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Paradox Press series of Big Books
The Big Book of Freaks
/Gahan Wilson Enchanted or evil, lucky or cursed, freaks have always held a special place in society. Now noted cartoonist Gahan Wison tackles this subject with uncanny expertise and insight. Inside are freaks of the past, such as the cyclops; well known freaks of recent eras, such as the Elephant Man; and potential future freaks created through genetic manipulation. Graphic novel format. Mature readers.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
150 people want to read
About the author
Gahan Wilson
282 books49 followersGahan Wilson was an American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations.
Wilson's cartoons and illustrations are drawn in a playfully grotesque style, and have a dark humor that is often compared to the work of The New Yorker cartoonist and Addams Family creator Charles Addams. But while both men sometimes feature vampires, graveyards and other traditional horror elements in their work, Addams's cartoons tended to be more gothic, reserved and old-fashioned, while Wilson's work is more contemporary, gross, and confrontational, featuring atomic mutants, subway monsters, and serial killers. It could be argued that Addams's work was probably meant to be funny without a lot of satirical intent, while Wilson often has a very specific point to make.
His cartoons and prose fiction have appeared regularly in Playboy, Collier's Weekly, The New Yorker and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. For the last he also wrote some movie and book reviews. He has been a movie review columnist for The Twilight Zone Magazine and a book critic for Realms of Fantasy magazine.
His comic strip Nuts, which appeared in National Lampoon, was a reaction against what he saw as the saccharine view of childhood in strips like Peanuts. His hero The Kid sees the world as a dark, dangerous and unfair place, but just occasionally a fun one too.
Wilson also wrote and illustrated a short story for Harlan Ellison's anthology Again, Dangerous Visions. The "title" is a black blob, and the story is about an ominous black blob that appears on the page, growing at an alarming rate, until... He has contributed short stories to other publications as well; "M1" and "The Zombie Butler" both appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and were reprinted in Gahan Wilson's Cracked Cosmos.
Additionally, Gahan Wilson created a computer game titled Gahan Wilson's The Ultimate Haunted House, in conjunction with Byron Preiss. The goal is to collect 13 keys in 13 hours from the 13 rooms of a house, by interacting in various ways with characters (such as a two-headed monster, a mad scientist, and a vampiress), objects, and the house itself.
He received the World Fantasy Convention Award in 1981, and the National Cartoonist Society's Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Gahan Wilson is the subject of a feature length documentary film, Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird, directed by Steven-Charles Jaffe.
Wilson's cartoons and illustrations are drawn in a playfully grotesque style, and have a dark humor that is often compared to the work of The New Yorker cartoonist and Addams Family creator Charles Addams. But while both men sometimes feature vampires, graveyards and other traditional horror elements in their work, Addams's cartoons tended to be more gothic, reserved and old-fashioned, while Wilson's work is more contemporary, gross, and confrontational, featuring atomic mutants, subway monsters, and serial killers. It could be argued that Addams's work was probably meant to be funny without a lot of satirical intent, while Wilson often has a very specific point to make.
His cartoons and prose fiction have appeared regularly in Playboy, Collier's Weekly, The New Yorker and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. For the last he also wrote some movie and book reviews. He has been a movie review columnist for The Twilight Zone Magazine and a book critic for Realms of Fantasy magazine.
His comic strip Nuts, which appeared in National Lampoon, was a reaction against what he saw as the saccharine view of childhood in strips like Peanuts. His hero The Kid sees the world as a dark, dangerous and unfair place, but just occasionally a fun one too.
Wilson also wrote and illustrated a short story for Harlan Ellison's anthology Again, Dangerous Visions. The "title" is a black blob, and the story is about an ominous black blob that appears on the page, growing at an alarming rate, until... He has contributed short stories to other publications as well; "M1" and "The Zombie Butler" both appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and were reprinted in Gahan Wilson's Cracked Cosmos.
Additionally, Gahan Wilson created a computer game titled Gahan Wilson's The Ultimate Haunted House, in conjunction with Byron Preiss. The goal is to collect 13 keys in 13 hours from the 13 rooms of a house, by interacting in various ways with characters (such as a two-headed monster, a mad scientist, and a vampiress), objects, and the house itself.
He received the World Fantasy Convention Award in 1981, and the National Cartoonist Society's Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Gahan Wilson is the subject of a feature length documentary film, Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird, directed by Steven-Charles Jaffe.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 24, 2019
I've said it before, but I love the Big Books series. There's so much information in each one I'm not sure how much of it all I will retain, but it's very interesting reading anyway.
In this volume you do have to get past the political incorrectness of the whole "Freaks" thing, but the truth is most of the material is very respectful to the subjects. Also keep in mind that while the subjects of this volume can have sad stories, in most cases these have happy endings as they overcome their issues, or at least profit from them. I'm sure the truly sad stories come from similar characters who were never famous.
Nevertheless, the stories are very interesting and allow you to see the subjects in new ways, revealing things about them you'd probably never have guessed.
One recurring theme in this volume: P.T. Barnum. It seems the huckster was somehow involved in the life of nearly every main character mentioned, either by working with them, ripping them off, or, in most cases, both.
I have always been fascinated by the old carnivals at the turn of the century, and there's plenty of carnival facts and lore included. From Tom Thumb, to the World's tallest man, to the Siamese twins, to the bearded ladies, and even to Jumbo the Elephant, all of the most famous are here.
If you have any interest in this type of subject matter, you should hunt this book down, especially if you enjoy graphic novels.
In this volume you do have to get past the political incorrectness of the whole "Freaks" thing, but the truth is most of the material is very respectful to the subjects. Also keep in mind that while the subjects of this volume can have sad stories, in most cases these have happy endings as they overcome their issues, or at least profit from them. I'm sure the truly sad stories come from similar characters who were never famous.
Nevertheless, the stories are very interesting and allow you to see the subjects in new ways, revealing things about them you'd probably never have guessed.
One recurring theme in this volume: P.T. Barnum. It seems the huckster was somehow involved in the life of nearly every main character mentioned, either by working with them, ripping them off, or, in most cases, both.
I have always been fascinated by the old carnivals at the turn of the century, and there's plenty of carnival facts and lore included. From Tom Thumb, to the World's tallest man, to the Siamese twins, to the bearded ladies, and even to Jumbo the Elephant, all of the most famous are here.
If you have any interest in this type of subject matter, you should hunt this book down, especially if you enjoy graphic novels.
January 11, 2008
I love this whole series of books. They are historical accounts illustrated by a collection of the top comic book artists, and each one has a theme. Bet you can guess what you will find in this book. Super fun and entertaining.
April 27, 2025
"The Big Book of Freaks" is an absolutely fascinating and unforgettable read. Paradox Press manages to blend dark humor, compassion, and curiosity in a way that sheds light on the lives of some of the most unusual and intriguing people history has to offer. The artwork is wonderfully expressive and captures the spirit of each story, while the writing strikes a perfect balance between being informative, entertaining, and respectful.
I found myself absorbed, turning page after page, eager to learn more about each character's unique life. There's a strange kind of beauty in how the book celebrates individuality, resilience, and human diversity without ever feeling exploitative.
One of the most striking points comes toward the end, when the authors offer their own reflection on the concept of "freakiness": a person is considered a freak not because of what they are, but because of how they are presented to the public, and how the public chooses to perceive them. That really hits the nail on the head — and it adds a thoughtful, almost bittersweet layer to everything that came before.
If you're interested in the odd corners of history and enjoy well-crafted graphic storytelling, The Big Book of Freaks is a must-read. Highly recommended.
I found myself absorbed, turning page after page, eager to learn more about each character's unique life. There's a strange kind of beauty in how the book celebrates individuality, resilience, and human diversity without ever feeling exploitative.
One of the most striking points comes toward the end, when the authors offer their own reflection on the concept of "freakiness": a person is considered a freak not because of what they are, but because of how they are presented to the public, and how the public chooses to perceive them. That really hits the nail on the head — and it adds a thoughtful, almost bittersweet layer to everything that came before.
If you're interested in the odd corners of history and enjoy well-crafted graphic storytelling, The Big Book of Freaks is a must-read. Highly recommended.
December 21, 2017
If I had to use one word to describe The Big Book of Freaks, written by Gahan Wilson, it would be "problematic"—problematic because it's no longer entirely politically correct to treat the variations in anatomy described in the book as having entertainment value, and problematic because notwithstanding that assessment, Wilson's treatment of the subject matter is questionable. Nowhere is this more evident than in the last two chapters, in which Wilson first addresses the subject of "Grifts"—i.e., people deliberately faking physical anomaly for financial gain—and then veers wildly into outright padding. (Perhaps not coincidentally, this was the last in the Big Books series to clock in at more than 192 pages.) Yes, it's human nature to try to profit off of personal adversity, but it denigrates "legitimate" variants in human anatomy to lump them in with charlatans; and when Wilson goes so far, in the last two vignettes, to describe how people are freaks by definition and then to wildly speculate on extraterrestrial "freaks", it wholly defeats the purpose, and detracts from the ostensible seriousness of the entire venture.
All that being said, when Wilson is on target, he's both matter-of-fact and more or less respectful; particularly noteworthy along these lines are the vignettes about Chang and Eng Bunker and Anna and Martin Van Buren Bates. (As a matter of fact, the love story between the Bateses was sufficiently moving that it very nearly brought me to tears.) Moreover, P.T. Barnum figures prominently and repeatedly in the pages of The Big Book of Freaks; Wilson does a rather decent job of conveying Barnum's apparently genuine empathy for the various individuals in his sideshows and museums. In general, Wilson's writing of The Big Book of Freaks does convey worthwhile and interesting information.
However, Wilson, primarily known as a cartoonist rather than a writer, here demonstrates some limitations with long-form writing. While it is the case that Wilson provided a short story to Harlan Ellison's acclaimed anthology Again, Dangerous Visions—accompanied by his own illustrations, no less—and while it is also the case that Wilson contributed an entertaining introduction to the series' own The Big Book of Weirdos, Wilson's writing suffers from overkill. I don't know whether Wilson chose the entirety of the vignettes himself, but in several places he seems to have run out of ideas. Whether grifts, or extraterrestrials, or "legendary" freaks (from the first chapter), some vignettes border on irrelevant, if not entirely unnecessary; it's as if Wilson became enamored of his own particular take on thew subject, editors be damned. The effect thereof is thus of a book that veers from entertaining to uncomfortable.
Ultimately, perhaps the intent was there, but the execution left something to be desired.
All that being said, when Wilson is on target, he's both matter-of-fact and more or less respectful; particularly noteworthy along these lines are the vignettes about Chang and Eng Bunker and Anna and Martin Van Buren Bates. (As a matter of fact, the love story between the Bateses was sufficiently moving that it very nearly brought me to tears.) Moreover, P.T. Barnum figures prominently and repeatedly in the pages of The Big Book of Freaks; Wilson does a rather decent job of conveying Barnum's apparently genuine empathy for the various individuals in his sideshows and museums. In general, Wilson's writing of The Big Book of Freaks does convey worthwhile and interesting information.
However, Wilson, primarily known as a cartoonist rather than a writer, here demonstrates some limitations with long-form writing. While it is the case that Wilson provided a short story to Harlan Ellison's acclaimed anthology Again, Dangerous Visions—accompanied by his own illustrations, no less—and while it is also the case that Wilson contributed an entertaining introduction to the series' own The Big Book of Weirdos, Wilson's writing suffers from overkill. I don't know whether Wilson chose the entirety of the vignettes himself, but in several places he seems to have run out of ideas. Whether grifts, or extraterrestrials, or "legendary" freaks (from the first chapter), some vignettes border on irrelevant, if not entirely unnecessary; it's as if Wilson became enamored of his own particular take on thew subject, editors be damned. The effect thereof is thus of a book that veers from entertaining to uncomfortable.
Ultimately, perhaps the intent was there, but the execution left something to be desired.
September 14, 2007
Was looking for a light bit of reading over the weekend, so picked out The Big Book of Freaks off the bookshelf.
It's a collection of comic-book style illustrated essays about the history of freaks and freakshows, with the focus on the human. It includes short pieces on many of the famous midgets, giants, conjoined twins and bearded ladies of the last few generations: John Merrick, Tom Thumb, The Hilton Sisters etc. Hoaxes such as the Cardiff Giant and Feejee Mermaid are discussed, and one of the sections talks about the movie Freaks, directed by Tod Browning.
Each piece is illustrated by a different artist, making the book a treat for the visually oriented. A short bibliography is included; but the introduction admits that some of the stories "might better belong in our sister publication, The Big Book of Urban Legends". This book treads a very fine line between presenting just the dry facts and indulging our obsession with the bizarre. Most of the time, its sympathies lie with its subjects, illustrating the dehumanizing situation many of them were forced to live in.
Recommended to those with an interest in the unusual paths that Mother Nature occasionally takes in creating human beings.
It's a collection of comic-book style illustrated essays about the history of freaks and freakshows, with the focus on the human. It includes short pieces on many of the famous midgets, giants, conjoined twins and bearded ladies of the last few generations: John Merrick, Tom Thumb, The Hilton Sisters etc. Hoaxes such as the Cardiff Giant and Feejee Mermaid are discussed, and one of the sections talks about the movie Freaks, directed by Tod Browning.
Each piece is illustrated by a different artist, making the book a treat for the visually oriented. A short bibliography is included; but the introduction admits that some of the stories "might better belong in our sister publication, The Big Book of Urban Legends". This book treads a very fine line between presenting just the dry facts and indulging our obsession with the bizarre. Most of the time, its sympathies lie with its subjects, illustrating the dehumanizing situation many of them were forced to live in.
Recommended to those with an interest in the unusual paths that Mother Nature occasionally takes in creating human beings.
November 19, 2008
graphic novel that contains several stories of self made freaks and freaks of nature. captivating! true! I can't stop thinking about the story of the guy who marries the ugliest woman in the world just to put her on display. Also, contains an excellent drawing of a denatsate - a beggar who's face has been disfigured (cut of lips and cheeks)so as to induce pity. allegedly a cruel gypsy tribe used to force people to do this and would then make them their slaves. wonderful stuff in this book. God is illuminated by the extremes.
July 27, 2012
It took a while to finish this mainly because I was a bit bored by the overall writing and story line. Definitely not as great as The Big Book of Urban Legends (highly recommended). It may be the format. Where 'Legends' managed to tell one urban legend per page, 'Freaks' tends to drone on and on about these not so freakish freaks. Yes, some people may find it interesting, but I found myself more intrigued with other novels and graphic novels over this book, which is a pity. Like I said, you'll get more bang for your buck with Urban Legends. I just wasn't feeling this book at all. Sorry.
February 3, 2013
I enjoyed the facts about freaks and the great carny/side show movement as well as the exploitation of freaks. However, the art styles varied significantly from my tastes. Some of the art was not enjoyable to me at all. Considering that this is a collection of graphic stories, I think it's an important criteria.
April 14, 2008
I read this when I was a kid. It might help explain my sense of humor.
April 16, 2008
Equal parts horrifying and inspiring.
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July 29, 2011"Big Book of..." is great illustrated series on a wide variety of topics with lots of top-notch artists and authors.
August 8, 2012
Oh, the supreme delight of finding this book at some friends’ cabin! Strange tales told in graphic novel format.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews