in. They did a brilliant job of the "Abarat" hardcover books also. Speaking of Abarat, Abarat 3 will hopefully be with us next year, Sept/Oct 2009! I certainly hope so!

Seriously turgid, 23 Sep 2008
Mister B. Gone

Seriously turgid rubbish. Barker is better than this book thank god. He must have had some serious problems during the writing of this painfully bad volume, that must surely be the only excuse.

Barker pens a sinsister change-of-pace, 13 Sep 2008
Clive Barker let's loose his inner demon, literally in a tome reminiscent in tone to "The Yattering and Jack."

"Burn this book." The title character exclaims, and begs, and pleads as he is the book and he is talking to you, the reader. Burn it? No, I found it too entertaining. In fact, When coffee got spilled on mine I quickly ordered a new copy for my library.

The Demon in the book, I won't say how he go there but I will say that when Gutenberg invented movable type and set to print mass quantities of a certain religious text, Hell was not amused and set to stop the event. So, who is Mr. B. Gone and how does he fit into this? Well, he's a demon named Jakabok Botch (not sure the spelling here) who begrudgingly gives up his story -- how he was horrifically burned by his father, escaped hell quite by accident and made his way through our world -- in return for your promise to burn the book when he's done.

This is really a novella, a really long - short story. The only issue I had was the constant rambling about "burn this book" that crops up at every chapter mark, I skimmed over and read the meat of the book instead. Some other people should learn the same trick.

What I find funny is that people give really high-marks to the Audio Book read by Doug Bradly (Pinhead from Hellraiser) and really low marks to actual book. Guess you can't find your own voice!

This is a really good, little, sinister piece that would be right at home in the Books of Blood.

So Read this Book.

Wonderful novel, but be careful about the edition, 24 Nov 2008
"Frankenstein" is one of those books one ought to have read, and, as is rarely the case, one that also thoroughly rewards the reading. The figure of the monster is a remarkable creation, and the narrative itself is compelling. For that reason, five stars, without a doubt. However, I've given this edition four stars largely as a warning to students of the novel: this presents the 1818 text, which contains substantial differences to the 1831 text that is more common nowadays. While this (the 1818) text may be more acceptable in scholarly circles, you may well encounter frustrations if others (and in particular teachers) are referring to passages in the later, revised version of the text. Where this book excels, as most Oxford editions do, is in the quality of the editorial material on hand, which is genuinely useful and illuminating. As long as you know what you're getting, you will be very happy with this edition, but if in doubt, check.

The 1831 text is available in the Wordsworth classics edition. Unfortunately, it is much less well served in terms of notes and introductory material.

STUNNING!, 05 Jan 2009
If you are new to Hellboy and are unsure of where to start with the series, then this edition is by far the best choice. The library edition contains the equivalent of two trade paperbacks, Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil. The first story introduces Hellboy and two major supporting characters, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman. Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story of Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The second story is even weirder than Seed of Destruction, introducing a myriad of gods and demons hailing from nearly every mythology and religion you can think of. Both Stories are fantastically told, well written and engaging. The myriad of different creatures make the stories all the more fantastic and enjoyable.

However, such great stories wouldn't be the same without great artwork to support them. Something that Hellboy has in abundance. Seed of Destruction has a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows. Wake the Devil contains the same flair and style as Seed of destruction; however the artwork feels brighter and fresher.

The overall quality of this volume is stunning. The paper quality is vastly improved over the standard trade paperbacks with the larger pages making the incredible art work all the more breathtaking. The presentation is fantastic with generous supplementary materials and a fabric hardcover that makes the book feel all the more expensive. The paperback editions are enjoyable, however they are flimsy and dont do Hellboy justice. The hardcover edition maybe more exspensive, however the extra quality is worth paying for.

GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

No !, 21 Nov 2008
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Demononic, 01 Nov 2008
This has the themes of war between Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, good and evil. It's narrated by a medieval demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell and is set in the 1400s. It's blood thirsty, vicious and gruesome to read, but strangely addictive. Constantly being told to stop reading and burn the book was annoying until I realised that this was the whole point of the tale and was a gimmick to emphasise what words can achieve and the changes they can effect on the world. I felt the story was a little slow at times but a brilliant innovation, nonetheless. Maybe if Barker had made the book a little longer and expanded on the demon's adventures I would have enjoyed this more. As it stands, it's not what I have come to expect from Barker and so was slightly disappointed.

