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Bedlam #1
Bedlam, Vol. 1
One of the hottest new series of the year gets its first, new reader friendly-priced collection! Fillmore Press was once Madder Red, a homicidal maniac and criminal overlord who ruled the city of Bedlam. Now he's been cured of his mania, and says he wants to help protect the place he once terrorized - but can he be trusted?
184 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2012
58 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spencer
1,002 books347 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
December 7, 2021
I'm not sure.
I like this comic, but with provisions.
Because it could be that this story turns out to be really cool. But I've been burned by Nick Spencer before (Morning Glories, anyone?) and whether he decides to finish it and what it becomes once it's finished will determine a lot.
Right now, though?
It's a somewhat confusing but fairly interesting comic about a reformed mass murderer named Madder Red.
There's really no reason behind his violence other than a Jokeresque love of chaos and death. The book opens with him killing an entire room full of school children and their teachers, saving one little girl to kill in front of the resident superhero, The First. <--whatever that means
You don't really get an explanation as to who The First is, he's just there and apparently fights crime with the blessings of the police department.
Anyway, Madder Red dies (due to spoilers) and is Clockwork Oranged into a reformed citizen by a doctor that looks oddly like DC's Joker and is surrounded by a group of surgically deformed nurses and orderlies.
For 10 years he's been dead, but now this odd doctor has let him out into the great wide world to continue his rehabilitation process. So what's a serial killer to do?
Apparently, he's going to help the local police deal with the new kid in town.
There are a lot of questions I'd like to have answered when it comes to this comic. The biggest one is are you going to eventually answer my questions?
If the answer to that is yes, then this is something that I would continue to read.
However, as it is, I'll probably wait till the entire story is finished before I pick this back up again.
This was a Halloween gift from a spooky Goodreads friend.
Thank you!
I like this comic, but with provisions.
Because it could be that this story turns out to be really cool. But I've been burned by Nick Spencer before (Morning Glories, anyone?) and whether he decides to finish it and what it becomes once it's finished will determine a lot.
Right now, though?
It's a somewhat confusing but fairly interesting comic about a reformed mass murderer named Madder Red.
There's really no reason behind his violence other than a Jokeresque love of chaos and death. The book opens with him killing an entire room full of school children and their teachers, saving one little girl to kill in front of the resident superhero, The First. <--whatever that means
You don't really get an explanation as to who The First is, he's just there and apparently fights crime with the blessings of the police department.
Anyway, Madder Red dies (due to spoilers) and is Clockwork Oranged into a reformed citizen by a doctor that looks oddly like DC's Joker and is surrounded by a group of surgically deformed nurses and orderlies.
For 10 years he's been dead, but now this odd doctor has let him out into the great wide world to continue his rehabilitation process. So what's a serial killer to do?
Apparently, he's going to help the local police deal with the new kid in town.
There are a lot of questions I'd like to have answered when it comes to this comic. The biggest one is are you going to eventually answer my questions?
If the answer to that is yes, then this is something that I would continue to read.
However, as it is, I'll probably wait till the entire story is finished before I pick this back up again.
This was a Halloween gift from a spooky Goodreads friend.
Thank you!
February 15, 2021
So, Bedlam, Vol. 1... *cough nervously* This graphic novel was damn near brilliant, but oh so disturbed. As in, psychopath-like sick.
(I'd say it depends - or both)
TRIGGER WARNING : Loads of violence, including against children and animals.
See this trigger warning above? Frightening, right? You should think so. Truth is, what we get here with Fillmore Press, former serial-killer named Madder Red is the embodiment of what an antihero is : ten years earlier, on his journey of gratuitous violence, he set fire on the city of Bedlam and killed hundreds of innocents. With a sarcasm which reminded me of the Joker, he treated life - his own, and others' - as a meaningless joke.
All was well in this fucked-up world (not really) until a crazy doctor entered the show. Why, you ask? Oh, but to reset Madder Red and make him... whatever he is right now, but complex that's for sure.
(psycho Madder does have a point)
It follows that forgiveness and penance are not as easy as they seem (who really thought it was, I wonder) and that Fillmore Press will have to take the biggest risks to help proving that he changed. Add a kick-ass female police officer, corruption, a series of grisly murders, and basically no respect for anything, including religion, and you'll get one of the most politically incorrect, crazy, and dark thriller I've ever read.
Of course I loved it.
(and I don't care if some parts don't make sense. How's that for love, huh?)
PS. I really appreciated the art, too - it takes a little while to get used to it, but in the end, it's perfect for the story.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
(I'd say it depends - or both)
TRIGGER WARNING : Loads of violence, including against children and animals.
See this trigger warning above? Frightening, right? You should think so. Truth is, what we get here with Fillmore Press, former serial-killer named Madder Red is the embodiment of what an antihero is : ten years earlier, on his journey of gratuitous violence, he set fire on the city of Bedlam and killed hundreds of innocents. With a sarcasm which reminded me of the Joker, he treated life - his own, and others' - as a meaningless joke.
All was well in this fucked-up world (not really) until a crazy doctor entered the show. Why, you ask? Oh, but to reset Madder Red and make him... whatever he is right now, but complex that's for sure.
(psycho Madder does have a point)
It follows that forgiveness and penance are not as easy as they seem (who really thought it was, I wonder) and that Fillmore Press will have to take the biggest risks to help proving that he changed. Add a kick-ass female police officer, corruption, a series of grisly murders, and basically no respect for anything, including religion, and you'll get one of the most politically incorrect, crazy, and dark thriller I've ever read.
Of course I loved it.
(and I don't care if some parts don't make sense. How's that for love, huh?)
PS. I really appreciated the art, too - it takes a little while to get used to it, but in the end, it's perfect for the story.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
December 3, 2015
Bedlam by Nick Spencer Chaos and anarchy rule in Bedlam, courtesy of Fillmore Press aka supervillain Madder Red who opens the show with a massacre at the opera during a school field trip. He then plays cards with a little girl whilst waiting patiently for the local superhero vigilante to arrive and save the day. Captured by the Police, you might think it's game over but do mistakes really happen to the cleverest homicidal maniac on the street. Apparently not there's another play and its more violific madness.
Madder Red doesn't differentiate, he'll kill anything and everything, man, woman, child, all in a blaze of vivid blood red. That was 10 years ago, a final explosion sees a head separated from a body and then to all that matter, Madder Red is dead. He's abducted by a crazy doctor with equally nutty nurses and 10 years of treatment. This involves brain operations, psychiatric treatment, culminating in one of the scenes of the book. A behavioural experiment on companionship, he gets a kitten, ahhh! And then he kills it. He then proceeds to slaughter a kitten a day for 96 days, shouldn't laugh but... And then finally he befriends one and his rehabilitation is almost complete, he's nearly ready to be released back into society.
So the past is intermingled with the present and a serial killer stalks the streets of Bedlam, Fillmore Press can help, he has unique abilities. He just has to convince the Police that he can help catch the killer.
What a story, this graphic novel rocked my little world, the artwork is raw and edgy. We go from present tense in colour to Madder Red in all his glory, black and white with a little red thrown in. Ok a lot of red to emphasise the horror, blood and lots of it, as maniacs go he's up there with the best, or worst of them, you know what I mean. Red is never seen without his mask, there's a murderous aura in every panel, a disturbing frenzy that is absolutely gripping and I loved it all. This is just the most riveting imagery I've seen coupled with an awesome story and characters. Top notch.
Madder Red doesn't differentiate, he'll kill anything and everything, man, woman, child, all in a blaze of vivid blood red. That was 10 years ago, a final explosion sees a head separated from a body and then to all that matter, Madder Red is dead. He's abducted by a crazy doctor with equally nutty nurses and 10 years of treatment. This involves brain operations, psychiatric treatment, culminating in one of the scenes of the book. A behavioural experiment on companionship, he gets a kitten, ahhh! And then he kills it. He then proceeds to slaughter a kitten a day for 96 days, shouldn't laugh but... And then finally he befriends one and his rehabilitation is almost complete, he's nearly ready to be released back into society.
So the past is intermingled with the present and a serial killer stalks the streets of Bedlam, Fillmore Press can help, he has unique abilities. He just has to convince the Police that he can help catch the killer.
What a story, this graphic novel rocked my little world, the artwork is raw and edgy. We go from present tense in colour to Madder Red in all his glory, black and white with a little red thrown in. Ok a lot of red to emphasise the horror, blood and lots of it, as maniacs go he's up there with the best, or worst of them, you know what I mean. Red is never seen without his mask, there's a murderous aura in every panel, a disturbing frenzy that is absolutely gripping and I loved it all. This is just the most riveting imagery I've seen coupled with an awesome story and characters. Top notch.
June 7, 2016
Social rehabilitation and reintegration are generally not an option for a super-villain. After all, a super-villain is supposed to be quintessentially "evil” rather than a mere victim of circumstance, and a truly evil disposition is not something that tends to change with a more sympathetic or stimulating environment. As a result, the conflict between the superhero and the super-villain can never be resolved - ka-ching!
Madder Red, the protagonist of Bedlam Vol.1, used to be one such super-villain: a particularly cold-hearted and nasty homicidal maniac, to be precise. However, it now appears this homicidal maniac has finally been cured of his mania. Fillmore Press, the person formerly known as Madder Red, actually wants to help protect the town he once terrorized. And he’s pretty good at protecting it, too. The only question is: can he be trusted?
The premise is nothing new, of course, as popular culture in general, and superhero comics in particular, have frequently explored the possibility of reformed villainy. What sets Bedlam apart from your typical superhero story on the topic is the fact that its protagonist is no long-established character, and that the reader thus cannot be sure at all what to make of the guy.
This uncertainty ultimately turns the story into a psychological thriller in the tradition of The Silence of the Lambs (enriched with a few superhero elements) – and it works quite well, thanks to Nick Spencer's clinically merciless writing and Riley Rossmo's diabolically scratchy artwork. My only complaint is that I never really started to care about any of the characters, possibly because their design is a bit on the generic side (or because I'm an insensitive bastard). Still, if you like your thrillers grim, grisly and hard-hitting, Bedlam Vol.1 is certainly worth checking out! 3.5 stars.
PS: I am increasingly fascinated by the versatility of Nick Spencer’s writing: there is the horrific suspense of Bedlam, the supernatural boarding school drama of Morning Glories, the silly but hilarious comedy of The Superior Foes of Spider-Man - they’re all about villainy to some degree, but I never would have guessed they’re by the same writer. Is there anything this guy cannot do... well, as far as villainy is concerned, at least? :)
Madder Red, the protagonist of Bedlam Vol.1, used to be one such super-villain: a particularly cold-hearted and nasty homicidal maniac, to be precise. However, it now appears this homicidal maniac has finally been cured of his mania. Fillmore Press, the person formerly known as Madder Red, actually wants to help protect the town he once terrorized. And he’s pretty good at protecting it, too. The only question is: can he be trusted?
The premise is nothing new, of course, as popular culture in general, and superhero comics in particular, have frequently explored the possibility of reformed villainy. What sets Bedlam apart from your typical superhero story on the topic is the fact that its protagonist is no long-established character, and that the reader thus cannot be sure at all what to make of the guy.
This uncertainty ultimately turns the story into a psychological thriller in the tradition of The Silence of the Lambs (enriched with a few superhero elements) – and it works quite well, thanks to Nick Spencer's clinically merciless writing and Riley Rossmo's diabolically scratchy artwork. My only complaint is that I never really started to care about any of the characters, possibly because their design is a bit on the generic side (or because I'm an insensitive bastard). Still, if you like your thrillers grim, grisly and hard-hitting, Bedlam Vol.1 is certainly worth checking out! 3.5 stars.
PS: I am increasingly fascinated by the versatility of Nick Spencer’s writing: there is the horrific suspense of Bedlam, the supernatural boarding school drama of Morning Glories, the silly but hilarious comedy of The Superior Foes of Spider-Man - they’re all about villainy to some degree, but I never would have guessed they’re by the same writer. Is there anything this guy cannot do... well, as far as villainy is concerned, at least? :)
February 11, 2018
Well that was definately unique
July 30, 2016
10 years ago Madder Red terrorised the city of Bedlam before he was stopped by superhero The First. Now, a new serial killer is in town and a reformed Madder Red decides to help the cops catch him - but does he secretly have a different agenda?
Bedlam is sort of a look at the man behind the Joker (represented here by Madder Red) - who made the Joker who he is? Was he always evil or was he made to be evil? Unlike the Joker though, Madder Red gets better (I’m ignoring the godawful Batman: Going Sane book!) which is a shame because the only interesting part of this snorefest was when he was going nuts and slaughtering people.
It’s also a very unsatisfying and unimaginative analysis of psychopaths - the mad scientist done made him crazy with his brain experiments! - so it doesn’t even do a good job of exploring its central theme, let alone tell an entertaining story. The “serial killer helping the police catch another serial killer” premise is clichéd and unoriginal at this point (I get it, you saw The Silence of the Lambs too) and The First is a terrible name for a superhero who’s also written and designed incredibly blandly.
The comic is overly gory for no real reason besides desperate shock value, the increasingly less engaging story dragged on and on as it progressed until my brain was waving a white flag, and the book was overwritten like most of Nick Spencer’s comics with far too many redundant word balloons and captions on too many pages. Nick, GET A FUCKING EDITOR!
The Frazer Irving covers are great and the premise is cool, if very poorly executed, but Bedlam is unfortunately a boring mess of a read.
Bedlam is sort of a look at the man behind the Joker (represented here by Madder Red) - who made the Joker who he is? Was he always evil or was he made to be evil? Unlike the Joker though, Madder Red gets better (I’m ignoring the godawful Batman: Going Sane book!) which is a shame because the only interesting part of this snorefest was when he was going nuts and slaughtering people.
It’s also a very unsatisfying and unimaginative analysis of psychopaths - the mad scientist done made him crazy with his brain experiments! - so it doesn’t even do a good job of exploring its central theme, let alone tell an entertaining story. The “serial killer helping the police catch another serial killer” premise is clichéd and unoriginal at this point (I get it, you saw The Silence of the Lambs too) and The First is a terrible name for a superhero who’s also written and designed incredibly blandly.
The comic is overly gory for no real reason besides desperate shock value, the increasingly less engaging story dragged on and on as it progressed until my brain was waving a white flag, and the book was overwritten like most of Nick Spencer’s comics with far too many redundant word balloons and captions on too many pages. Nick, GET A FUCKING EDITOR!
The Frazer Irving covers are great and the premise is cool, if very poorly executed, but Bedlam is unfortunately a boring mess of a read.
March 12, 2019
So for those of you who have read this, remember towards the beginning of this book (somewhere in the first chapter) Madder Red talks about his idea for a TV show where this man’s wife is trying to kill him but the poor guy has no idea yet still keeps avoiding it? I would watch that show.
What’s it about?
In the city of Gotha... Bedlam there was once a psycho-killer that called himself Madder Red, he was the Joker to their Batman pretty much (there is a superhero character in this book). Now he’s not been doing his psychotic shit for awhile and is perfectly normal. Eventually he sees all the terrible shit going on in the city and decides it’s time for him to start doing good in his community... in some kinda strange ways.
Pros:
The story is pretty interesting. Seeing the psychotic killer of the story try to redeem himself in less usual ways is pretty neat and Spencer writes it well.
This book is pretty suspenseful. It has some good twists and such, isn’t very predictable like some might expect this one to be so I liked that.
The horror stuff is well done. I was kinda unsure how it would be because most of the Nick Spencer stuff I read is meant to be humorous so seeing this and what I’ve read of Morning Glories shows that he can write some more serious stuff (well, creator owned at least, I still remember Secret Empire).
This book has some good comic relief.
Cons:
The characters aren’t very interesting. The former psycho is sorta interesting but other than him... The weird doctors are just that. The detective is a typical crime drama detective. The superhero guy that’s in some scenes is a really generic superhero.
This book is a bit slow paced for the most part. There’s a bit more action towards the end so maybe volume 2 will be more intense but this volume... not so much.
The solution to the book’s main problem is kinda anti-climactic and dumb.
Mixed thoughts:
The art is mixed. Sometimes it looks amazing, especially in the flashback scenes because it has a really cool black, white and red color scheme that works amazingly but there’s a few scenes where it looks like messy scribbles.
Overall:
I wasn’t sure if I’d give this 3 or 4 stars. I went with 3 because while it’s an interesting idea and I am gonna add volume 2 to my reading list, I wouldn’t really recommend it.
It has an interesting story, well done horror and suspense but not very interesting characters and a slow pace.
So yeah, not bad but I hope volume 2 is better.
3/5
What’s it about?
In the city of Gotha... Bedlam there was once a psycho-killer that called himself Madder Red, he was the Joker to their Batman pretty much (there is a superhero character in this book). Now he’s not been doing his psychotic shit for awhile and is perfectly normal. Eventually he sees all the terrible shit going on in the city and decides it’s time for him to start doing good in his community... in some kinda strange ways.
Pros:
The story is pretty interesting. Seeing the psychotic killer of the story try to redeem himself in less usual ways is pretty neat and Spencer writes it well.
This book is pretty suspenseful. It has some good twists and such, isn’t very predictable like some might expect this one to be so I liked that.
The horror stuff is well done. I was kinda unsure how it would be because most of the Nick Spencer stuff I read is meant to be humorous so seeing this and what I’ve read of Morning Glories shows that he can write some more serious stuff (well, creator owned at least, I still remember Secret Empire).
This book has some good comic relief.
Cons:
The characters aren’t very interesting. The former psycho is sorta interesting but other than him... The weird doctors are just that. The detective is a typical crime drama detective. The superhero guy that’s in some scenes is a really generic superhero.
This book is a bit slow paced for the most part. There’s a bit more action towards the end so maybe volume 2 will be more intense but this volume... not so much.
The solution to the book’s main problem is kinda anti-climactic and dumb.
Mixed thoughts:
The art is mixed. Sometimes it looks amazing, especially in the flashback scenes because it has a really cool black, white and red color scheme that works amazingly but there’s a few scenes where it looks like messy scribbles.
Overall:
I wasn’t sure if I’d give this 3 or 4 stars. I went with 3 because while it’s an interesting idea and I am gonna add volume 2 to my reading list, I wouldn’t really recommend it.
It has an interesting story, well done horror and suspense but not very interesting characters and a slow pace.
So yeah, not bad but I hope volume 2 is better.
3/5
December 28, 2014
Dave's Quick Judgement -
THE DEFENSE
- A disturbing yet brilliant look into the mind of a psychopath.
- Story is intensely gripping.
- Flashback sequences add much depth to an already compelling lead character.
- Antagonist and supporting cast are interesting enough to not be overshadowed by such a mesmerizing protagonist.
THE PROSECUTION
- Sick! So sick! Sicky-sick! Mega-sick! Infinity-plus-one degrees of sickness here!
- Did I mention the story is really sick?!?
THE VERDICT
Ordinarily, I might worry about what people could think of me when I tell them I enjoyed something so disturbing, but when the book is this good, I don't care! Readers who are faint of heart and weak of stomach should avoid this book for health reasons, but for fans of horror and thrillers, "Bedlam - Volume One" one is a must-read!
FULL REVIEW TO COME
THE DEFENSE
- A disturbing yet brilliant look into the mind of a psychopath.
- Story is intensely gripping.
- Flashback sequences add much depth to an already compelling lead character.
- Antagonist and supporting cast are interesting enough to not be overshadowed by such a mesmerizing protagonist.
THE PROSECUTION
- Sick! So sick! Sicky-sick! Mega-sick! Infinity-plus-one degrees of sickness here!
- Did I mention the story is really sick?!?
THE VERDICT
Ordinarily, I might worry about what people could think of me when I tell them I enjoyed something so disturbing, but when the book is this good, I don't care! Readers who are faint of heart and weak of stomach should avoid this book for health reasons, but for fans of horror and thrillers, "Bedlam - Volume One" one is a must-read!
FULL REVIEW TO COME
October 12, 2017
4.5 stars
What a delightful read.
I mean, this totally made sick to my stomach, like I wanna-lowkey-puke-right-the-fuck-now, but, ya know, I kinda loved it.
I find the idea of this rehabilitated serial killer fascinating. The flashbacks of the madder red were, sick, yes, but captivating too, because the artwork is fucking beautiful to watch. (And the weird "sketchy" kind of look works perfectly too.)
The character design + the colours that were used in the old days of terrible murders were fantastic and the red always helped creating the creepy, twisted atmosphere.
Of course, there were several aspects that reminded me of Hannibal, the detective case, the weird, disgusting, always thoughtful killings (Unlike the TV show though I was never bored.)
Shots fired!
I, surprisingly, really loved the writing too, the dialogue was great in a genre that can be, well.. quite disappointing, and more often than not feel quite cheap.
For example, I loved every title of every chapter, how some of them even made me smile and how well they fit to the story. I also really liked Fillmore's dialogue while doing the detective job, how anxious and awkward his whole persona is. It really made the character of Fillmore stand out in the present in quite the opposite way Madder Red did in the flashbacks.
Although what I loved the most was reading the "10 years ago + rehabilitation" scenes, I quite enjoyed the detective story too. (although I must say, I was much more captivated by madder red than the new righteous killer causing havoc in Bedlam.)
I hope next volumes can provide more flashbacks. I don't know what else can I say... The only thing I didn't see here was cannibalism, other than that you have a long list of really disgusting things in this volume.
Like I said, a de-lightful read!
Pick it up and cheer up!
What a delightful read.
I mean, this totally made sick to my stomach, like I wanna-lowkey-puke-right-the-fuck-now, but, ya know, I kinda loved it.
I find the idea of this rehabilitated serial killer fascinating. The flashbacks of the madder red were, sick, yes, but captivating too, because the artwork is fucking beautiful to watch. (And the weird "sketchy" kind of look works perfectly too.)
The character design + the colours that were used in the old days of terrible murders were fantastic and the red always helped creating the creepy, twisted atmosphere.
Of course, there were several aspects that reminded me of Hannibal, the detective case, the weird, disgusting, always thoughtful killings (Unlike the TV show though I was never bored.)
I, surprisingly, really loved the writing too, the dialogue was great in a genre that can be, well.. quite disappointing, and more often than not feel quite cheap.
For example, I loved every title of every chapter, how some of them even made me smile and how well they fit to the story. I also really liked Fillmore's dialogue while doing the detective job, how anxious and awkward his whole persona is. It really made the character of Fillmore stand out in the present in quite the opposite way Madder Red did in the flashbacks.
Although what I loved the most was reading the "10 years ago + rehabilitation" scenes, I quite enjoyed the detective story too. (although I must say, I was much more captivated by madder red than the new righteous killer causing havoc in Bedlam.)
I hope next volumes can provide more flashbacks. I don't know what else can I say... The only thing I didn't see here was cannibalism, other than that you have a long list of really disgusting things in this volume.
Like I said, a de-lightful read!
Pick it up and cheer up!
April 9, 2014
What would happen if the Joker or any mass murdering lunatic (think, Dexter, Hannibal Lector) were to suddenly become a good guy...or at least not sick in the head...or at least not completely nut job deranged?
That's the gist of this story. A psychopath killer, very reminiscent of The Joker, helps cops solve crimes.
But it's more than that.
The art and coloring really set the tone for this comic - combined, they make it something really special. The pages pop with gruesome details that help the creepiness of this story sink in a bit deeper than you think it ought to.
Also, Madder Red is a lot more than just another Joker, or Hannibal Lector. His story is more grisly, and with the conclusion of this first trade we are still left with a lot of questions.
I'm really digging it. It's dark and twisty.
I like dark and twisty.
September 18, 2016
More like 4,5
The team Spencer- Rossmo - Irving blew my head with this seemingly "unknown"comic. Bedlam is the story of former mass murderer maniac Fillmore Press, a.k.a Madder Red and his journey to help (?) the good citizens of Bedlam, after almost killed everyone in it.
The opening scene is amazing, scary and shocking. Madder Red has killed almost everyone at this philharmonic concert in downtown Bedlam. Bodies everywhere, blood everywhere and there's only him playing a poker hand with a little girl. She is the remaining survivor of this massacre and is about to win the game.
The monologues of Madder Red about how futile and boring is life that he needs to make something happen by killing everyone randomly, reminds me of a mix between Alex DeLarge, Taylor Durden, Nolan's Joker, Moore's Killing Joke Joker, and a morally-bankrupt-roscharch. It is very well written and you can feel the tension in the air whenever he shows up. He's crazy, violent, smart, and without any ability of projecting sympathy or empathy to anyone.
Fast forward 10 years and we find Fillmore Press, a skinny, shy, socially awkward character with social anxiety issues that seems to be really good at resolving crimes. He helps Bedlam Police to solve a series of very strange and ritualistic murderers. He's driven by a genuine sense of help but also he seems to contemplate the aesthetic nuances of each murder, regarding every moment that he spends trying to solve the case as one step closer to redemption. Despite sounding as a very skinny Dexter Morgan, the interaction with the characters make every scene a truly vivid moment.
Ritualistic murderers driven by religious reasons and a ex-mass murder maniac trying to resolve them? I'm in!
This is a great comic book, so far there's only 2 volumes out and I can't wait to see more of this.
The team Spencer- Rossmo - Irving blew my head with this seemingly "unknown"comic. Bedlam is the story of former mass murderer maniac Fillmore Press, a.k.a Madder Red and his journey to help (?) the good citizens of Bedlam, after almost killed everyone in it.
The opening scene is amazing, scary and shocking. Madder Red has killed almost everyone at this philharmonic concert in downtown Bedlam. Bodies everywhere, blood everywhere and there's only him playing a poker hand with a little girl. She is the remaining survivor of this massacre and is about to win the game.
The monologues of Madder Red about how futile and boring is life that he needs to make something happen by killing everyone randomly, reminds me of a mix between Alex DeLarge, Taylor Durden, Nolan's Joker, Moore's Killing Joke Joker, and a morally-bankrupt-roscharch. It is very well written and you can feel the tension in the air whenever he shows up. He's crazy, violent, smart, and without any ability of projecting sympathy or empathy to anyone.
Fast forward 10 years and we find Fillmore Press, a skinny, shy, socially awkward character with social anxiety issues that seems to be really good at resolving crimes. He helps Bedlam Police to solve a series of very strange and ritualistic murderers. He's driven by a genuine sense of help but also he seems to contemplate the aesthetic nuances of each murder, regarding every moment that he spends trying to solve the case as one step closer to redemption. Despite sounding as a very skinny Dexter Morgan, the interaction with the characters make every scene a truly vivid moment.
Ritualistic murderers driven by religious reasons and a ex-mass murder maniac trying to resolve them? I'm in!
This is a great comic book, so far there's only 2 volumes out and I can't wait to see more of this.
May 13, 2019
Super spoilery TW -
Going into this I had no idea what to expect, I just like picking up trade paperbacks and graphic novels whenever they're cheap, so I didn't know anything about this.
We follow an ex homicidal manic, who 10 years previous went by the name Madder Red - causing havoc and piling up 100's of bodies in his wake.
10 years later a new serial killer is terrorising the city, and all Madder Red wants to do is help the police catch the killer...is he being helpful or is he somehow involved?
This is an extremely violent and graphic (pun intended) novel. In the opening scenes a whole theatre full of people have been murdered, while Madder Red waits patiently for the local superhero to show up.
Men, women, children and animals are killed in this comic, so it's not for the faint hearted.
The main storyline, trying to figure out who this new killer is, has some nice twists and turns. You never quite know if people are who they say they are - even our main protagonist is a complete mystery because Madder Red always wore a mask. While Fillmore Press, our helpful, knowledgeable MC doesn't. This keeps you on edge throughout the whole volume, second guessing everything, expecting violence round every page.
I think this does dark, gritty horror really well, and there are only two volumes so it's not a series that will take you forever to read
Going into this I had no idea what to expect, I just like picking up trade paperbacks and graphic novels whenever they're cheap, so I didn't know anything about this.
We follow an ex homicidal manic, who 10 years previous went by the name Madder Red - causing havoc and piling up 100's of bodies in his wake.
10 years later a new serial killer is terrorising the city, and all Madder Red wants to do is help the police catch the killer...is he being helpful or is he somehow involved?
This is an extremely violent and graphic (pun intended) novel. In the opening scenes a whole theatre full of people have been murdered, while Madder Red waits patiently for the local superhero to show up.
Men, women, children and animals are killed in this comic, so it's not for the faint hearted.
The main storyline, trying to figure out who this new killer is, has some nice twists and turns. You never quite know if people are who they say they are - even our main protagonist is a complete mystery because Madder Red always wore a mask. While Fillmore Press, our helpful, knowledgeable MC doesn't. This keeps you on edge throughout the whole volume, second guessing everything, expecting violence round every page.
I think this does dark, gritty horror really well, and there are only two volumes so it's not a series that will take you forever to read
June 21, 2017
Bedlam has an interesting art style - the chaotic lines are like a reflection of the main character's mind. One part was upsetting to me as an animal lover: if you don't want to see it, skip the first few pages of chapter three. It felt a bit like a crime drama for the second half, but that kept my interest going as my mind tried to piece it together. I'm a little confused about the doctors and nurses, but perhaps that is explained more in the next issue. Overall, a good read with a satisfying ending.
September 17, 2015
Well that was violent.
I walked into this book knowing absolutely nothing. It was recommended to me by Goodreads and had an amazing rating so I snagged it. So perhaps my knowing nothing about it is why it was difficult for me to follow for the first 30 pages or so. There is a lot of flipping back and forth to different timelines but once I figured it out the story was pretty smooth.
The look of this book is what really sets it apart. The style is harsh and dark and grim and matches the story quite well. I was completely sold on the characters, story, and serial killer crime investigation until all of a sudden I wasn't...
The resolution was less than thrilling and completely anti-climatic and also a bigger cop-out than the Doctor's sonic screwdriver...
At least there was a creepy twist ending...
I highly recommend for fans of gore, horror, crime thrillers, serial killers, and castrated angels. Those with weak stomachs, keep on walking this is not the book you're looking for!
I walked into this book knowing absolutely nothing. It was recommended to me by Goodreads and had an amazing rating so I snagged it. So perhaps my knowing nothing about it is why it was difficult for me to follow for the first 30 pages or so. There is a lot of flipping back and forth to different timelines but once I figured it out the story was pretty smooth.
The look of this book is what really sets it apart. The style is harsh and dark and grim and matches the story quite well. I was completely sold on the characters, story, and serial killer crime investigation until all of a sudden I wasn't...
The resolution was less than thrilling and completely anti-climatic and also a bigger cop-out than the Doctor's sonic screwdriver...
At least there was a creepy twist ending...
I highly recommend for fans of gore, horror, crime thrillers, serial killers, and castrated angels. Those with weak stomachs, keep on walking this is not the book you're looking for!
January 2, 2026
Horror/crime comic about a former madman serial killer in a Gotham-like city, cured of his murderous impulses by a strange doctor (probably my favorite character) and searching for a way to redeem himself for his crimes. When a new killer begins a murder spree, our former criminal mastermind works with a suspicious police detective to catch him.
I’ve been wanting to read this one for years, since I first read about it in an old issue of Rue Morgue, and it was absolutely as engaging and suspenseful as I had hoped. Well written with impressive art work that fits the story. Excellent comic!
I’ve been wanting to read this one for years, since I first read about it in an old issue of Rue Morgue, and it was absolutely as engaging and suspenseful as I had hoped. Well written with impressive art work that fits the story. Excellent comic!
July 29, 2019
Visualmente impactante, mas o roteiro tem uma estrutura episódica que não se preocupa em amarrar nada no primeiro volume, se contentando em apresentar o personagem (e qual será o seu dilema dali em diante, algo que já está na sinopse, ou seja). Um homicida que mata criancinha, arma chacinas e atentados e que é recuperado pela "sociedade", numa pegada Laranja Mecânica. Vou ler o segundo, mas 50 páginas de apresentação é se dar a um luxo meio sacana com o leitor.
July 1, 2021
"TIME TO SET OUR LITTLE BIRD FREE"
While The First and SWAT respond to the shooting at St. John, Fillmore and Ramira track down the Father at St. Thomas who got this whole thing started. While waiting for him to be brought out, Fillmore drugs Ramira, she faints and he has to go at it alone, face the monster and show us exactly what he's made of.
Merged review:
"SOME OF US GOT A LITTLE MORE LAST THAN OTHERS"
Jesus Christ! This is the coolest, creepiest comic book series I've read this year. What an ending to the volume, what an ending...
So, Fillmore goes to Wharton, chats him up, about Eric, the killer and all that. Fillmore figures out what Wharton misses the most, and that's ministering, so Fillmore confesses to all of his past sins, being Madder Red and all, in exchange Wharton agrees to call off Eric, who by the way, is giving the First the beating of his life, which further validates why I think he's the only flaw in an otherwise flawless comic book series.
All's well that ends well, Eric jumps to his death, Ramira's boss can't push the case further, coz Wharton is already a dead man. So case closed.
The coolest thing about this though, is Wharton still has a lot of loyal Erics out there. A lot.
Merged review:
"LET HIM HAVE HIS FUN"
Okay, now we're talking. This is a very pacy, very edgy issue.
Ramira Acevedo, against her better judgement, indulges Fillmore Press. First of all he recants his previous confessions, then offers to help her solve the murders that have been plaguing Bedlam. He does a good job of it, that she has no choice but to book him. But something about the whole thing doesn't sit right with her. She feels she's being set up, so she arranges a meeting between Fillmore and The First. (The only lame thing so far about his series, I mean, what kind of superhero name is "The First?)
Merged review:
"IF I STARTED TALKING ABOUT RELIGION"
WHOA! This keeps getting better and better.
While Fillmore is being beaten by The First, downstairs a nun shows up after discovering a Father Henry drowned in his bathtub with fourth degree burns allover him. Ramira digs a little deeper and finds out that Father Henry went to St. Thomas, a school which about ten years ago was in the news for a molestation case in which a dozen or so boys confessed. Crosschecking with the Jane doe that was in front of Fillmores apartment, they see the connection. Fillmore fills them in that the killer is one of them, one of the boys that confessed and all this Killin is part of a Martyr death.
All's well and epiphanous until they find out their killer is at St. John's Medical and he's opened fire with a bunch of AK47s
While The First and SWAT respond to the shooting at St. John, Fillmore and Ramira track down the Father at St. Thomas who got this whole thing started. While waiting for him to be brought out, Fillmore drugs Ramira, she faints and he has to go at it alone, face the monster and show us exactly what he's made of.
Merged review:
"SOME OF US GOT A LITTLE MORE LAST THAN OTHERS"
Jesus Christ! This is the coolest, creepiest comic book series I've read this year. What an ending to the volume, what an ending...
So, Fillmore goes to Wharton, chats him up, about Eric, the killer and all that. Fillmore figures out what Wharton misses the most, and that's ministering, so Fillmore confesses to all of his past sins, being Madder Red and all, in exchange Wharton agrees to call off Eric, who by the way, is giving the First the beating of his life, which further validates why I think he's the only flaw in an otherwise flawless comic book series.
All's well that ends well, Eric jumps to his death, Ramira's boss can't push the case further, coz Wharton is already a dead man. So case closed.
The coolest thing about this though, is Wharton still has a lot of loyal Erics out there. A lot.
Merged review:
"LET HIM HAVE HIS FUN"
Okay, now we're talking. This is a very pacy, very edgy issue.
Ramira Acevedo, against her better judgement, indulges Fillmore Press. First of all he recants his previous confessions, then offers to help her solve the murders that have been plaguing Bedlam. He does a good job of it, that she has no choice but to book him. But something about the whole thing doesn't sit right with her. She feels she's being set up, so she arranges a meeting between Fillmore and The First. (The only lame thing so far about his series, I mean, what kind of superhero name is "The First?)
Merged review:
"IF I STARTED TALKING ABOUT RELIGION"
WHOA! This keeps getting better and better.
While Fillmore is being beaten by The First, downstairs a nun shows up after discovering a Father Henry drowned in his bathtub with fourth degree burns allover him. Ramira digs a little deeper and finds out that Father Henry went to St. Thomas, a school which about ten years ago was in the news for a molestation case in which a dozen or so boys confessed. Crosschecking with the Jane doe that was in front of Fillmores apartment, they see the connection. Fillmore fills them in that the killer is one of them, one of the boys that confessed and all this Killin is part of a Martyr death.
All's well and epiphanous until they find out their killer is at St. John's Medical and he's opened fire with a bunch of AK47s
February 5, 2016
The concept of whether or not a man, a serial killer, can be cured and re-habilitated and work in society once again in any form is the question "Bedlam" wants us to ask but sort of forgets this question in favour of a black-and-white, good-and-bad, way of seeing the world and these simplistic modes do nothing for the elements that make this lavishly drawn tale worth reading. For "Bedlam" is stuffed with absurd and over the top horror and violence that is pleasing to look at, including and especially a scene where our anti-hero must kill close to a hundred kittens. And what starts out as a strong anti-hero v society story, with a nice ear for dialogue, unspools into a cop procedural that doesn't touch on any of the heady nihilism or intricate set ups of the television show it most clearly wants to pilfer from, "Hannibal", and once the hunt is under way, so to speak, it felt as if the writers simply lost interest. Nevertheless, there are enough gory thrills and bleak monologues to count this as a winner but one that could've offered a lot more.
May 3, 2013
So I picked this up on a whim. I liked the art and it was only $9.99 so I gave it a shot. The guys at the comic shop didn't even know anything about it. I am so glad I bought this! The way I've been describing it to people is imagine if everyone thought the Joker died in an explosion but he really went to get help for his sickness. And imagine that he actually gets "cured" and decides to help the police find serial killers. That's basically what this book is about. It's more of a thriller than a super hero comic but it does have super hero elements. The First, for instance, could be seen as a Batman like character and there are costumed villains and such. Bedlam is dramatic and weird and a great new story to start reading!
April 25, 2014
On the whole it was alright. A bit contrived in places though – no spoilers, this is only a broad opinion. It just felt to me that the author was really trying to recreate a ‘Joker’ character, maybe mixed in with a little ‘Hannibal Lector’. It didn’t feel original; it felt as though it was setting out to shock for the sake of shocking.The character was trying a bit too hard. I had hoped that his appearance would be similar to that of the front cover (with face paint) but the weird helmet/mask/ wearing a skirt thing just didn’t sit right with me – that being said, I know I criticised it for similarities to the Joker but if you’re going to rip something off, rip it off properly. So yeah, it hasn’t compelled me to pick up the second volume. Give it a miss.
May 15, 2015
Aw, I really wanted this to be good. The violence was too all over the place for me. Some of the characters were randomly horrifying but didn't explain much about them. There wasn't a whole lot of character development other than 'this guy is absolutely insane' and 'these are the good guys'. Yes, I'm sure it gets more in depth in the next volumes but the first volume just didn't have enough in it to keep my attention. I have nothing against the violence, obviously a comic about a homicidal maniac is going to be violent. It was just too disorganized, and not in an insane way that might capture the main characters thoughts or feelings. It was just...random.
September 7, 2015
Be closer to a 3.5. A lot of fun, with some great shots, though very confusing at times. When you start getting into it, gets better. I didn't love the ending too much but the rest was engaging, and the main character has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. If you like horror thriller, you'll really enjoy this.
January 5, 2016
Amazing ! Ilustrações fantásticas! História pungente e sem arrependimentos! Adorei completamente. A sequência dos gatinhos foi super perturbadora e horrível, mas foi uma maneira brilhante de ilustrar a evolução da personagem. São coisas como esta que me fazem admirar esta forma de arte. Há coisas ditas aqui que não poderiam ser ditas de outra maneira.
December 31, 2015
I feel like how much I loved this reflects badly on me psychologically XD....
December 11, 2019
this was crazyyyyy
February 2, 2020
Befok
Nice and dark, it sets the tone from the get go and manages to take you into a different world.
Nice and dark, it sets the tone from the get go and manages to take you into a different world.
October 31, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 2.5/5
I actually tried to read this a few weeks ago. I got a few pages in and put it down with something resembling disappoint, or maybe it was disgust. Either way, I wasn't impressed and I planned never to pick it up again. I'm not sure whether it was the scattered, messy art or something about the writing that failed to grab me (repel me), but I felt strongly enough to give up o it so soon. Needless to say, after giving it a more considered read, I was about halfway through and actually feeling something close to enjoyment. I made a mental note to myself to maybe be a little less cynical, a little less harsh (not bloody likely) and set about finishing this oddball little grower of a book. Well, it seems cynical OmniBen, is in fact, a rather shrewd little cookie indeed. Whatever credit this one was building throughout its opening credit, decided to piss away as it worked its way towards its limp and unimpressive conclusion.
The art still didn't impress me, rather being somewhere between tolerable and acceptable for this type of book. Despite the 'scattered/messy' nature suiting the psychological chaos the reader is meant to feel through the main protagonist, the character models were all unappealing, and generally lacked basic body composition and kinetic movement. The woman in this story looked like she was mid transition. She certainly didn't need to be a bikini model, but some basic femininity wouldn't have gone astray.
I was enjoying the dialogue heavy aspect of the story, before it all got a little silly. Silence of the Lambs it wasn't, but it was passable, and enough to keep me occupied on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sadly, it didn't last. I know there is another volume of this, but I sure as sugar won't be in any hurry to check it out. Whatever mystery this was building is now gone, along with my interest in finishing it out. Meh. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
I actually tried to read this a few weeks ago. I got a few pages in and put it down with something resembling disappoint, or maybe it was disgust. Either way, I wasn't impressed and I planned never to pick it up again. I'm not sure whether it was the scattered, messy art or something about the writing that failed to grab me (repel me), but I felt strongly enough to give up o it so soon. Needless to say, after giving it a more considered read, I was about halfway through and actually feeling something close to enjoyment. I made a mental note to myself to maybe be a little less cynical, a little less harsh (not bloody likely) and set about finishing this oddball little grower of a book. Well, it seems cynical OmniBen, is in fact, a rather shrewd little cookie indeed. Whatever credit this one was building throughout its opening credit, decided to piss away as it worked its way towards its limp and unimpressive conclusion.
The art still didn't impress me, rather being somewhere between tolerable and acceptable for this type of book. Despite the 'scattered/messy' nature suiting the psychological chaos the reader is meant to feel through the main protagonist, the character models were all unappealing, and generally lacked basic body composition and kinetic movement. The woman in this story looked like she was mid transition. She certainly didn't need to be a bikini model, but some basic femininity wouldn't have gone astray.
I was enjoying the dialogue heavy aspect of the story, before it all got a little silly. Silence of the Lambs it wasn't, but it was passable, and enough to keep me occupied on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sadly, it didn't last. I know there is another volume of this, but I sure as sugar won't be in any hurry to check it out. Whatever mystery this was building is now gone, along with my interest in finishing it out. Meh. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
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