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Black Kiss Omnibus Vol. 1
ADVANCE SOLICIT
The infamous, hardboiled-erotica series is collected for the first time in a deluxe hardcover omnibus featuring new material.
It’s been a long, long time…one last time.
Collecting for the first time, every stop along the way on HOWARD CHAYKIN’s transgressively groundbreaking trail, the BLACK KISS OMNIBUS collects the legendary 1988 series, its 2012 sequel BLACK KISS 2, plus the BLACK KISS XXXMAS IN JULY SPECIAL, and, created just for this volume, the all-new 28-page BLACK KISS HALLOWEEN, which will mark CHAYKIN’s final excursion into this world’s hardboiled-erotic noir.
Throw in a look back at the project’s long history of sensationalism and censorship, plus a large assortment of extras from across nearly four decades, and this 400-page collection will be the definitive shelf-filler that once again makes readers ask that vital question…does it have to be so dirty?
Collects BLACK KISS #1-12, BLACK KISS 2 #1-6, and the BLACK KISS XXXMAS IN JULY SPECIAL
The infamous, hardboiled-erotica series is collected for the first time in a deluxe hardcover omnibus featuring new material.
It’s been a long, long time…one last time.
Collecting for the first time, every stop along the way on HOWARD CHAYKIN’s transgressively groundbreaking trail, the BLACK KISS OMNIBUS collects the legendary 1988 series, its 2012 sequel BLACK KISS 2, plus the BLACK KISS XXXMAS IN JULY SPECIAL, and, created just for this volume, the all-new 28-page BLACK KISS HALLOWEEN, which will mark CHAYKIN’s final excursion into this world’s hardboiled-erotic noir.
Throw in a look back at the project’s long history of sensationalism and censorship, plus a large assortment of extras from across nearly four decades, and this 400-page collection will be the definitive shelf-filler that once again makes readers ask that vital question…does it have to be so dirty?
Collects BLACK KISS #1-12, BLACK KISS 2 #1-6, and the BLACK KISS XXXMAS IN JULY SPECIAL
Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
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About the author
Howard Chaykin
1,075 books113 followersHoward Victor Chaykin is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 31, 2026
(Zero spoile review)
Howard Chaykin is a talented artist. Howard Chaykin is a writer not without at least a modicum of ability. Yet somehow, Howard Chaykin created one of the most disappointing, puerile and poorly executed books I've had the misfortune of buying, expecting something much better. The opening collection is terrible by every metric imaginable. Messy, impenetrable layouts, making it difficult to discern what the hell is going on. Overly wordy, further muddling the story and detracting further from the experience, and that's without touching on the 'content' of the book. I'm no prude. Far from it in fact. But this is just dreadful. It really feels as though toilet paper thin plot is just there to draw a lot of shagging and various grotesquerie. Again, I have no problem with that, but the garbage passing for a plot trying to tie it all together pisses me off no end.
It seems Chaykin progressed much more as an artist in the twenty or so years between series. The art, layouts and lettering are much, much better, but somehow the story, or complete lack thereof, is much, much worse. As soon as I realised there was nothing here beyond deviancy and edgelord gore, I checked out lickety split. Weak sauce. 2/5
Howard Chaykin is a talented artist. Howard Chaykin is a writer not without at least a modicum of ability. Yet somehow, Howard Chaykin created one of the most disappointing, puerile and poorly executed books I've had the misfortune of buying, expecting something much better. The opening collection is terrible by every metric imaginable. Messy, impenetrable layouts, making it difficult to discern what the hell is going on. Overly wordy, further muddling the story and detracting further from the experience, and that's without touching on the 'content' of the book. I'm no prude. Far from it in fact. But this is just dreadful. It really feels as though toilet paper thin plot is just there to draw a lot of shagging and various grotesquerie. Again, I have no problem with that, but the garbage passing for a plot trying to tie it all together pisses me off no end.
It seems Chaykin progressed much more as an artist in the twenty or so years between series. The art, layouts and lettering are much, much better, but somehow the story, or complete lack thereof, is much, much worse. As soon as I realised there was nothing here beyond deviancy and edgelord gore, I checked out lickety split. Weak sauce. 2/5
January 2, 2026
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5
Warning: This review addresses adult sexual and violent content.
Let me be very clear … I knew NOTHING about this book, or the series of comics. I recognize Howard Chaykin’s name as an artist with both DC and Marvel comics back in the 1970’s (when I was a regular comic reader). The cover suggested an erotic series and I’ve read a couple of very good erotic-themed graphic novels in the past.
What I was not expecting was … well … this.
This is full of raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood. And don’t get me wrong … that’s the good stuff!
It’s also got some raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood that doesn’t work so well.
This is not going to be a popular opinion given how ardent some of author/artist Howard Chaykin’s fans can be, but this didn’t work for me.
I need to note: when I downloaded my ARC from the publisher, it was not made me evident to me that my copy was NOT the complete omnibus edition. After doing some research (I shouldn’t have to work so hard to make this clear to myself), it appears that I was granted the 2012 Black Kiss 2 sequel/prequel. For someone like myself, going into this blind, this was not helpful. This story – my story – starts in 1906 and through twelve chapters, ends in 2010. The main characters, who look very much alike (on purpose), span the century. Talk about confusing!
And the confusion grows when there seems to be specific people who are targeted for being killed, who also have voracious sexual appetites. And that sex is always the same. Same kink, same darkness, same ending.
It’s not the gratuitous sex or overt violence that bothers me about the book … I’m more than will to have adult-themed graphic novels … it’s the sameness about it. Same kinks. Same positions. Same violent killing. Yawn.
The artwork … hmm. The artwork did nothing for me. In fact, I would go so far to say it was sub-par graphic novel art. Typically I love B&W art more than color, especially color done via a computer, but Chaykin’s work here was much more sketch-like with the people simple and almost child-like:
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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...
I should have liked this book – it would seem to have everything I’d enjoy reading, but sadly I didn’t. I found it confusing, disjointed, boring, and poorly drawn. In my search to understand what portion of the book I received as an ARC, I discovered there are a number of people out there who’ve been waiting a long time for this book. Fans of the series (which began in 1988) will be thrilled to get their hands on this book. I’m glad for them.
But for someone who didn’t come to this already as a fan, but out of curiosity and the desire to read a good, mature graphic novel, I am not converted.
Looking for a good book? Black Kiss Omnibus (or Black Kiss 2) by Howard Chaykin underlines the word graphic in graphic novel. Fans won’t need any encouragement to buy this, but those who aren’t already familiar with the series may want to preview the contents before buying.
I received a partial digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: This review addresses adult sexual and violent content.
Let me be very clear … I knew NOTHING about this book, or the series of comics. I recognize Howard Chaykin’s name as an artist with both DC and Marvel comics back in the 1970’s (when I was a regular comic reader). The cover suggested an erotic series and I’ve read a couple of very good erotic-themed graphic novels in the past.
What I was not expecting was … well … this.
This is full of raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood. And don’t get me wrong … that’s the good stuff!
It’s also got some raunchy sex, dark and kinky perversions, vampires, and lots and lots of blood that doesn’t work so well.
This is not going to be a popular opinion given how ardent some of author/artist Howard Chaykin’s fans can be, but this didn’t work for me.
I need to note: when I downloaded my ARC from the publisher, it was not made me evident to me that my copy was NOT the complete omnibus edition. After doing some research (I shouldn’t have to work so hard to make this clear to myself), it appears that I was granted the 2012 Black Kiss 2 sequel/prequel. For someone like myself, going into this blind, this was not helpful. This story – my story – starts in 1906 and through twelve chapters, ends in 2010. The main characters, who look very much alike (on purpose), span the century. Talk about confusing!
And the confusion grows when there seems to be specific people who are targeted for being killed, who also have voracious sexual appetites. And that sex is always the same. Same kink, same darkness, same ending.
It’s not the gratuitous sex or overt violence that bothers me about the book … I’m more than will to have adult-themed graphic novels … it’s the sameness about it. Same kinks. Same positions. Same violent killing. Yawn.
The artwork … hmm. The artwork did nothing for me. In fact, I would go so far to say it was sub-par graphic novel art. Typically I love B&W art more than color, especially color done via a computer, but Chaykin’s work here was much more sketch-like with the people simple and almost child-like:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...
I should have liked this book – it would seem to have everything I’d enjoy reading, but sadly I didn’t. I found it confusing, disjointed, boring, and poorly drawn. In my search to understand what portion of the book I received as an ARC, I discovered there are a number of people out there who’ve been waiting a long time for this book. Fans of the series (which began in 1988) will be thrilled to get their hands on this book. I’m glad for them.
But for someone who didn’t come to this already as a fan, but out of curiosity and the desire to read a good, mature graphic novel, I am not converted.
Looking for a good book? Black Kiss Omnibus (or Black Kiss 2) by Howard Chaykin underlines the word graphic in graphic novel. Fans won’t need any encouragement to buy this, but those who aren’t already familiar with the series may want to preview the contents before buying.
I received a partial digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews