Hellraiser Volume 1 - Pursuit of the Flesh (2013)

Sex :
Violence :
Editors Ian Brill Reviewer :
Publisher Boom Studios
Writers Clive Barker, Christopher Monfette
Art and Colours Leonardo Manco, Stephen Thompson, Juan Manuel Tumburus, Charlie Kirchoff, Jordie Bellaire
Cover Tim Badstreet
Genre Demonic
Tagline Hell Has Come Home
Country

A ScaryMinds Event Movie

Review

"There is salvation for you yet, Kirsty Cotton. And for me" - Pinhead

Kirsty Cotton is trying to rebuild her life after the trauma she experienced in the first two Hellraiser movies. She has a loving boyfriend, who she can't commit too, seems to have a career in art, and is generally a well balanced individual considering her past dealings with the demonic Cenobites. Oh and Kirsty also leads a group of survivors called "Harrowers" who's sole objective is to destroy all the devices that open gateways to hell. So a full and complete life then, albeit not so happy.

Meanwhile Pinhead is questioning his existence and has become jaded with the experiences that Hell offers him. There is an out clause in his contract that will involve Pinhead once again becoming human and which offers the opportunity to gain the gates of Heaven, if he fails however an eternity of legendary suffering will be his fate. Pinhead must find a replacement before he can retire, and he has an audacious plan to recruit the replacement. But first the blood and the tasting of the flesh, some doors shouldn't be opened, Pinhead still has a calling.

Clive Barker returns to the Hellraiser universe with a graphic novel that pretty much picks up the reins of the story last told in Hellbound. Kirsty has survived her initial encounters with the Cenobites, and along with a number of others, who have somehow also escaped their clutches, is fighting back by destroying the Lemarchand devices. Known as Harrowers, each of the group has a background story that is explained and linked via an excellent plot device that had me at least bushy tailed and bright eyed. Barker has clearly not lost his ability to write convoluted plot lines in easy digestible fashion. I was both intrigued and enthralled as the background story unfolded in the context of the current plot arc. Notably Barker directly states in Pursuit of the Flesh that Cenobites can and do use human acolytes to achieve their aims, something hinted at but not spelled out in the movie cannon. Also of note, for those who want their lore correct, it's not the hands opening the puzzle boxes that necessarily bring the attention of the Cenobites, it's the desire to see what the boxes may herald.

Clearly we are in the first part of a sprawling graphic novel so Barker and fellow writer Christopher Monfette are putting their pieces on the board and playing their opening moves, rather than showing their game plan. I'm caught up in it all I must say and devoured this book like a whiskey chaser at closing time.

Pinhead is weary of his existence and decides to invoke the accord, which will allow him to regain his humanity and have a chance of redemption. For mine this was an excellent twist on what we may have expected going into the novel, and invokes memories of where Pinhead was at in the second and third movies. Barker and Monfette here create a far more complex character than the normally urbane sadist the Cenobite is portrayed as. I am really fired up to see where this series goes from here, for sure I am expecting the unexpected, and am going to be rocking out. Thank the gods that Clive Barker returned to the universe, Hollywood as usual is bollocking up the movies.

We see the return of the standard Cenobites from the first two movies, though I'm vague about whether or not Butterball was there, as well as some pretty cool new creatures. I particularly dug the winter Cenobite, someone should really base a movie around this character, there's a real Lovecraftian feel going down with the look and feel. Leviathan of course is enigmatically turning in Hell, and I already mentioned Kristy leading the forces of goodness. About all that is missing is Uncle Frank, but guess we can't have everything else I would have to accuse Mr Barker of spoiling us. And for those who want some added nastiness on their omelette out in Nebraska some Psycho has gone real Hellraiser fanboy, a dark and sinister character who you are really going to love to hate.

The artwork by Leonardo Manco and Stephen Thompson puts the "awe" in awesome. From use of colour shades, through visions of Hell, to the confrontation between victim and Cenobite, the look and feel of the panels had me firing up a smoke signal to comic book lovers everywhere. I'm going to flat out say it, Manco and Thompson create atmosphere and they create tension is what is simply stunning imagery. I was blown away by it all and dug the down home grunge feel brought to the book. Everything is rich and vivid, with shading exactly right to convey the various scene elements. A stunning achievement in my book of counted souls that simply demands you keep flicking through the pages again after having read for script for the third or fourth time.

While there are probably some weaknesses to the book, some of the supporting characters are poorly drawn and there are a couple of plot holes, overall I was rocking out to the book and am back in full Hellraiser mode. If you dig the Clive Barker horror freight train that is Hellraiser then this is the book for you. Be warned however, no punches are being pulled here, the gore meets the page in pretty striking fashion, you may need a shower after reading. An achievement of the highest order, Pursuit of the Flesh is recommended to all horror fans, others might need to approach with caution, Clive Barker has such sights to show you.

ScaryMinds Rates this read as ...

  Excellent start to what promises to be a solid graphic novel of dark intent.