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Joe Golem: Occult Detective
Joe Golem: Occult Detective, Vol. 1: The Rat Catcher and the Sunken Dead
Forty years after disaster left Lower Manhattan submerged in thirty feet of water, the Drowning City has taken a turn for the weird, and Joe Golem is there to investigate. A mysterious and terrifying creature has been snatching children and pulling them into the depths of the canals, and those that drowned in the floods are coming back to the surface—alive. Collects the five-issue miniseries.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2016
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,876 books2,618 followersMike Mignola was born September 16, 1960 in Berkeley, California and grew up in nearby Oakland. His fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age (he doesn't remember why) and reading Dracula at age 13 introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore from which he has never recovered.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 6, 2017
Mignola has created another intriguing supernatural world. The Drowning City is Manhattan, 30 years ago lower Manhattan was flooded that is now similar to Venice. Joe Golem is a noirish detective investigating the supernatural with his mentor Mr. Church. He also dreams of a golem in 15th century Croatia hunting witches. Contained within are 2 separate stories, the first investigating a creature stealing children, taking them into the water. In the second Joe and Mr. Church take on zombies. I can't wait to read more.
Received an advance copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2017
Joe Golem is the result of a very unique vision by Mignola. Joe is a detective/PI and he is a Golem.
Raised by a priest to combat witches, something that is hardwired into his system, in "modern" times he is a more human construct. The setting is a noir version of 1960's New York. Except this New York has fallen victim to an earthquake and rising seas. Known as the Drowining City it has a curious mixture of the noir genre with dystopian styles. Very interesting.
There is an aura of mystery between Joe and his mentor which I shall not spoil. I wish Mignola had done the art. The artwork is not bad, not by a long shot, but I would have liked to see Mignola's style. But that is just me. This is good art and it works really well within the story, so do not view it as a denigration but rather as a personal preference.
I also enjoyed Joe's dreams where he sees his past. The transposing of stories set in two completely different time periods is very well done (gothic horror vs dystopian crime noir). I am certainly interested to see more of Joe Golem. I think you will be as well.
Raised by a priest to combat witches, something that is hardwired into his system, in "modern" times he is a more human construct. The setting is a noir version of 1960's New York. Except this New York has fallen victim to an earthquake and rising seas. Known as the Drowining City it has a curious mixture of the noir genre with dystopian styles. Very interesting.
There is an aura of mystery between Joe and his mentor which I shall not spoil. I wish Mignola had done the art. The artwork is not bad, not by a long shot, but I would have liked to see Mignola's style. But that is just me. This is good art and it works really well within the story, so do not view it as a denigration but rather as a personal preference.
I also enjoyed Joe's dreams where he sees his past. The transposing of stories set in two completely different time periods is very well done (gothic horror vs dystopian crime noir). I am certainly interested to see more of Joe Golem. I think you will be as well.
January 4, 2023
An interesting and fascinating new story by Mignola whose constant fascination with Monsters ever since he read Dracula at the tender age of 12 and encountered the Victorian interest of monsters which left the young men with an everlasting fascination.
Joe Golem & Mr Church are an odd couple in the drowned city of New York they tend to the occult situations in the big Apple. They have something mysterious and an seemingly secret they protect.
In this book there is a creature preying on children and a grimoire that contains the knowledge to resurrect the dead. As always there is a catch.
A new fascinating anti-hero with some more than interesting line of stories. Well worth your time.
Joe Golem & Mr Church are an odd couple in the drowned city of New York they tend to the occult situations in the big Apple. They have something mysterious and an seemingly secret they protect.
In this book there is a creature preying on children and a grimoire that contains the knowledge to resurrect the dead. As always there is a catch.
A new fascinating anti-hero with some more than interesting line of stories. Well worth your time.
January 2, 2026
Joe Golem Detetive do Oculto Vol. 1, é um encadernado focado no terror/horror, com elementos de investigação, que ira focar em acompanhar os casos sobrenaturais que o Detetive Particular Joe investiga, com o tom Lovecraftano bem presente, sendo algo melancólico, soturno e bem sujo.
Nesse primeiro volume iremos acompanhar duas histórias: O Apanhador de Ratos e Os Mortos Submersos, que irão apresentar Joe e seu sócio, Simon Church, que se apresenta como um sujeito bem misterioso e suspeito.
Na primeira história, vamos acompanhar Joe investigando um caso em que crianças de um orfanato estão desaparecendo por conta de uma figura monstruosa que sequestra crianças no rio que perpassa a Cidade Afogada. Assim, Joe inicia sua investigação no orfanato onde as crianças vivem, até chegar no local em que houve o sumiço da última criança.
A história é recehada de suspense, mas também com camadas de humanidade e sentimentalismo, pois, ao descobrirmos a origem do monstro, há uma comoção pela sua história.
Já na segunda trama, o sobrenatural é muito mais presente, envolvendo necromancia, grimórios e zumbis, visto que Joe e Simon vão investigar um colecionar da cidade Afogada, que recentemente adquiriu algo em sua coleção que despertou um alerta nos instrumentos de Simon.
Ambas as histórias são muito boas, com elementos Lovecraftanos bem marcantes, assim como o aspecto melancólico define as histórias.
Ademais, estou curioso para continuar as leituras dos próximos volumes, tenso em vista que o Simon pareceu uma figura bem suspeita, enquanto que Joe sofre com pesadelos e lembranças de algo que não é explicado ao leitor, deixando o tom de suspense bem definido.
Nesse primeiro volume iremos acompanhar duas histórias: O Apanhador de Ratos e Os Mortos Submersos, que irão apresentar Joe e seu sócio, Simon Church, que se apresenta como um sujeito bem misterioso e suspeito.
Na primeira história, vamos acompanhar Joe investigando um caso em que crianças de um orfanato estão desaparecendo por conta de uma figura monstruosa que sequestra crianças no rio que perpassa a Cidade Afogada. Assim, Joe inicia sua investigação no orfanato onde as crianças vivem, até chegar no local em que houve o sumiço da última criança.
A história é recehada de suspense, mas também com camadas de humanidade e sentimentalismo, pois, ao descobrirmos a origem do monstro, há uma comoção pela sua história.
Já na segunda trama, o sobrenatural é muito mais presente, envolvendo necromancia, grimórios e zumbis, visto que Joe e Simon vão investigar um colecionar da cidade Afogada, que recentemente adquiriu algo em sua coleção que despertou um alerta nos instrumentos de Simon.
Ambas as histórias são muito boas, com elementos Lovecraftanos bem marcantes, assim como o aspecto melancólico define as histórias.
Ademais, estou curioso para continuar as leituras dos próximos volumes, tenso em vista que o Simon pareceu uma figura bem suspeita, enquanto que Joe sofre com pesadelos e lembranças de algo que não é explicado ao leitor, deixando o tom de suspense bem definido.
October 14, 2019
Classic Mignola stuff — spooky, noir-ish, very atmospheric and really enjoyable this time of year.
November 2, 2019
Another thrilling story by Mignola, packed full of atmosphere. I thought it was really good, but the story was a bit too similar to Shadow Over Innsmouth, this kind of setup is turning into a subgenre of its own, even yesterday I was playing "The Sinking City" which follows the exact same tropes, but do I get tired of it? Hell no!
March 23, 2017
I received this from Edelweiss and Dark Horse Comics in exchange for an honest review.
This was pretty good, mixing a good NY noir with an occult backdrop. This volume explores Joe Golem, not-sidekick to master-PI Simon Church. Joe is now the eyes and ears of the business, and investigates some missing children and an occultic mystery.
The plotting was good, and I'm interested to see how Joe's dreams impact him. The artwork captures the noir atmosphere perfectly.
This was pretty good, mixing a good NY noir with an occult backdrop. This volume explores Joe Golem, not-sidekick to master-PI Simon Church. Joe is now the eyes and ears of the business, and investigates some missing children and an occultic mystery.
The plotting was good, and I'm interested to see how Joe's dreams impact him. The artwork captures the noir atmosphere perfectly.
March 8, 2020
Joe Golem is noir-ish detective hero in the best pulpish tradition, set in an interesting alternate world in which much of New York City flooded in the 1920's. Joe (who really is a golem) works with an aging investigator and faces two horrific challenges in this book. It's very well written by the terrific Christopher Golden, and the art captures the unique feel of the world chillingly and convincingly throughout. Lots of fun!
August 12, 2021
Thank you Hoopla App for the Bonus Borrows this month, I finally got to read Joe Golem.
Mike Mignola has built another wonderful, dark, familiar yet weird world. It's 1965 and Joe is a detective with the memories of a 15th century golem who killed witches in eastern Europe. Lower Manhattan was submerged in water decades before and is now called the Drowning City. Mignola and Christopher Golden wrote it, Patric Reynolds did the art and Dave Stewart did the coloring. It's absolutely top shelf work from the whole team and everything I just said is all you should need to be intrigued. If you aren't there by now I cannot sell you on this series that I am very excited to continue.
Mike Mignola has built another wonderful, dark, familiar yet weird world. It's 1965 and Joe is a detective with the memories of a 15th century golem who killed witches in eastern Europe. Lower Manhattan was submerged in water decades before and is now called the Drowning City. Mignola and Christopher Golden wrote it, Patric Reynolds did the art and Dave Stewart did the coloring. It's absolutely top shelf work from the whole team and everything I just said is all you should need to be intrigued. If you aren't there by now I cannot sell you on this series that I am very excited to continue.
May 6, 2021
Review is for all 4 collected volumes of the graphic adaptation of the novel.
I went in blind based on the name 'Mignola', who has never disappointed. You won't be either. Climb on and go for the ride through a fantastical yet comfortable location, with new yet familiar characters, and original yet recognizable villains.
I went in blind based on the name 'Mignola', who has never disappointed. You won't be either. Climb on and go for the ride through a fantastical yet comfortable location, with new yet familiar characters, and original yet recognizable villains.
January 31, 2021
Wheel picks for January 2021
Read a book that starts with a J
Read a book that starts with a J
March 4, 2016
Like Hellboy and B.P.R.D., Joe Golem is another noir-fantasy hero. He even has similar patterns of behavior as Hellboy. one major difference is that this story takes place in a world where New York City is a at least a story or two underwater so, like Venice, it is apparently a sunken or drowned city. This adds an interesting environment to the whole occult detective schtick, but there wasn't enough material for the backstory in this graphic novel to really develop this aspect. But then this is a continuation of the story and characters from Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel, which likely has much more detail in that area. There's a lot of potential here and I'm looking forward to future releases, but it wasn't quite as good as the material Mignola has done for Hellboy and B.P.R.D..
December 9, 2021
Where has this been all my life?
Mike Mignola once more creates an occult noir masterpiece set in a surreal location. In this case we are in Manhattan, The Drowned City. New York has been inundated with floods and now is more akin to Venice. We have street rats roaming the city in boats to steal what they can get, and monsters lurking beneath the surface. This is a world of sorcery and secrets - all you gotta do is open the book to dive on in.
And, man, I wanted to live here forever.
The dialogue is crisp and brevity is well in order. Everything is unfurled slowly, and there is plenty left to find. I want to dive back in so quickly. I want everything I read to be this. I've got the occult noir bug and this was just what I needed. This and Sleeper, honestly.
Man, I can't emphasize how much fun I had here. Seriously. Wanna sail the streets of the sunken city with me?
Mike Mignola once more creates an occult noir masterpiece set in a surreal location. In this case we are in Manhattan, The Drowned City. New York has been inundated with floods and now is more akin to Venice. We have street rats roaming the city in boats to steal what they can get, and monsters lurking beneath the surface. This is a world of sorcery and secrets - all you gotta do is open the book to dive on in.
And, man, I wanted to live here forever.
The dialogue is crisp and brevity is well in order. Everything is unfurled slowly, and there is plenty left to find. I want to dive back in so quickly. I want everything I read to be this. I've got the occult noir bug and this was just what I needed. This and Sleeper, honestly.
Man, I can't emphasize how much fun I had here. Seriously. Wanna sail the streets of the sunken city with me?
October 6, 2021
Mike Mignola é sinônimo de quadrinhos com investigação paranormal de criaturas estranhas pra lá de sobrenaturais. Este quadrinho, o primeiro volume de Joe Golem, que aporta no Brasil pela Myhtos Editora, traz ares de ficção especulativa, mas especificamente aquelas que se utilizam de elementos noir e pulp, dada a capa da edição. O quadrinho apresenta um detetive fora do comum que aparentemente já foi um golem, vivendo aventuras em uma Nova York dos anos 1950 e 1960. O detalhe é que essa cidade, na realidade deste quadrinho, é chamada de Cidade Submersa, porque metade dela se encontra debaixo d'água. Um mundo e um personagem com muito potencial, certamente. A arte é belíssima também. Mas não consegui me conectar muito com o personagem exatamente porque não é explicado quem ele é o que ele quer, fica tudo bastante nebuloso, com mistérios por demais para resolver num primeiro volume que deveria apresentar o protagonista e seu universo. Além disso, outro fato que vai afastar o leitor são os preços praticados pela Mythos Editora, bem acima dos de outras editoras de quadrinhos.
July 25, 2021
Great story, great art work. Can’t wait to read the other volumes.
September 11, 2021
The story was really unique and interesting but I did not like the art style and colouring at all.
July 22, 2022
Not bad per se but so unimaginative it verges on boring. I'm growing tired of these occult stories thrown out in the wind without much care in their design and application.
June 8, 2019
Of all the various Mignola-adjacent titles, Joe Golem is the only series that I haven't kept up on in real time. I can't even really tell you why, besides maybe just series fatigue and not needing another title to follow on the regular. I read the novel, and liked it a lot, but the comics never jumped out and grabbed me and I never went looking - until now.
As in the novel, the setting is great, even if it doesn't look quite like I pictured it when reading the book. And the art brings it to life well and is suited to the material it is trying to convey even if, again, it is less my particular wheelhouse than some of the other artists working on Mignolaverse titles.
As in the novel, the setting is great, even if it doesn't look quite like I pictured it when reading the book. And the art brings it to life well and is suited to the material it is trying to convey even if, again, it is less my particular wheelhouse than some of the other artists working on Mignolaverse titles.
April 14, 2024
Primer volumen de Joe Golem, detective de lo oculto. El dibujo y la ambientación son brutales y, desde la primera página, los personajes transmiten carisma y personalidad.
La primera historia, El cazador de ratas, me parece magnífico por su ritmo, la trama, los personajes, el misterio y cierto giro que hace de la continuidad una virtud.
Los muertos sumergidos me parece una historia más clásica y precipitada, aunque sustentada por una excelente base.
Los sueños del protagonista son interesantes, te atrapan igual que la historia principal y sirve como hilo conductor para los siguientes números.
Seguiremos con el dos.
La primera historia, El cazador de ratas, me parece magnífico por su ritmo, la trama, los personajes, el misterio y cierto giro que hace de la continuidad una virtud.
Los muertos sumergidos me parece una historia más clásica y precipitada, aunque sustentada por una excelente base.
Los sueños del protagonista son interesantes, te atrapan igual que la historia principal y sirve como hilo conductor para los siguientes números.
Seguiremos con el dos.
January 27, 2020
I like Joe Golem. He is an approachable character and the shifts between the life he lives and the life he barely remembers are intriguing. The world of a 1950s New York flooded and navigated like Venice is also intriguing and easy to settle into. I am downloading the next volume now.
January 4, 2026
I really enjoyed the story and artwork. I liked the first story more. this is a great introduction to a new series and kept me engaged. was able to read it in a morning with the kids jumping all over me.
September 19, 2022
Fuck yeah!
September 27, 2022
I liked this story and the art was very good. This seemed different than Mignola's usual stuff for some reason, in a good way.
July 27, 2024
3/5 - Graphic Novels
2/5 - Occult Detective
2/5 - Characters
2/5 - Story
2.25/5 - Rating
2/5 - Occult Detective
2/5 - Characters
2/5 - Story
2.25/5 - Rating
September 13, 2018
Un detective dal passato oscuro, una Manhattan sommersa popolata da un mostro marino, un uomo che vuole riportare in vita la sua famiglia attraverso la magia nera.
Mike Mignola. Serve altro?
Mike Mignola. Serve altro?
July 8, 2017
This is exactly the
P.I. Noir / Lovecraft mash up
you did not know you needed.
Until it was right before you,
perfect and incredible.
Joe is the assistant / protege
to the aged detective who protects
The Drowning City
Manhattan after a major earthquake
dropped it 30 feet below sea level.
Joe doesn't know it but
he used to be Golem. A creature
of Earth and magic
summoned to fight witches
in the dark ages,
his mentor does know it and why is he keeping it
from Joe?
Could it be connected to
the eldritch power he
has tapped into
to keep himself
alive for well beyond a century?
Joe fights against
impossible monsters to keep people
safe from what lies just beneath
reality.
P.I. Noir / Lovecraft mash up
you did not know you needed.
Until it was right before you,
perfect and incredible.
Joe is the assistant / protege
to the aged detective who protects
The Drowning City
Manhattan after a major earthquake
dropped it 30 feet below sea level.
Joe doesn't know it but
he used to be Golem. A creature
of Earth and magic
summoned to fight witches
in the dark ages,
his mentor does know it and why is he keeping it
from Joe?
Could it be connected to
the eldritch power he
has tapped into
to keep himself
alive for well beyond a century?
Joe fights against
impossible monsters to keep people
safe from what lies just beneath
reality.
March 6, 2017
A New Take on an Old School Style
I like all of Mignola's Hellboy spin-offs, (although Hellboy will always be number 1), but I was a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed "Joe Golem". The character and the premise both seemed to be a stretch, but it all has a certain integrity and rough hewn appeal that was very entertaining.
This volume collects the first five issues of "Joe Golem". It's probably not really a SPOILER to note that Joe Golem is a 15th century golem, kept alive through occult means that are never really described as part of Joe's backstory. What we do learn is that Joe doesn't know he's a golem; he's kept in a perpetual state of amnesia about his past by the weirdly long-lived, partly magical, partly bio-mechanical detective who is his boss. So, while there is an occult, magical, golemy sort of background, and while Joe's cases involve supernatural and magical angles, the main thrust of each story is much more along the lines of 50's pulp detective fiction. Didn't quite expect that from Hellboy's creator, although maybe I should have.
This volume covers two full tales, (a water creature thing and a cursed grimoire of the undead tale), as well as some flashbacks to Joe's creation 500 years ago. Arching over that is a romance, and the mystery about how and why Joe's boss is keeping him in the dark about who Joe really is. That golem angle is a pretty sly nod to the dark pasts that all noir heroes have, and there are actually a good number of clever and witty little nods to classic noir conventions and how they can be twisted a little in the fantasy context. As a consequence, this can be read as just an entertaining detective story or as a pretty subtle take on how noir and fantasy intersect, and the reader can take as much or as little of that as he likes.
The whole drowned city angle adds a lot of atmosphere, and gives the drawings some uniqueness, as well as allowing for very original variations on the whole decrepit urban landscape approach. Joe himself is a strong, silent hero type who's good for an occasional wisecrack, and the possible girlfriend is a no-nonsense tough/spunky type, so all of that works very nicely.
The upshot is that even though this was designed to have a bit of a throwback, pulp detective feel it hit me as a bit of fresh air and a nice new direction for Mignola's talents. An odd but rewarding and entertaining find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
I like all of Mignola's Hellboy spin-offs, (although Hellboy will always be number 1), but I was a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed "Joe Golem". The character and the premise both seemed to be a stretch, but it all has a certain integrity and rough hewn appeal that was very entertaining.
This volume collects the first five issues of "Joe Golem". It's probably not really a SPOILER to note that Joe Golem is a 15th century golem, kept alive through occult means that are never really described as part of Joe's backstory. What we do learn is that Joe doesn't know he's a golem; he's kept in a perpetual state of amnesia about his past by the weirdly long-lived, partly magical, partly bio-mechanical detective who is his boss. So, while there is an occult, magical, golemy sort of background, and while Joe's cases involve supernatural and magical angles, the main thrust of each story is much more along the lines of 50's pulp detective fiction. Didn't quite expect that from Hellboy's creator, although maybe I should have.
This volume covers two full tales, (a water creature thing and a cursed grimoire of the undead tale), as well as some flashbacks to Joe's creation 500 years ago. Arching over that is a romance, and the mystery about how and why Joe's boss is keeping him in the dark about who Joe really is. That golem angle is a pretty sly nod to the dark pasts that all noir heroes have, and there are actually a good number of clever and witty little nods to classic noir conventions and how they can be twisted a little in the fantasy context. As a consequence, this can be read as just an entertaining detective story or as a pretty subtle take on how noir and fantasy intersect, and the reader can take as much or as little of that as he likes.
The whole drowned city angle adds a lot of atmosphere, and gives the drawings some uniqueness, as well as allowing for very original variations on the whole decrepit urban landscape approach. Joe himself is a strong, silent hero type who's good for an occasional wisecrack, and the possible girlfriend is a no-nonsense tough/spunky type, so all of that works very nicely.
The upshot is that even though this was designed to have a bit of a throwback, pulp detective feel it hit me as a bit of fresh air and a nice new direction for Mignola's talents. An odd but rewarding and entertaining find. (Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
October 29, 2018
I really enjoy this book. Those who are not familiar with Mike Mignola's writing probably have heard of Hellboy. Mignola writes really good stories dealing with the horror genre and the occult. I actually selected this book on sheer curiosity. The artwork really fit the tone of the storytelling. Mignola does a good job giving the reader an easy to understanding background for the period. The pacing gives the book a real cinematic quaility. I admit it is not that quite different from what Mike does with the Hellboy & BRPD stuff. In fact Joe Golem would really fit right into that universe. My only gripe was that the mystery of what or who Joe Golem is does not get resolved in this first volume. The book works more a setup for the series. I am interested to see where the series is going. If you are looking for more period occult pulp books I would suggest the following series: Four Eyes, Vol. 1: Forged in Flames, Five Ghosts, Volume 1: The Haunting of Fabian Gray,Batman: Gotham by Gaslight &Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses.
January 11, 2017
2026 review (4 stars): I reread this in advance of finally beginning the second volume. I liked it considerably more this time. Yes, it's dark, but the story is very well done and the art is incredible. I love the flashbacks to 15th-century Croatia as (presumably) Joe's origin story, and I need to know what's up with Dr. Church.
2017 review (3 stars): Joe Golem: Occult Detective is unlike anything I've read before. It's set in the 1960s, in a world where an earthquake decades earlier has led to the sinking of Manhattan (or if it's not actively sinking, at the very least a good portion is underwater). Kids have been disappearing, snatched by a strange creature, and though Joe and his partner, Simon Church, are accustomed to taking on the supernatural, this new monster has them perplexed.
This series is a little darker than I usually go for, but I liked the story. It's as mix of the occult (obviously), with a little magic thrown in for good measure, some wayward kids, a good old fashioned mystery, and a hint of a burgeoning romance. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the art is fantastic, kind of in a 1950s-esque style. Now to wait until the next volume is out.
2017 review (3 stars): Joe Golem: Occult Detective is unlike anything I've read before. It's set in the 1960s, in a world where an earthquake decades earlier has led to the sinking of Manhattan (or if it's not actively sinking, at the very least a good portion is underwater). Kids have been disappearing, snatched by a strange creature, and though Joe and his partner, Simon Church, are accustomed to taking on the supernatural, this new monster has them perplexed.
This series is a little darker than I usually go for, but I liked the story. It's as mix of the occult (obviously), with a little magic thrown in for good measure, some wayward kids, a good old fashioned mystery, and a hint of a burgeoning romance. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the art is fantastic, kind of in a 1950s-esque style. Now to wait until the next volume is out.
March 2, 2017
Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, and drawn by Patric Reynolds, this piece of contrafactual, fantastical fiction about a New York partially submerged under water and a detective (or perhaps detective apprentice) who needs to navigate that city delivers upon most of my expectations. The volume contains two story arcs, the three-parter "The Rat Catcher" and the two-parter "The Sunken Dead", which are also interrelated, through the ongoing mystery of Joe Golem's own mysterious background.
All in all, story-wise this is clearly rooted in Mignola fascinating imagination, and while I always love to see Mignola on art duty as well, there is no denying that Reynolds is an excellent choice to bring this version of New York City to life.
All in all, story-wise this is clearly rooted in Mignola fascinating imagination, and while I always love to see Mignola on art duty as well, there is no denying that Reynolds is an excellent choice to bring this version of New York City to life.
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