Whimsical and original, 19 Oct 2008
Clive Barker is without doubt a remarkable imaginer. This powerful gift of imagination that he possesses provides us mere mortals such as me some of the most wonderful stories available. One of Clive Barker's strengths as a novelist to my mind is that while most of his stories are contained within the realms of dark fantasy fiction each one is unique. Many of the books that are on the top ten bestseller lists are stories by authors who follow a formula from book to book, tedious, boring, tired, aged old repetitive narratives. Clive Barker is not predictable in this manner and his latest offering, the excellent "Mr B. Gone" yet again gives his readers something fresh and whimsical to savor. "Mr B. Gone" is a little gem of a book, and a worthy 5 star entry to my review list. I also would like to tip my hat towards HarperCollins publishers, as they have done an exceptional job on the production of the book (USA hardcover version only); it really is quite an amazing object. It's a facsimile of a book that could have been printed in the epoch that "Mr B." is set in. They did a brilliant job of the "Abarat" hardcover books also. Speaking of Abarat, Abarat 3 will hopefully be with us next year, Sept/Oct 2009! I certainly hope so!

Seriously turgid, 23 Sep 2008
Mister B. Gone

Seriously turgid rubbish. Barker is better than this book thank god. He must have had some serious problems during the writing of this painfully bad volume, that must surely be the only excuse.

Barker pens a sinsister change-of-pace, 13 Sep 2008
Clive Barker let's loose his inner demon, literally in a tome reminiscent in tone to "The Yattering and Jack."

"Burn this book." The title character exclaims, and begs, and pleads as he is the book and he is talking to you, the reader. Burn it? No, I found it too entertaining. In fact, When coffee got spilled on mine I quickly ordered a new copy for my library.

The Demon in the book, I won't say how he go there but I will say that when Gutenberg invented movable type and set to print mass quantities of a certain religious text, Hell was not amused and set to stop the event. So, who is Mr. B. Gone and how does he fit into this? Well, he's a demon named Jakabok Botch (not sure the spelling here) who begrudgingly gives up his story -- how he was horrifically burned by his father, escaped hell quite by accident and made his way through our world -- in return for your promise to burn the book when he's done.

This is really a novella, a really long - short story. The only issue I had was the constant rambling about "burn this book" that crops up at every chapter mark, I skimmed over and read the meat of the book instead. Some other people should learn the same trick.

What I find funny is that people give really high-marks to the Audio Book read by Doug Bradly (Pinhead from Hellraiser) and really low marks to actual book. Guess you can't find your own voice!

This is a really good, little, sinister piece that would be right at home in the Books of Blood.

So Read this Book.

Wonderful novel, but be careful about the edition, 24 Nov 2008
"Frankenstein" is one of those books one ought to have read, and, as is rarely the case, one that also thoroughly rewards the reading. The figure of the monster is a remarkable creation, and the narrative itself is compelling. For that reason, five stars, without a doubt. However, I've given this edition four stars largely as a warning to students of the novel: this presents the 1818 text, which contains substantial differences to the 1831 text that is more common nowadays. While this (the 1818) text may be more acceptable in scholarly circles, you may well encounter frustrations if others (and in particular teachers) are referring to passages in the later, revised version of the text. Where this book excels, as most Oxford editions do, is in the quality of the editorial material on hand, which is genuinely useful and illuminating. As long as you know what you're getting, you will be very happy with this edition, but if in doubt, check.

The 1831 text is available in the Wordsworth classics edition. Unfortunately, it is much less well served in terms of notes and introductory material.

STUNNING!, 05 Jan 2009
If you are new to Hellboy and are unsure of where to start with the series, then this edition is by far the best choice. The library edition contains the equivalent of two trade paperbacks, Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil. The first story introduces Hellboy and two major supporting characters, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman. Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story of Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The second story is even weirder than Seed of Destruction, introducing a myriad of gods and demons hailing from nearly every mythology and religion you can think of. Both Stories are fantastically told, well written and engaging. The myriad of different creatures make the stories all the more fantastic and enjoyable.

However, such great stories wouldn't be the same without great artwork to support them. Something that Hellboy has in abundance. Seed of Destruction has a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows. Wake the Devil contains the same flair and style as Seed of destruction; however the artwork feels brighter and fresher.

The overall quality of this volume is stunning. The paper quality is vastly improved over the standard trade paperbacks with the larger pages making the incredible art work all the more breathtaking. The presentation is fantastic with generous supplementary materials and a fabric hardcover that makes the book feel all the more expensive. The paperback editions are enjoyable, however they are flimsy and dont do Hellboy justice. The hardcover edition maybe more exspensive, however the extra quality is worth paying for.

Lovely!, 24 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed this, found it much easier to read then any other Austen I have tried but that may be a result of getting familiar with the language. Once again Austen does not disappoint with the range of characters to love, hate, laugh at/with and those you just want to punch!! Another fabulous escape into a wonderfuly written world of romance and chivalry. Highly recommended!

Charming and thought-provoking about imaginations, 29 Jun 2008
Northanger Abbey is not Jane Austen's best known or read work which is really a shame, because it is quite charming. I love the way, Austen's work are as relevant, entertaining, and thought-provoking now as when they were written in the beginning of the 19th century.

Northanger Abbey is the story of a would-be heroine, Catherine Morland, who accompanies the Allens to Bath. Here she is thrushed into a world, the likes of which she has only read about in novels. There are parties, drama, charming young men, and her new friends Isabella and Eleanor. And the intrigues: Catherine's brother is engaged to Isabella, and Isabella's brother fancies Catherine. Catherine on the other hand has affection for Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey. Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey and oh, you should read the story instead of me just relating it.

Norhtanger Abbey is also about storytelling and the recent popularity of Gothic novels. It is about the imaginations of Catherine and pretty much every other character in the book. Everyone has their own imaginative approach to the world they live in and these worlds collide.

Something I find very enjoyable in Northanger Abbey, is Austen's active narration. Once in while, she pops in, speaking of herself in the first person and subtly whispers in the ear of the reading. It is marvellous.

Louise.

YAWN!, 05 Jun 2008
I love Jane Austin and decided to buy the complete works and read the the less popular books.

I started with Persuasion, which I enjoyed and had sympathy and liking for the characters. I was glad when the main characters got together. I then moved onto Northanger Abbey. I'm afraid to admit, it's one of the worst and most boring books I've read for a long time. I perservered to the bitter end, at which point I slammed the book shut in disgust. I know this book is considered to be amongst her greatest and wittiest, but I thought it was shallow, and totally characterless. Her heroine was a complete drip and lived on a different planet. The 'hero' was sarcastic and unpleasant to the heroine, and I found him completely unattractive in his dialogue and his behaviour. From the moment he arrives on the scene it hadn't occured to me that it was him who was going to the main love interest. He behaviour is so odd, and effeminate! Certainly not a Mr Darcy!!! To be perfectly honest, if Jane Austin had suddenly decided to be a bit radical and have all her characters killed off by some crazy serial killer it would have been quite a relief.

It was just so ludicrous and unbelievable. for instance our hero and heroine are riding together towards Northanger Abbey for the first time, and Catherine is very excited about staying in a REAL abbey, and how romantic and exciting it will be. Then the hero spends the next couple of pages going into detail as to what is going to to happen to her, scaring her witless, with tales of a storm and a strange cupboard in the room etc. Anyway, as it turns out she experiences almost the exact same thing as he describes. Perhaps it was supposed to be funny, but I just found it tedious and I could not understand why the hero had said all those things to her in the first place to scare her, when he was so apparently ardently in love with her.
Or his weirdo Father.
Everyone else seems to love it, but boy, I thought it was a complete bore. It felt like a book that she had knocked out to get quick cash. Although I hear it was her first.

I didn't give up on Jane Austin, I then went on to read Mansfield Park, which I loved and liked most of the characters. Although her heros tend to be a bit blind and stupid to the manipulations of beautiful women, and that's somewhat frustrating. But a good yarn nonetheless.

In my opinion Northanger Abbey is the worst. In fact, way up in the most boring books I've ever read.

A different Austen, 25 May 2008
Northanger Abbey is the shortest of Austen's major novels, but like the others it is a delightful read.
Maybe the most ironic of the six and the one in which Austen reveals her opinions through the voice of the narrator the most clearly.
We are introduced to Catherine Morland, a young, innocent if slightly gullible heroine who like the Quixote has let books influence her imagination to an unreasonable degree.
We also meet Henry Tilney who is cultured, interesting and has a great sense of humor. Great hero material.
The secondary characters are, as usual, perfect.My favourite is the horrendous Mr. Thorpe:vulgar and totally detestable.
If you have never read this novel, I suggest you start just now. It's a must.

Not Her Best, 20 May 2008
This was the first novel she wrote but it was only published after her death. There are the usual sharp observations of middle-class types and the clown figure of Mrs Allen. We could have done with a few more laughs as it is a pretty dismal tale which gets bogged down once the scene shifts to Northanger. Maybe Ms Austen was just building up to the Big One!

GREAT STORY, POOR QUALITY PAPERBACK, 05 Jan 2009
Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story about Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The characters are an engaging group of misfits whose pasts are shrouded in mystery and are never fully revealed. The story is very well written, darkly comic and throughout the entire 128 pages is engaging and exciting. The art work is superb with a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows.

However, If you are new to Hellboy and want to read the comics then this edition is best avoided. Not because Seed of Destruction isnt a great story filled with amazing characters. Far from it, my criticism is with the paperback. It dosent do the story, characters or the artwork justice. Seed of Destruction is a comic you will want to read again and again, unfortunately the book wont last. Pages are falling out of the copy I bought which is a shame as it is one of the best comics I have read. If this was the only edition available then I would recommend you buy it, read it and then put it safely on a shelf for safe keeping. Luckily, you can buy the Library Edition, (Hellboy: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil v. 1 (Hellboy Library Editions 1) which includes this story, Wake the Devil and loads of supplementary materials. The Library Editions oversized pages really bring the artwork to life, and because it's a hardback they won't fall out. It may be more expensive; however it is well worth the extra cost.


A must have series for any comics fan...or if you like gothic devil coolness!, 21 Apr 2008
No graphic novel collection is complete without some titles, like Watchmen, Knightfall, Sin City and Hellboy!!
I first started reading Hellboy before the first movie came out, I was curious, got one to try and now have them all (and the novels and figures and statues). Seed of Destruction is the first in the series and it jumps straight in to Hellboys life in the B.P.R.D. (bereau for paranormal resreach and defense, kind of like a supernatural CIA). You just see he is a demon working for the agency, and he has a cool coat and a massive stone hand. But as the story goes on, you find he was summoned by Nazis and Ra ra rasputin to help win WW2. But he was saved by Proff. Bruttenholm and now fights for the good guys! Along with Abe Sapien (fish guy) and Liz (Fire starter!). Expect battles with disgusting tentacled Lovecraftian monsters and crazed Nazis. And Nazis do tend to make excellent bad guys! As you progress through the series you find out much more about Hellboys background, and the origins of Abe and Liz too. Its just a great story, well told!

My favourite aspect of the artwork is the black, There is so much darkness throughout and it really sets the tone and sets it apart from other graphic novels. The villains are great, you cannot beat an evil Nazi head in a jar! I love Mignolas fascination with myths from all over the world, especially europe. You get the feeling he puts in lots of research to find just the right gross, creepy myth to use. Its kind of nice to get that european feel for a change, especially if all you read is Marvel and DC!
Recommended!!

This is really FUN!, 07 Jan 2005
Seed of Destruction is Mike Mignola's first graphic album featuring his brilliant Hellboy. The artwork is very Kirbyesque throughout with gothic overtones. Somehow it all works very well. Mignola portrays a quirkiness and humour to the Hellboy character (which is fully realised in Del Toro's new Hellboy movie) and brings to the mix Abe Sapien (almost a modern reworking of Universal's Creature from the Black Lagoon), the incendiary Liz Sherman and, of course, the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence).

Seed of Destruction begins with Hellboy appearing after a fiendish nazi experiment by the villain of the piece, Rasputin.

From then on it's a rollercoaster ride of battles with frog-like monsters and tentacled beasts until the final showdown. The book doesn't take itself too seriously which is just as well given the absolutely ridiculous scenario. But, this is really FUN.

Mignola has found his niche and he has come up with a truly original concept, strong characters and atmosphere soaked, adrenaline pumping storylines in his Hellboy series. If you really like comics you can't afford to miss Hellboy.

Refreshing and funny, 28 Apr 2003
Mike's artwork is a breath of fresh air, like Frank Miller his use of black as a colour or to create an image from very little is amazing, although he can be very cartoony, much like Manga can flip between different styles between panes. The inking is also very good in this book and can't be faulted. The use of panes and bubbles is also spot on so it makes the experience very pleasureable reading.
As for the story, I enjoyed this very much, this is possibly because I have read many Lovecraft stories which have obviously been drawn from for this book. There is also a sledge hammer wit about the main character Hellboy that keeps you wanting him to get into these crazy fights with beasts as he is almost a step away from the serious and moody story line. Hellboy is the oddest looking hero I have seen for a comic that is trying to take itself seriously but he is the touch of humour that without which you realise would not make the story 'perfect'.
I hope a Lovecraft type mythos is used more in future Hellboy because this one book has got me hooked.

The birth of a legend, 21 May 2002
This is a truly magnificent graphic novel. Mike Mignola has created something wonderfully different and original... The artwork is excellent- a unique style that fits the 'dark' nature of the story. I recommend this novel to anyone fascinated by the occult, by fairy tales, by aliens and witches and goblins.

No !, 21 Nov 2008
Very Poor.. Just burn the book!!! I just want to put it all behind me. I thought Clive would turn out something worthwhile but was very disappointed.

Demononic, 01 Nov 2008
This has the themes of war between Heaven and Hell, angels and demons, good and evil. It's narrated by a medieval demon from the Ninth Circle of Hell and is set in the 1400s. It's blood thirsty, vicious and gruesome to read, but strangely addictive. Constantly being told to stop reading and burn the book was annoying until I realised that this was the whole point of the tale and was a gimmick to emphasise what words can achieve and the changes they can effect on the world. I felt the story was a little slow at times but a brilliant innovation, nonetheless. Maybe if Barker had made the book a little longer and expanded on the demon's adventures I would have enjoyed this more. As it stands, it's not what I have come to expect from Barker and so was slightly disappointed.

Whimsical and original, 19 Oct 2008
Clive Barker is without doubt a remarkable imaginer. This powerful gift of imagination that he possesses provides us mere mortals such as me some of the most wonderful stories available. One of Clive Barker's strengths as a novelist to my mind is that while most of his stories are contained within the realms of dark fantasy fiction each one is unique. Many of the books that are on the top ten bestseller lists are stories by authors who follow a formula from book to book, tedious, boring, tired, aged old repetitive narratives. Clive Barker is not predictable in this manner and his latest offering, the excellent "Mr B. Gone" yet again gives his readers something fresh and whimsical to savor. "Mr B. Gone" is a little gem of a book, and a worthy 5 star entry to my review list. I also would like to tip my hat towards HarperCollins publishers, as they have done an exceptional job on the production of the book (USA hardcover version only); it really is quite an amazing object. It's a facsimile of a book that could have been printed in the epoch that "Mr B." is set in. They did a brilliant job of the "Abarat" hardcover books also. Speaking of Abarat, Abarat 3 will hopefully be with us next year, Sept/Oct 2009! I certainly hope so!

Seriously turgid, 23 Sep 2008
Mister B. Gone

Seriously turgid rubbish. Barker is better than this book thank god. He must have had some serious problems during the writing of this painfully bad volume, that must surely be the only excuse.

Barker pens a sinsister change-of-pace, 13 Sep 2008
Clive Barker let's loose his inner demon, literally in a tome reminiscent in tone to "The Yattering and Jack."

"Burn this book." The title character exclaims, and begs, and pleads as he is the book and he is talking to you, the reader. Burn it? No, I found it too entertaining. In fact, When coffee got spilled on mine I quickly ordered a new copy for my library.

The Demon in the book, I won't say how he go there but I will say that when Gutenberg invented movable type and set to print mass quantities of a certain religious text, Hell was not amused and set to stop the event. So, who is Mr. B. Gone and how does he fit into this? Well, he's a demon named Jakabok Botch (not sure the spelling here) who begrudgingly gives up his story -- how he was horrifically burned by his father, escaped hell quite by accident and made his way through our world -- in return for your promise to burn the book when he's done.

This is really a novella, a really long - short story. The only issue I had was the constant rambling about "burn this book" that crops up at every chapter mark, I skimmed over and read the meat of the book instead. Some other people should learn the same trick.

What I find funny is that people give really high-marks to the Audio Book read by Doug Bradly (Pinhead from Hellraiser) and really low marks to actual book. Guess you can't find your own voice!

This is a really good, little, sinister piece that would be right at home in the Books of Blood.

So Read this Book.

Wonderful novel, but be careful about the edition, 24 Nov 2008
"Frankenstein" is one of those books one ought to have read, and, as is rarely the case, one that also thoroughly rewards the reading. The figure of the monster is a remarkable creation, and the narrative itself is compelling. For that reason, five stars, without a doubt. However, I've given this edition four stars largely as a warning to students of the novel: this presents the 1818 text, which contains substantial differences to the 1831 text that is more common nowadays. While this (the 1818) text may be more acceptable in scholarly circles, you may well encounter frustrations if others (and in particular teachers) are referring to passages in the later, revised version of the text. Where this book excels, as most Oxford editions do, is in the quality of the editorial material on hand, which is genuinely useful and illuminating. As long as you know what you're getting, you will be very happy with this edition, but if in doubt, check.

The 1831 text is available in the Wordsworth classics edition. Unfortunately, it is much less well served in terms of notes and introductory material.

STUNNING!, 05 Jan 2009
If you are new to Hellboy and are unsure of where to start with the series, then this edition is by far the best choice. The library edition contains the equivalent of two trade paperbacks, Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil. The first story introduces Hellboy and two major supporting characters, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman. Seed of Destruction is a weird, wonderful story of Nazi world domination and an immortal sorcerers attempt to bring about the apocalypse. The second story is even weirder than Seed of Destruction, introducing a myriad of gods and demons hailing from nearly every mythology and religion you can think of. Both Stories are fantastically told, well written and engaging. The myriad of different creatures make the stories all the more fantastic and enjoyable.

However, such great stories wouldn't be the same without great artwork to support them. Something that Hellboy has in abundance. Seed of Destruction has a dark and gothic feel, filled to the brim with brooding blacks and shadows. Wake the Devil contains the same flair and style as Seed of destruction; however the artwork feels brighter and fresher.

The overall quality of this volume is stunning. The paper quality is vastly improved over the standard trade paperbacks with the larger pages making the incredible art work all the more breathtaking. The presentation is fantastic with generous supplementary materials and a fabric hardcover that makes the book feel all the more expensive. The paperback editions are enjoyable, however they are flimsy and dont do Hellboy justice. The hardcover edition maybe more exspensive, however the extra quality is worth paying for.

Lovely!, 24 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed this, found it much easier to read then any other Austen I have tried but that may be a result of getting familiar with the language. Once again Austen does not disappoint with the range of characters to love, hate, laugh at/with and those you just want to punch!! Another fabulous escape into a wonderfuly written world of romance and chivalry. Highly recommended!

Charming and thought-provoking about imaginations, 29 Jun 2008
Northanger Abbey is not Jane Austen's best known or read work which is really a shame, because it is quite charming. I love the way, Austen's work are as relevant, entertaining, and thought-provoking now as when they were written in the beginning of the 19th century.

Northanger Abbey is the story of a would-be heroine, Catherine Morland, who accompanies the Allens to Bath. Here she is thrushed into a world, the likes of which she has only read about in novels. There are parties, drama, charming young men, and her new friends Isabella and Eleanor. And the intrigues: Catherine's brother is engaged to Isabella, and Isabella's brother fancies Catherine. Catherine on the other hand has affection for Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey. Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey and oh, you should read the story instead of me just relating it.

Norhtanger Abbey is also about storytelling and the recent popularity of Gothic novels. It is about the imaginations of Catherine and pretty much every other character in the book. Everyone has their own imaginative approach to the world they live in and these worlds collide.

Something I find very enjoyable in Northanger Abbey, is Austen's active narration. Once in while, she pops in, speaking of herself in the first person and subtly whispers in the ear of the reading. It is marvellous.

Louise.

YAWN!, 05 Jun 2008
I love Jane Austin and decided to buy the complete works and read the the less popular books.

I started with Persuasion, which I enjoyed and had sympathy and liking for the characters. I was glad when the main characters got together. I then moved onto Northanger Abbey. I'm afraid to admit, it's one of the worst and most boring books I've read for a long time. I perservered to the bitter end, at which point I slammed the book shut in disgust. I know this book is considered to be amongst her greatest and wittiest, but I thought it was shallow, and totally characterless. Her heroine was a complete drip and lived on a different planet. The 'hero' was sarcastic and unpleasant to the heroine, and I found him completely unattractive in his dialogue and his behaviour. From the moment he arrives on the scene it hadn't occured to me that it was him who was going to the main love interest. He behaviour is so odd, and effeminate! Certainly not a Mr Darcy!!! To be perfectly honest, if Jane Austin had suddenly decided to be a bit radical and have all her characters killed off by some crazy serial killer it would have been quite a relief.

It was just so ludicrous and unbelievable. for instance our hero and heroine are riding together towards Northanger Abbey for the first time, and Catherine is very excited about staying in a REAL abbey, and how romantic and exciting it will be. Then the hero spends the next couple of pages going into detail as to what is going to to happen to her, scaring her witless, with tales of a storm and a strange cupboard in the room etc. Anyway, as it turns out she experiences almost the exact same thing as he describes. Perhaps it was supposed to be funny, but I just found it tedious and I could not understand why the hero had said all those things to her in the first place to scare her, when he was so apparently ardently in love with her.
Or his weirdo Father.
Everyone else seems to love it, but boy, I thought it was a complete bore. It felt like a book that she had knocked out to get quick cash. Although I hear it was her first.

I didn't give up on Jane Austin, I then went on to read Mansfield Park, which I loved and liked most of the characters. Although her heros tend to be a bit blind and stupid to the manipulations of beautiful women, and that's somewhat frustrating. But a good yarn nonetheless.

In my opinion Northanger Abbey is the worst. In fact, way up in the most boring books I've ever read.

A different Austen, 25 May 2008
Northanger Abbey is the shortest of Austen's major novels, but like the others it is a delightful read.
Maybe the most ironic of the six and the one in which Austen reveals her opinions through the voice of the narrator the most clearly.
We are introduced to Catherine Morland, a young, innocent if slightly gullible heroine who like the Quixote has let books influence her imagination to an unreasonable degree.
We also meet Henry Tilney who is cultured, interesting and has a great sense of humor. Great hero material.
The secondary characters are, as usual, perfect.My favourite is the horrendous Mr. Thorpe:vulgar and totally detestable.
If you have never read this novel, I suggest you start just now. It's a must.

Not Her Best, 20 May 2008
This was the first novel she wrote but it was only published after her death. There are the usual sharp observations of middle-class types and the clown figure of Mrs Allen. We could have done with a few more laughs as it is a pretty dismal tale which gets bogged down once the scene shifts to Northanger. Maybe Ms Austen was just building up to the Big One!

Classic short stories from Barker, 11 Apr 2008
Classic short Stories from Barker that were written and published in the mid 1980's and still remain essential reading for fans of dark fantasy and horror fiction. A must have for your collection!

Dark and twisted fiction - a must read for any horror fan, 06 Jan 2007
Back in 1984, Clive Barker made his name within the deeply competitive world of horror with the publication of the first three volumes of the macabre short stories `The Books Of Blood'. Written in his spare time, he admits that he was not expecting them to sell really at all, let alone predict the public response that followed. The release exploded within the horror literature genre, hailing Barker as an exciting and imaginative newcomer. Stephen King, already known as a master in the genre, went as far as to pronounce Clive to be "the future of horror". The books won both the British and World Fantasy Awards, as the public lapped up the gore soaked pages. After this initial success, Barker followed with a final three volumes, creating a collective masterpiece of horror. His two omnibus's were later to be broken down, to be sold as individual books which Barker was invited to be able to illustrate the covers for with his dark and twisted artwork. The books have since been put back together again into these two large collections.

The books were moderately successful in Great Britain, but found wide critical acclaim in the United States. Their popularity and the sheer amount of sales have found the books repeatedly reprinted and available in over a dozen languages. These books are a must-read for anyone who enjoys reading books from the horror genre. They are also an important stage within the work of Clive Barker forming a solid point for his writing to work from.

Here we have the first three volumes from the collection of six. Released in their individual forms back in 1985, this omnibus was later reprinted by Warner Books in 1994. The book was printed with different cover artwork (done by Bob Warner) and is the current version on sale of this dark and twisted masterpiece. This first collection contains the following short stories:

The Book Of Blood - 12 pages
"The dead have their highway. They carve their stories on the walls and the flesh. Everybody is a book of blood; Wherever we're opened, we're red". This first opener (pardon the pun), brings you a well-constructed and haunting tale to bring together all of the short stories and introduce the reader to the books of blood. It forms a small taste of what is to come, whetting the appetite for Barker's tales of the macabre.

The Midnight Meat Train - 25 pages
"A stomach-churning ride on the New York subway, to feed the Old Gods on human meat". This short was inspired and created around a sultry summer visit to New York in which Barker found himself lost on a subway at midnight. The tale is a bitter and twisted one, as we are treated to Barker's dark imagination and talent for setting down a vivid and disturbing tale. The story is quickly dropped into a festering pit of gore, with extreme mutilation and blood-spill dripping from each page. The tale concludes with a haunting ending, as we are treated to nothing less than pure Barker genius. The story was later adapted in 1990 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 3' where it was illustrated by Denys Cowan and Michael Davis..

- The Yattering And Jack - 20 pages
"Man versus Demon, in a black comedy of lunatic violence". Here we have a short that unfolds a comical tale that will amuse and entertain. The storyline is simple yet packed with purpose. The twist ending is subtle and forms a nice little conclusion to the story. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1991 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel `The Yattering And Jack' where it was illustrated by John Bolton. The story was also adapted for the 1986 release of `The Tales From The Darkside - Volume 5' which was a 20 minute film made for TV broadcast. It starred Tony Carbone (The Pit And The Pendulum) as was available from Worldvision Home Video.

- Pig Blood Blues - 29 pages
"They told Redman the pig was possessed, but he didn't believe...until the nightmare came trotting after him". Barker offers up a disturbing and haunting tale of possession and dark corruption. The story bleeds paranoia as it slowly winds itself to the horrific conclusion, building up with heart-racing tension. This is one of those stories that will come back to haunt you time and time again. The story was later adapted in 1989 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 1' where it was illustrated by Scott Hampton.

- Sex, Death And Starshine - 36 pages
"The show must go on. Even if the audience has just risen from the dead". This gripping story brings you a well-written tale that works upon an underlying suspense that gnaws at you from the inside. The story spirals to an awesome and dramatic twist, which will leave you dying to read more.

- In The Hills, The Cities - 27 pages
"There are monsters nobody has ever dared imagine before; vast enough to take your breath away. And they're waiting in the hills". Barker's imagination runs wild here as we are confronted with this terrifying and impressive tale. Vividly described and cleverly constructed, this story will impress and amaze you with Barker's creation of the darkly fantastic. This short will leave you truly shocked. One of my personal favourite from the whole collection. The story was later adapted in 1989 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 2' where it was illustrated by John Bolton.

Dread - 34 pages
"One man's obsession with fear drives his victims one step beyond sanity, to unspeakable slaughter". A nasty little opening story for this second volume. Here we have a tale of fear and desperation, as the story revolves around the psychological state of its principal characters. The short is well-written, forming a vivid scenario of utter fear and dread as the horrors mount to a dramatic conclusion. The story was later adapted by Fred Burke in 1992 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel `Dread' where it was illustrated by Dan Brerton.

Hell's Event - 23 pages
"The race is on. And the Devil will take the hindmost". A gripping and enjoyable story that keeps you entertained throughout. The pace never slows down as you race through this fiendishly dark and twisted storyline. The story was later adapted in 1990 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 4' where it was illustrated by Steven E. Johnson, Alan Okamoto and Jim Perason.

Jacqueline Ess: Her Will And Testament - 33 pages
"A story of sex and power, and the bloodbath that awaits us at the limits of desire". This story holds a little glimpse of the Barker that will unfold in the later years, with his outstanding imagination for redefining the properties of the flesh. This is an erotic story that decays into something bizarre and twisted as Barker delves deeper into his imagination. One of my personal favourites.

The Skins Of The Fathers - 32 pages
"Once, they had fattened a human child, these monsters from beneath the desert. Now they want him back". This short is packed with suspension and mystery as we are carefully taken on a haunting trip into this dark offering of horror. The storyline spirals to a dramatic ending with eerie reminders of ideas used within `Lord Of Illusions' and maybe even `Cabal' / `Nightbreed'. A gripping and enjoyable read. The story was later adapted in 1989 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 2' where it was illustrated by Klaus Janson.

New Murders In The Rue Morgue - 27 pages
"History is about to repeat itself in Poe's notorious street, as old horrors return to shed new blood". Centred around the principal idea that Edgar Allan Poe's classic story The Murders in the Rue Morgue is actually the work of fact not fiction. This weird and horrific story, sets out a mysterious and compelling storyline as we are treated to some classic Barker horror. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1993 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel `The Life Of Death' where it was illustrated by Hector Gomez.

Son Of Celluloid - 35 pages
"When an escaped convict commits murder and finds his way to a decaying movie palace, he cannot know that his own life is about to end, while the dreams of a half-decade's moviegoers are just beginning. For this convict's cancerous tumor refuses to die, and the angels of the cinema can grant mirages and nightmares of their own." Inspired by the beaten up revival cinema Barker frequented many times back in Liverpool, in which so many films fuelled his imagination as a young man. The short is a heavy dousing of pure horror, with a fast-paced storyline and underlying tension that mounts throughout. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1991 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel `Son Of Celluloid' where it was illustrated by Les Edwards.

Rawhead Rex - 47 pages
"Rawhead it was called because its head was huge and raw like meat. It was the last of a line of kings dating from before civilization, before Christ, when England was forest all over and the home of unspeakable horror. The ultimate monster is on the loose, with a hunger that won't be satisfied this side of Hell". Adapted into a movie back in 1987, Barker was highly dissatisfied with it and so went on to take up the directors chair himself with his own adaptation of the story `The Hellbound Heart' which became the cult movie `Hellraiser'. The short story `Rawhead Rex' is an incredibly violent and gore-filled offering, with this ungodly creature on a complete rampage. The ending is deep within the weird and supernatural world in which Barker will later submerge himself. A highly enjoyable tale of horror. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1993 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel `Rawhead Rex' where it was illustrated by Lionel Talaro.

Confession Of A (Pornographer's) Shroud - 32 pages
"When the Porn Kings tortured Ronnie Glass to death they didn't believe in Resurrection. They do now". A nasty little tale of revenge and evil torment. The story is gripping and rammed with suspense from the start. It's well-written and powerful with its vivid and, in places, horrific depictions.

Scapegoats - 25 pages
"Four lost people on a lost island, with the dead calling from the sea". Written from the first-person perspective of a young woman, Scapegoats boasts a tale of underlying horror and ritual slaughter. It depicts a vivid tension in the air that will put you not at ease throughout. The tale is dark and bizarre, with a horrific and evil conclusion which is a little unsettling, leaving you wondering the taunting world of Barker's creation. Another one of my favourites from the Books Of Blood series. The story was later adapted in 1990 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 3' where it was illustrated by Bo Hampton.

Human Remains - 42 pages
"Gavin was a whore, happy to sell his body for hard cash. Until he met the creature that wanted to own his flesh forever". A typical Barker style of offering here, with the corruption of the nature of the flesh. The story includes brutal violence in places with splatters of gore and bloodshed. The short is perverse and darkly erotic in places with sudden bursts of the horrific. Pure genius. The story was later adapted in 1989 into the graphic novel `Tapping The Vein - Book 1' where it was illustrated by P. Craig Russel.

Grabs you by the Bollocks and screams in your face, 05 Dec 2006
I have been a Barker fan for a number of years now and whenever a friend wants a book recommendation i always include a Barker masterpiece ammongst the novels he/she should read. Books of blood was my first and unforgetable experience of Barker. "The midnight meat train" was and remains my favourite short story. I have owned a copy of the book once and read it so many times it was severely Dog eared, the pages discoloured, ink fading..... it was about time i renewed my beloved little gem. GET THIS BOOK, GET IT NOW, NOW, NOW!!!!!

An impressive debut, 29 Dec 2005
This omnibus collects together the first three volumes of Barkers' Books of Blood, comprising a total of 16 short stories:

'The Book Of Blood' is a rather basic opening tale concerning a fake psychic experiment, but ultimately this is less a tale in it's own right and more a framing device for the stories that follow. 'The Midnight Meat Train' follows the exploits of a murderer on the New York subway and transforms the standard serial killer story into a much more mythic fantasy. 'The Yattering and Jack' is an almost light-hearted tale of a battle of wits between a demon and the man he is haunting. 'Pig Blood Blues' has on the face of it a risible premise, with borstal children worshipping a possessed pig, but somehow Barker manages to turn this into a bizarrely affecting nightmare. 'Sex, Death and Starshine' concerns a dying theatre being taken over by the ghosts of long-dead actors for a final performance, and 'In the Hills, The Cities' is effectively The Wicker Man taken to insane extremes, as a pair of travellers encounter the bizarre practices of an isolated rural country that involve the inhabitants fighting each other in huge human effigies.

'Dread' is a tale of psychological horror, as a sadistic student experiments on his colleagues to uncover the true nature of fear. 'Hell's Event' is another tale of a dual between the forces of humanity and hell, this time played out in a London road race. 'Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament' is a moving tale of a woman with frightening telekinetic powers. 'The Sk