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Darkman #1
The Hangman
Two years after the accident that turned him into Darkman, Peyton Westlake continues his research on artificial skin and becomes involved with a new evil that is devouring the city's youth. Original.
- GenresHorror
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2012
Worth reading.
January 12, 2025
This is the first of four spin-off novels based on the 1990 film Darkman, all written by Randall Boyll, who also wrote the novelization of the film.
I bought these back in the early 90s, I was a fan of the film. I must have liked them at the time but now, decades later? I can't even finish this book.
The first few chapters are an introduction to Darkman and a few other characters who you presume will become important to the plot. A young boy with an abusive alcoholic father and a legal secretary for a sexually harassing boss.
And I struggled to get through them. Randall is a believer in "tell don't show" and bogs the chapters down with every internal thought the characters have.
And, from the way he writes Peyton Westlake it feels like he never actually watched the movie and just went by whatever script he was given for the novelization.
Which is a little weird, I re-read the novelization a few years ago and still enjoyed it. The writing was tight and the story flowed well. Was adapting a screenplay versus writing an original story that big a difference?
I'd almost wonder if Randall Boyll isn't a real person but a pseudonym and the books written by ghost writers. His writing credits are nearly all movie novelizations.
All four books came out in less than one year so it's also possible the poor writing is because they were churned out in a hurry while Pocket Books still had the license and the higher ups said "editing and proofreading, what's that?"
I bought these back in the early 90s, I was a fan of the film. I must have liked them at the time but now, decades later? I can't even finish this book.
The first few chapters are an introduction to Darkman and a few other characters who you presume will become important to the plot. A young boy with an abusive alcoholic father and a legal secretary for a sexually harassing boss.
And I struggled to get through them. Randall is a believer in "tell don't show" and bogs the chapters down with every internal thought the characters have.
And, from the way he writes Peyton Westlake it feels like he never actually watched the movie and just went by whatever script he was given for the novelization.
Which is a little weird, I re-read the novelization a few years ago and still enjoyed it. The writing was tight and the story flowed well. Was adapting a screenplay versus writing an original story that big a difference?
I'd almost wonder if Randall Boyll isn't a real person but a pseudonym and the books written by ghost writers. His writing credits are nearly all movie novelizations.
All four books came out in less than one year so it's also possible the poor writing is because they were churned out in a hurry while Pocket Books still had the license and the higher ups said "editing and proofreading, what's that?"
September 30, 2020
As a fan of the Sam Raimi movie, this spin off book (and the three that followed it) was a let-down to say the least. The character seemed completely different than the one presented to us in the movie and the plot is lackluster. Even the most die-hard Darkman fan will have trouble getting through this.
January 11, 2021
Boring and unpleasant, and full of typos.
Didn't really need to see Darkman turned into a self-aware Batman knockoff encountering an urbanized Oliver Twist.
It didn't even use Darkman's gimmick well.
Didn't really need to see Darkman turned into a self-aware Batman knockoff encountering an urbanized Oliver Twist.
It didn't even use Darkman's gimmick well.
May 12, 2015
I am normally a slow reader. I take a week or more to finish a book of this length.
I finished this sucker in about 2 days.
Yeah, I thought it was that good.
I was so happy to stumble onto this book, quite accidentally, in a used book store. I had no idea that there was one sequel book, let alone 4, written about a movie that I loved.
I can't believe no one has tried to revive this property as a comic book series recently (I'm looking at YOU, Dynamite!).
Anyway, it is well worth the time to read it. Wonderful book and very well-written. The style is clean and mildly sarcastic; particularly when Darkman "talks" to himself. I can't recommend this book enough!
I finished this sucker in about 2 days.
Yeah, I thought it was that good.
I was so happy to stumble onto this book, quite accidentally, in a used book store. I had no idea that there was one sequel book, let alone 4, written about a movie that I loved.
I can't believe no one has tried to revive this property as a comic book series recently (I'm looking at YOU, Dynamite!).
Anyway, it is well worth the time to read it. Wonderful book and very well-written. The style is clean and mildly sarcastic; particularly when Darkman "talks" to himself. I can't recommend this book enough!
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August 23, 2008isbn,original
January 17, 2016
Somewhat uneventful story picks up a year after the original film, keeping the comic bookish/crime horror tone. Darkman begins to adopt a split-personality while battling a Fagin-style villain.
August 12, 2013
Really needed more Darkman doing what he does.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews