Lenore: Pink Bellies

Lenore #6

by Roman Dirge

This collection is a game changer for the cute little dead girl. To celebrate her 20th anniversary, Roman Dirge embarked on an epic, new chapter in the life of the cute little dead girl! Featuring a slow-burning, four-issue story-arc that not only reveals the untold origins of the ultra-sinister and deadly-mysterious Taxidermy , but also pitches him into a titanic fight to the death with Lenore's best buddy, Ragamuffin . Whatever happens one of them is going on an all-expenses paid vacation into the afterlife! Packed with the usual irreverent and gothically surreal humour and hi-jinx, Roman Dirge once again proves why he's been called the Michelangelo of the macabre…

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Young Adult

120 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Roman Dirge (born on April 29, 1972) is an artist and magician, and the creator of the Lenore comic-book series; he currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Told by his art teachers that he would never make it as an artist due to his crude style, he quit art and became a full-time magician. After a few years, his passion for art overtook him and he created the comic about Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl for Xenophobe magazine. The comic strips were later seen by Dan Vado, president of Slave Labor

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been nearly a year and a half since my last Lenore volume and how I have missed her. This volume find Lenore dealing with a group of scary mercenary types who are trying to kill her friends and capture her while a ancient god has come for Taxidermy, who it turns out has a bit more to his story than we first thought. Lenore also has a go a few comics herself...much to the dispair of Ragamuffin who finds himself the not so flattered subject of these. Again we have a lovely bit of bonus material including alternative covers and guest artwork and (most exciting for me) illustrated instructions on how to make your very own Lenore felt doll. I do love that cute little dead girl!

[Chris - Quarter Press Editor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about Lenore?

When I was 19, I got a tattoo of her on my wrist. At that point, I had all of the single SLG issues of the comic and all of Dirge's additional material.

Flash-forward to now, and I only have a few of the trade collections, one of Dirge's other books, and his art collection book--and, of course, the tattoo still.

All these years later, I'm still amused by Lenore. Admittedly, I remember being obsessed with the art when I was younger. Seeing it now--and especially when I know what he can do--this volume felt a bit half-assed at times, from the linework to the coloring.

Still, it's an amusing story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the "deepening" of the universe and character relationships. It's dark and funny and pretty much exactly what you've come to expect from Lenore and her creator.

[Jason]

Definitely not for everyone, but I giggled all the way through it. It's so incredibly silly, it balances out the very dark humor quite nicely.

[Alice Rachel]

Lenore is such a cute, heartbreaking little girl! I love the artwork.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

100 years ago, there was a very tragic young girl who was always sick. She died, and according to this, she was unaware of her slight case of death and returned to her home. This home. Her parents had apparently fled right before her return... They say she's still here, waiting for them to come home.

The mind of Roman Dirge is a strange place and I do enjoy it! I had been waiting until I found copies of the other volumes of Lenore before reading this 6th one, but as they seem quite rare to find I decided to give this one a read.

Luckily you don't need to know the backstory as it is covered quite early and is rather simple. I have captured a bit of the description above for first time Lenore readers.

This volume ties together a lot of the back story. We find out about Taxidermy's past, about what happened to Lenore's parents, and a lot more besides. There is also the usual amount of silliness, crude humour, violence, and general madness that you'd expect. 3 1/2 stars.

[Melanie Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one. It's a continuous story the whole book, and you really get into the background of Taxidermy. While Lenore continues with her antics, you get ancient history and battles between gods. Pooty and Ragamuffin are there every step of the way. I'm glad Dirge kept Pooty after he was introduced.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lenore the Cute Little Dead Girl! Loved the plots! Loved the comics she made herself and her poking fun of Ragamuffin! Now I gotta wait for the next book since there are two cliff hangers. :(
Anyway, loved the book! Lenore is such a hoot!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow I missed this one. I have read all the others... Anyway. This is a great edition. Great history for Taxidermy! Laughed so hard reading this. Loved it. And as always Mr Gosh will just not give up. Even in death.

[Kore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lenore!
The art is simple but very cute, it's enjoyable to read. It's got horror, comedy and geek references. Gotta love that, right?

[Punkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

[Ember Air · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun to read! The origin story was very interesting and the gross part was smaller than usual!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Funny

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my style of humor at all, but the art was so good.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is just everything really enjoyed looking forward to reading more ! Lenore is such a creepy cutey plenty of tattoo ideas being formed

[John Appleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good bit of macabre fun with plenty of Poe references tucked away within. Some nice deadpan (and dead) humour here,

[Eve Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is getting old and there were no laughs. I only read it because it was a gift.

[Rachel Fellows · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Roman Dirge's offbeat and often crass yet cute brand of black humor. It's been awhile since I've read any of his work and I was just so pleased to run into some genuine laugh out loud moments while reading this particular volume of Lenore. Reminded me of how much I missed this comic!

Anyway, Lenore is about a "cute little dead girl" and her group of friends and their hi-jinx. This particular volume features a character who is a piece of bear poo on a tree stump, a scene in which Lenore rides in a boat down a stream of Anubis's overflowing piss, and a time frozen demon Justin Beiber, among other quirky and crude things. You just gotta love it!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was my first Lenore book and that was completely crazy! And funny. I had no idea. Story-wise, the idea of a Taxen-Ra, an Egyptian god that is twisted, but wants to protect children, really works for this story. The first part with the ghost hunters was kind of iffy, but the rest of the story works. The dreary, childish, exaggerated style is very fitting for the story, too.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giggles galore, though definitely not for everyone. So much fun!

[Dax · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was disturbingly adorable.

[Wondra Vanian · Rating 3 out of 5]

These comics make me laugh out loud.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG the bear! I can't unsee that! Literally laughed out loud. Please give us Lenore books forever, Dirge!

[boat_tiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute series. Great artwork.