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Tapping the Vein #1-5
Tapping the Vein: Obra completa
Tapping the Vein. Es la adaptación gráfica de algunas de las historias que formaban parte de la impactante obra de Clive Barker Libros sangrientos, una colección de relatos cortos, perturbadores y repletos de brutales giros inesperados que, allá por los años ochenta, marcaron un antes y un después en el género de terror. En su versión ilustrada, el libro está compuesto por siete historias y, en ellas, Clive Barker arremete contra los “bienpensantes” con su agresiva manera de desmontar la visión lógica del mundo, la brutalidad de las situaciones planteadas y el afán sangriento de sus personajes. Los encargados de ilustrar y adaptar las pesadillas de Barker son, entre otros, P. Craig Russell, John Bolton y Klaus Janson.
Redistribución en forma de lote o paquete, retractilado para su venta como un solo artículo, de los dos tomos publicados en 2007 por el mismo editor, con una nueva sobrecubierta, distinto ISBN y un precio en oferta. El paquete consiste en los dos tomos originales, única edición existente, envueltos con una sobrecubierta de papel con solapas con un dibujo distinto a los de las portadas de los tomos. La solapa delantera va entre la cubierta y la primera página de un tomo y la solapa trasera entre la contracubierta y la última página del otro tomo.
Redistribución en forma de lote o paquete, retractilado para su venta como un solo artículo, de los dos tomos publicados en 2007 por el mismo editor, con una nueva sobrecubierta, distinto ISBN y un precio en oferta. El paquete consiste en los dos tomos originales, única edición existente, envueltos con una sobrecubierta de papel con solapas con un dibujo distinto a los de las portadas de los tomos. La solapa delantera va entre la cubierta y la primera página de un tomo y la solapa trasera entre la contracubierta y la última página del otro tomo.
330 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Clive Barker
704 books15.1k followersClive Barker was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Joan Rubie (née Revill), a painter and school welfare officer, and Leonard Barker, a personnel director for an industrial relations firm. Educated at Dovedale Primary School and Quarry Bank High School, he studied English and Philosophy at Liverpool University and his picture now hangs in the entrance hallway to the Philosophy Department. It was in Liverpool in 1975 that he met his first partner, John Gregson, with whom he lived until 1986. Barker's second long-term relationship, with photographer David Armstrong, ended in 2009.
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2015
REVIEW TO FOLLOW
November 13, 2021
Dos tomos buenisimos con graficos espectaculares y terrorificos.
7 historias que te haran vibrar.
Siendo mis favoritos La madona, En las colinas, las ciudades y como sangran los exfoliadores.
7 historias que te haran vibrar.
Siendo mis favoritos La madona, En las colinas, las ciudades y como sangran los exfoliadores.
January 3, 2013
This is a collection of adaptations from Clive Barker's Books of Blood, originally published in smaller installments in 1989-1990. Actually, they are closer to illustrated stories, as Barker's text appears to be largely preserved.
"Human Remains" is about a prostitute who makes a personal connection with a client's prized relic.
In "Pig Blood Blues" an ex-policeman starting work at a juvenile detention facility learns the legend of an escaped inmate.
In "Skins of the Fathers," a small boy discovers his true lineage when his real fathers come back for him.
"The Midnight Meat Train" concerns a series of murders in the NY subway system.
"In the Hills, the Cities" is about two lovers vacationing in Yugoslavia who are witness to a bizarre and fantastic ritual enacted by two neighboring towns.
"How Spoilers Bleed" is the story of developers who attempt to drive native Indians off their land in the Amazon, and what their greed brings down upon them.
An old, abandoned bathhouse is set to change hands in "The Madonna," but its central pool holds secrets unknown to either the seller or it's prospective new owner.
In "Down, Satan" a jaded billionaire uses his wealth to tempt the devil into walking the earth once more.
"Scape-Goats" has a small group of travelers stranded on an island whose very ground seems to resent their presence.
For some reason, "Hell's Event" is not included here.
I enjoyed re-reading most of these stories, and the superb art by P. Craig Russell, John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Bo Hampton and others is worth a look, but ultimately I prefer the stories in their original form.
"Human Remains" is about a prostitute who makes a personal connection with a client's prized relic.
In "Pig Blood Blues" an ex-policeman starting work at a juvenile detention facility learns the legend of an escaped inmate.
In "Skins of the Fathers," a small boy discovers his true lineage when his real fathers come back for him.
"The Midnight Meat Train" concerns a series of murders in the NY subway system.
"In the Hills, the Cities" is about two lovers vacationing in Yugoslavia who are witness to a bizarre and fantastic ritual enacted by two neighboring towns.
"How Spoilers Bleed" is the story of developers who attempt to drive native Indians off their land in the Amazon, and what their greed brings down upon them.
An old, abandoned bathhouse is set to change hands in "The Madonna," but its central pool holds secrets unknown to either the seller or it's prospective new owner.
In "Down, Satan" a jaded billionaire uses his wealth to tempt the devil into walking the earth once more.
"Scape-Goats" has a small group of travelers stranded on an island whose very ground seems to resent their presence.
For some reason, "Hell's Event" is not included here.
I enjoyed re-reading most of these stories, and the superb art by P. Craig Russell, John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Bo Hampton and others is worth a look, but ultimately I prefer the stories in their original form.
June 21, 2009
Unbelievably awful. Worse than Harry Potter.
February 15, 2025
Una maravilla en todos los sentidos. Es una adaptación ilustrada de los 'Libros de sangre' que está hecha para ser recordada gracias a una selección exquisita de autores gráficos. En este primer volumen contribuyen artistas como John Bolton, Fred Burke o Klaus Janson, todos ellos comprometidos hasta la médula con el fin de recrear fielmente el impacto, la belleza corrompida y la angustia que ya existían en los relatos de Barker. Para los fans del escritor es un regalo caído del cielo, poder ver en color las escenas crudas de 'pig blood blues', 'in the hills, the cities', 'how spoilers bleed' y 'skins of the fathers' no tiene precio. Los que no conozcan el material original también pueden gozar y estremecerse con el imaginario que aquí se despliega, sobre todo con los detalles que se muestran en la segunda historia adaptada, que es sin lugar a dudas la más difícil de plasmar, pero Bolton y Chuck Wagner pasan la prueba con nota al dar vida a los dos gigantes construidos con cuerpos estirados, doblados y encajados en una masa viviente. Me ha encantado poder revivir y releer estos cuentos oscuros en un formato nuevo que está a la altura de las expectativas.
ENGLISH
A marvel in every sense. It is an illustrated adaptation of the 'Books of Blood' that is made to be remembered thanks to an exquisite selection of graphic authors. Artists such as John Bolton, Fred Burke and Klaus Janson contribute to this first volume, all of them committed to the core in order to faithfully recreate the impact, corrupted beauty and anguish that already existed in Barker's stories. For fans of the writer it is a gift from heaven, being able to see in color the raw scenes of 'pig blood blues', 'in the hills, the cities', 'how spoilers bleed' and 'skins of the fathers' is priceless. Those who do not know the original material can also enjoy and be shocked by the imagery that is displayed here, especially with the details shown in the second adapted story, which is without a doubt the most difficult to capture, but Bolton and Chuck Wagner pass the test with flying colors by giving life to the two giants built with bodies stretched, folded and fitted into a living mass. I have loved being able to relive and reread these dark tales in a new format that lives up to the hype.
ENGLISH
A marvel in every sense. It is an illustrated adaptation of the 'Books of Blood' that is made to be remembered thanks to an exquisite selection of graphic authors. Artists such as John Bolton, Fred Burke and Klaus Janson contribute to this first volume, all of them committed to the core in order to faithfully recreate the impact, corrupted beauty and anguish that already existed in Barker's stories. For fans of the writer it is a gift from heaven, being able to see in color the raw scenes of 'pig blood blues', 'in the hills, the cities', 'how spoilers bleed' and 'skins of the fathers' is priceless. Those who do not know the original material can also enjoy and be shocked by the imagery that is displayed here, especially with the details shown in the second adapted story, which is without a doubt the most difficult to capture, but Bolton and Chuck Wagner pass the test with flying colors by giving life to the two giants built with bodies stretched, folded and fitted into a living mass. I have loved being able to relive and reread these dark tales in a new format that lives up to the hype.
February 14, 2023
This book registered in GR as "read" from the moment I scanned the bar code -- on my desktop computer I could update my progress, but it turned out to be of no matter because the book didn't really have page numbers.
I have made no secret of the fact that I don't really enjoy graphic novels as a general rule (there have been a few notable exceptions). This is one of the exceptions, possibly because it was a series of short graphic stories adapted by different artists and different writers, but just as possibly because the stories in this volume were based on already-existing works.
The stories themselves were fairly typical Clive Barker tales (I don't use the word "typical" to mean they were bad or even pedestrian in any way -- what I mean is that if you're accustomed to and enjoy Barker's subject matter and storytelling style, you'll be pleased by what you get here. In some cases, the artists really did a nice job of putting Barker's descriptions into visual language. I will say that for a few of the stories I found myself vaguely disappointed because, as with some of Barker's short stories, I felt as though these were chapters pulled from larger stories, and I wanted to know what led up to and what followed the plots as presented.
One more caveat: take the "mature readers" label seriously. These stories are dark, violent, and also feature sex and nudity.
I have made no secret of the fact that I don't really enjoy graphic novels as a general rule (there have been a few notable exceptions). This is one of the exceptions, possibly because it was a series of short graphic stories adapted by different artists and different writers, but just as possibly because the stories in this volume were based on already-existing works.
The stories themselves were fairly typical Clive Barker tales (I don't use the word "typical" to mean they were bad or even pedestrian in any way -- what I mean is that if you're accustomed to and enjoy Barker's subject matter and storytelling style, you'll be pleased by what you get here. In some cases, the artists really did a nice job of putting Barker's descriptions into visual language. I will say that for a few of the stories I found myself vaguely disappointed because, as with some of Barker's short stories, I felt as though these were chapters pulled from larger stories, and I wanted to know what led up to and what followed the plots as presented.
One more caveat: take the "mature readers" label seriously. These stories are dark, violent, and also feature sex and nudity.
June 24, 2021
This is, for all intents and purpose, just a selection of Book of Blood stories presented word-for-word with bigger illustrations. They're pretty good! The best results come from the ones you've heard of (Midnight Meat Train; In the Hills, The Cities is tackled with particularly effective gusto), and it's hard not to hanker for some of the more outlandish missing stories (Jacqueline Ess, Rawhead Rex, and particularly Confessions of a Pornographer's Shroud would be an absolute hoot). If you like Barker, though - and I do! - this is a perfectly fine time, and you'll get your fill of Hell, high-falutin' musing and hot young lads going at it.
January 15, 2019
The editors and artists did an excellent job of adapting several of my favorite short stories from Barker's
"Books of Blood" into comic form. Not much was lost in the way of translation. The art tended towards mediocre, but was definitely not forgettable.
Nearing the end of the read, I found myself asking, "Who is this for?" Most of my enjoyment came for revisiting these great stories from the Books of Blood, as I haven't read them in almost a decade. I've also enjoyed most Barker comic originals and adaptations, so I feel like I'm the target audience. I don't know if I could put this in someone's hand to introduce them to Barker. I'd rather them start with the Books of Blood themselves. It was effective seeing some of the more horrific and fantastic scenes brought to life, but a large part of my love for Barker's work is how it creates these pictures in your mind, pulling from your personal fears and experiences to fill in the blanks. I'd probably only recommend this to Barker completionists and super-fans, and even then, from reading the other reviews, I see that many are disappointed. I was able to pick up the hardcover volume on sale at a local comic shop, but I can't recommend purchasing the paperback collection for fifty dollars.
If you feel it's worth reading, especially if you've been too far removed from the Books of Blood and want to recapture some of that experience, pick up the digital Nook versions for next to nothing.
"Books of Blood" into comic form. Not much was lost in the way of translation. The art tended towards mediocre, but was definitely not forgettable. Nearing the end of the read, I found myself asking, "Who is this for?" Most of my enjoyment came for revisiting these great stories from the Books of Blood, as I haven't read them in almost a decade. I've also enjoyed most Barker comic originals and adaptations, so I feel like I'm the target audience. I don't know if I could put this in someone's hand to introduce them to Barker. I'd rather them start with the Books of Blood themselves. It was effective seeing some of the more horrific and fantastic scenes brought to life, but a large part of my love for Barker's work is how it creates these pictures in your mind, pulling from your personal fears and experiences to fill in the blanks. I'd probably only recommend this to Barker completionists and super-fans, and even then, from reading the other reviews, I see that many are disappointed. I was able to pick up the hardcover volume on sale at a local comic shop, but I can't recommend purchasing the paperback collection for fifty dollars.
If you feel it's worth reading, especially if you've been too far removed from the Books of Blood and want to recapture some of that experience, pick up the digital Nook versions for next to nothing.
December 24, 2019
Avvolgente, terrificante e poetico.
September 16, 2021
I still think about "In the Hills, the Cities". The rest I have forgotten.
January 26, 2020
Books of Blood is a work of art. There is no better way to experience the stories than through Clive Barker's own words.
Tapping The Vein nevertheless offers the opportunity for fans to revisit some of his best. Beautifully illustrated, this is one for the collection.
Tapping The Vein nevertheless offers the opportunity for fans to revisit some of his best. Beautifully illustrated, this is one for the collection.
November 23, 2023
Hit or miss but overall damn good.
Want to read
May 27, 2010comics,horror
April 24, 2012
Garbage.
December 28, 2012
What you'd expect, but far, far more boring. :p (I'm not a comic book person, so perhaps I didn't appreciate the right things.)
June 12, 2013
Clive Barker's brilliance comes across better in the text. The graphic adaptations don't match the intensity and horror that Barker so fluidly conveys in the text. They're simply okay.
June 22, 2016
A collection of 10 stories from Books of Blood, the volume is a bit uneven, there was simply too much to be covered in such a short span of pages.
June 24, 2016
For the most part, the art is atrocious. I can hardly tell what is going on a lot of the time.
July 31, 2019
an absolute classic
the artworks are indeed works of art
wonderful, dark, beautiful, gory
the artworks are indeed works of art
wonderful, dark, beautiful, gory
December 4, 2012
Beautifully bizarre.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews