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Horror Hospital Unplugged: A Graphic Novel
In Horror Hospital Unplugged, well-known cutting-edge author Dennis Cooper and notorious artist Keith Mayerson collaborate to bring us the dark, but hilarious story of Trevor a twenty-something, gay-but-sexually-confused lead singer for an L.A. Indy band on its way to fame and fortune. Inspired by the story "Horror Hospital" from Cooper's story collection Wrong, the book chronicles Trevor's adventures and struggles with love, sex, the music industry and a spiritual visitation from the ghost of River Phoenix.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1996
About the author
Dennis Cooper
107 books1,955 followersDennis Cooper was born on January 10, 1953. He grew up in the Southern California cities of Covina and Arcadia.
He wrote stories and poems from early age but got serious about writing at 15 after reading Arthur Rimbaud and The Marquis de Sade. He attended LA county public schools until the 8th grade when he transferred to a private school, Flintridge Preparatory School for Boys in La Canada, California, from which he was expelled in the 11th grade.
While at Flintridge, he met his friend George Miles, who would become his muse and the subject of much of his future writing. He attended Pasadena City College for two years, attending poetry writing workshops taught by the poets Ronald Koertge and Jerene Hewitt. He then attended one year of university at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where he studied with the poet Bert Meyers.
In 1976, he founded Little Caesar Magazine and Press, which he ran until 1982. From 1980 to 1983 he was Director of Programming for the Beyond Baroque Literary/Art Center in Venice, California. From 1983 to 1985, he lived in New York City.
In 1985, he moved to Amsterdam for two and a half years, where he began his ten year long project, The George Miles Cycle, an interconnected sequence of five novels that includes Closer, Frisk, Try, Guide, and Period.
His post-George Miles Cycle novels include My Loose Thread, The Sluts and God, Jr.
Other works include the short-story collections Wrong and Ugly Man, poetry collections The Dream Police and The Weaklings, as well as the recent Smothered in Hugs: Essays, Interviews, Feedback, and Obituaries.
Dennis Cooper currently spends his time between Los Angeles and Paris.
He wrote stories and poems from early age but got serious about writing at 15 after reading Arthur Rimbaud and The Marquis de Sade. He attended LA county public schools until the 8th grade when he transferred to a private school, Flintridge Preparatory School for Boys in La Canada, California, from which he was expelled in the 11th grade.
While at Flintridge, he met his friend George Miles, who would become his muse and the subject of much of his future writing. He attended Pasadena City College for two years, attending poetry writing workshops taught by the poets Ronald Koertge and Jerene Hewitt. He then attended one year of university at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where he studied with the poet Bert Meyers.
In 1976, he founded Little Caesar Magazine and Press, which he ran until 1982. From 1980 to 1983 he was Director of Programming for the Beyond Baroque Literary/Art Center in Venice, California. From 1983 to 1985, he lived in New York City.
In 1985, he moved to Amsterdam for two and a half years, where he began his ten year long project, The George Miles Cycle, an interconnected sequence of five novels that includes Closer, Frisk, Try, Guide, and Period.
His post-George Miles Cycle novels include My Loose Thread, The Sluts and God, Jr.
Other works include the short-story collections Wrong and Ugly Man, poetry collections The Dream Police and The Weaklings, as well as the recent Smothered in Hugs: Essays, Interviews, Feedback, and Obituaries.
Dennis Cooper currently spends his time between Los Angeles and Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 13, 2008
This is a graphic novel, which is a fancy term for a great big, expensive comic book with a more sturdy cover.
However, do not be deceived - it is nothing like a Batman comic (well, except perhaps in the homoeroticism) or even a Betty and Veronica issue (ditto, and add the same brilliant campiness too).
Dennis Cooper wrote the text, based on a short story of his which inspired the comic.
Keith Mayerson is the graphic artist behind this project - and such drawings they are!
This book is dizzying in its scope, references and drawing styles and techniques. Some pages might take you twenty minutes to appreciate all the tiny comments and drawings and subtle critiques/observations.
The basic storyline concerns itself with a predominantly queer punk band called HORROR HOSPITAL - in particular, its lead singer, Trevor Machine.
It follows the group through its adventures and misadventures with record company executives (such as David Geffen), interviewers and various hangers-on.
Along the way, Trevor falls in love with a boy named Tim (understandable - we're an adorable nomenclature...), but cannot bring himself to say it until very near the end, by which point it is, of course, too late, as Tim gets killed in a car accident.
I am not sure that I could convey how mind-blowingly stunning this book is. It is, however - and the ending made me cry, which does not happen to me often in reaction to something written or illustrated.
However, do not be deceived - it is nothing like a Batman comic (well, except perhaps in the homoeroticism) or even a Betty and Veronica issue (ditto, and add the same brilliant campiness too).
Dennis Cooper wrote the text, based on a short story of his which inspired the comic.
Keith Mayerson is the graphic artist behind this project - and such drawings they are!
This book is dizzying in its scope, references and drawing styles and techniques. Some pages might take you twenty minutes to appreciate all the tiny comments and drawings and subtle critiques/observations.
The basic storyline concerns itself with a predominantly queer punk band called HORROR HOSPITAL - in particular, its lead singer, Trevor Machine.
It follows the group through its adventures and misadventures with record company executives (such as David Geffen), interviewers and various hangers-on.
Along the way, Trevor falls in love with a boy named Tim (understandable - we're an adorable nomenclature...), but cannot bring himself to say it until very near the end, by which point it is, of course, too late, as Tim gets killed in a car accident.
I am not sure that I could convey how mind-blowingly stunning this book is. It is, however - and the ending made me cry, which does not happen to me often in reaction to something written or illustrated.
September 26, 2018
one of greatest graphic novels of 20th century! on body, sex, desire, anxiety, campiness, sexuality, violence, celebrities, drawing, references, comics, youth, and punk.
Dash Shaw's writing on the book is good: https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&...
Publisher's Weekly's review is also good: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
Dash Shaw's writing on the book is good: https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&...
Publisher's Weekly's review is also good: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
November 15, 2008
I just got this out again and I have to say I adore it every few years. It is so twisted and bizarre, really cerebral, morphine-ish, so hospital style. Disturbing psychologically and a pleasure to think of these two talents collaborating. Where are the great collabs of today?
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October 12, 2008I wasn't initially drawn to Mayerson's "trippy" style, but it's only one of his styles upon styles, and when he draws a room full of celebs as dogs in the Viper Club and they actually are recognizable I was convinced. There a lot of wit here in the music industry satire in this story of a rock band with a young and doomed lead singer. Cooper's books are usually pretty dialog-heavy (even if it is mostly Ums and Uhs.) But the narrative voice here is replaced by Mayerson's drawings. Mayerson goes through a number of styles which change throughout the book. Especially appropriate is the big-eyed manga style used for the romantic bits.
July 30, 2011
one of my favorite graphic novels
August 12, 2011
A wonderful graphic novel about ambiguous and difficult to define sexuality, 20-somethings lost in music and drugs, media obsession and the ever-present audience. One of the best studies of lost youth and a doomed musician I've ever read. The main character, Trevor Machine, is presented as a newer, rawer Jim Morrison, a gay(ish) follow-up to Kurt Cobain. Real life celebrities parade through the book, including Tom Cruise, Courtney Love and Johnny Depp. The late River Phoenix also appears as a guide to Trevor. Includes several surreal drug and sex related scenes which are drawn in such a way as to expose and conceal what's going on.
May 7, 2008
I found this book by accident - didn't know about Dennis Cooper yet...and it totally blew me away. The drawing style was hard to get into at first, but when I started to get drawn in it was like falling in the rabbit hole. One day I found an extra copy in some junk pile and saved it - later I was able to pass it along to someone else who really likes comics and who hadn't read this.
July 7, 2025
Making my way through Dennis Cooper's work and this was my favorite short story from his collection Wrong. I really loved the art style in this and how it depicts drug use. Also all the celebrities mentioned were pretty funny. Not much else to say, I think Horror Hospital stands really well on its own as a short story, but this is a fun bonus.
April 14, 2016
Heartbreaking and beautiful. The art was wonderfully grotesque.
If you liked this, make sure to follow me on Goodreads for more reviews!
If you liked this, make sure to follow me on Goodreads for more reviews!
June 27, 2026
i think i felt more for trevor than whoever marketed this book did
February 12, 2015
Horror Hospital is an LA punk band leaded by Trevor. Hes gay but not really. Totally sexually confused. Hes in love but cant say it. Love is a lie.
His band just so happens to talk Courtney Love to sing on a song they were recording. Geffen records are intrigued. In more ways than one.
Sex, gay sex and craziness, it all happens here.
River Phoenix visits Trevor in a dream/bad trip. Tells him in days, he will end up like him. Overdosin and dead.
Cooper is a disturbing genius. Knows exactly how to draw you in and keep you entertained from front to back.
The art is outrageous and sometimes confusing.
His band just so happens to talk Courtney Love to sing on a song they were recording. Geffen records are intrigued. In more ways than one.
Sex, gay sex and craziness, it all happens here.
River Phoenix visits Trevor in a dream/bad trip. Tells him in days, he will end up like him. Overdosin and dead.
Cooper is a disturbing genius. Knows exactly how to draw you in and keep you entertained from front to back.
The art is outrageous and sometimes confusing.
May 31, 2016
This reread of a classical ReSearch illustrated novel was the perfect companion for my long Memorial Day holiday weekend of remembrance. It outlines the meteoric rise and fall of a wanna by indy band in Los Angeles cerca 1993. It is darkly comical with a pantheon of a cast you would consider important from the musical time capsule of those days. Brilliant, biting, and voraciously humorous. Check it out if it is your cup of tea.
December 31, 2025
“Are you, like, trying to kill those frogs?”
—
“They’re novelty punk rock, but there’s one track on the demo about River Phoenix, and Courtney Love does co-lead vocals. Need I say we’ve got a possible college radio smash here? But if we sign them, it should be in and out fast. We’re talking a King Missile, Dread Zepplin, Crash Test Dummies type of thing.”
—
“Horror Hospital aren’t going to make it. You’re just not good enough.”
—
“‘I want to die.’
‘My pleasure, kid. Bang.’”
—
“They’re novelty punk rock, but there’s one track on the demo about River Phoenix, and Courtney Love does co-lead vocals. Need I say we’ve got a possible college radio smash here? But if we sign them, it should be in and out fast. We’re talking a King Missile, Dread Zepplin, Crash Test Dummies type of thing.”
—
“Horror Hospital aren’t going to make it. You’re just not good enough.”
—
“‘I want to die.’
‘My pleasure, kid. Bang.’”
August 17, 2018
What a hideous and repugnant Trainwreck. I don't care if this was a pioneering graphic novel, it's absolute garbage.
August 6, 2026
nothing like it. god-mode from all sides. all the pages in my copy are falling out:(
October 27, 2024
1d fans would cream
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August 8, 2026I WANT TO DIE I WANT TO DIE I WANT TO DIE i had it and it was so good and it was in my palm and i ate it and it disappeared b4 i could taste it, i swallowed too quickly and it was gone, i tried 2 spit it back up like thrust my fingers down my throat and bring it back and i puked up a wide assortment of gunk but i couldnt pick it out in all the shit, i guess i digested it already and it became vomit instead of being the thing that it was b4, i turned back time and i waited 4 it 2 appear again and it did but it rotted away and died anyways, like it was always going 2 disappear no matter wat i did, like even if i tried 2 do everything right and made it good and worth it it still would have died and crumbled in2 dust, i keep trying 2 make a song 2 memorialize it but it wont come out rite, no matter wat i try ppl just think its stupid, i want them 2 hear my song and feel like what u were when u were still here, i dont want it 2 be a gimmick or a stupid unformed idea i just want 2 translate your essence in2 pop culture so that it doesnt go away, and whenever they play it on the radio youll come back 2 me as you were just then, its fucked, all i can make is cartoons, i cant get back that thing i had that time, i dont even know where i could start, i dont know if i should, im just going 2 fuck with your memory, theyll associate u with some shitty band that lived and died on the cuteness of its lead singer, u deserve better than that if there are better things still out there, i hope the prediction was tru, i hope i die and we can be 2gether in the place where dead ppl go as two nobodies who never did anything and died in stupid meaningless fucked up ways. Thats the only thing i want in life. Beautiful comic book, so funny and devastating and gross… I wish this guy had done more stuff like this or anything @ all coz this shifting gestating nasty art style is so lovely and fitting and weird, its so addictive… Or expressive. Sometimes i wonder how many amazing comics r left 2 rot on out of print books that are expensive as fuck. Lots probably!!! Also, makes me wish more Dennis Cooper stories got an adaptation treatment… He said on his blog they were making a God Jr comic book, but its in a less crazy style, which makes sense since its a less crazy story, anyways. He also said there was a stop motion Laika film of that book in the works b4 it got cancelled, which is a shame, coz that sounds amazing. Horror Hospitals songs do seem like they would really suck… Love the experimental pure image style the drawings take on when something emotionally charged is happening. In general its just amazing at creating emotion thru hyper stylized drawings, like the panel where evry member of Horror Hospital is literally picking at Trevors nasty elongated almost-corpse. Pier Paolo Pasolinis classic now in 3D!!! Youll never eat chocolate again… One gag that rly got me was the music hot shot handing the two Horror Hospital members lines of coke and them not knowing wat 2 do with it. Dougs expressions r so insane and hilarious and rly evocative of drooling rapey lust. The panelling on God, if only i had a time machine… Horrifying stuff!!! I want that TAKE ME SERIOUSLY shirt. Lots of great shirts in this… Whens the Horror Hospital Unplugged clothing line coming out?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2016
Let me say first and foremost , the toilet/gore humor wasn't my cup of tea hence my poor grade. However I always strongly advise to check out the books yourself , maybe you'll laugh and enjoy it.
Also what played a factor in my poor grade was my disappointment because I felt let down based on the cover. The cover was haunting and intriguing with this unconscious kid in a pool of blood. I thought this might be a "Silent Hill" type of story but it's a dark twisted comedy.
Also what played a factor in my poor grade was my disappointment because I felt let down based on the cover. The cover was haunting and intriguing with this unconscious kid in a pool of blood. I thought this might be a "Silent Hill" type of story but it's a dark twisted comedy.
May 2, 2012
A great choice for insomniacs. Getting lost in the details was fun, and the end was stellar - perfect - but as a whole... meh. I liked it, did not love it. I have a deep affinity for the time-frame and music and struggling bands as well as all the socioeconomic/sexual angles mixed into this so I guess I wanted something deeper. Worth collecting, that is for sure.
November 14, 2007
The art here was totally bananas. It was a fun book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews