The Many Deaths of Barnaby James

by Neil Gibson, Brian Nathanson, Piotr Kowalski (Artist)

Every year, the circus comes to town.

However, "The Black Top" isn't like any you've seen before—its performers were once dead and they've been resurrected by their fearsome ringmaster, AZLON.

BARNABY JAMES, a young gravedigger, requests that Azlon resurrect the love of his (former) life, DELILAH. Time and time again, his pleas are rejected. Frustrated, Barnaby decides to steal Azlon’s magic wand and bring back Delilah himself. On his desperate journey to find her, Barnaby must overcome murderers, cannibals, and sex slavers, not to mention the full fury of Azlon, or he might just find himself dead…again.

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Gary Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Gibson likes to be original. Even when collaborating with someone else to bring their creation to the reader, he cannot help but do something extremely original. Extremely entertaining. Extremely thought provoking. Extremely unpleasant.

This is the harshest of love stories. But with a happy ending. Kinda.

Having said all that, credit is due to the creator and co-author, the artist, colourist, and letterer too. Much credit.

[Dimitris Koskinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rare gem that surprised me. The plot buildup and story flow visualized by exquisite the artistry of Piotr Kowalski will definitely win you over, and you are bound to return for a second reading of the story shortly after the first. The depth of the characters was what really made a difference to me. The people of this book are solid and they have a backstory, a past, weight! (even if we never learn what it is-that is not important-but you feel it is there!). It is important though to be a lover of the fantasy horror genre. If you do not like horror, then this is not a book for you.
Remarkable work Neil Gibson!
I'd love to work with you someday!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was odd, because it wasn't so much about Barnaby Jones. The first issue is. Then the perspective changes to a new character with each issue and the book gets darker and darker with things like cannibals and slavery involved. It's not bad. Just not what I expected from the title. It all revolves around the Black Top, which is a carnival ran by people who have been raised from the dead.

[TheElder36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect going in...

I didn't know what to expect going in, but I loved it. What a unique story about love, loss, & finding your place in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[BooksAsDreams (Tiffany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s dark. It’s twisted. It’s maniacal. It’s also a story about innocence. About the 7 Sins. It’s a story about who’s good, who’s bad, and who and what is ugly and beautiful in the world. Read the back matter after the story ends (that’s why it’s 5 Stars).

[Mikael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty predictable and exploitative.

[Adam Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dark and fucked up but some good twists and a very short read.

[Wingless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and it all connects.