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Clean Room #7-12
Clean Room, Vol. 2: Exile
Fan-favorite Gail Simone's (Batgirl, Wonder Woman) suspenseful debut Vertigo series continues in this volume.
Journalist Chloe Pierce had no idea that her fiance Philip's decision to pick up a book by enigmatic and compelling self-help guru Astrid Mueller would change her life forever--by ending his! Three months after reading Mueller's book, Philip had blown his brains out all over Chloe's new kitchen and something in that book made him do it.
Now, Chloe will stop at nothing as she attempts to infiltrate Mueller's clandestine organization to find the truth behind Philip's suicide and a "Clean Room" that she's heard whispers of--a place where your deepest fears are exposed and your worst moments revealed.
This volume features a spectacularly disturbing standalone issue that delves into the depths of Astrid's terrifying personal history and explains why demons have haunted her since birth.
Collecting: Clean Room 7-12
Journalist Chloe Pierce had no idea that her fiance Philip's decision to pick up a book by enigmatic and compelling self-help guru Astrid Mueller would change her life forever--by ending his! Three months after reading Mueller's book, Philip had blown his brains out all over Chloe's new kitchen and something in that book made him do it.
Now, Chloe will stop at nothing as she attempts to infiltrate Mueller's clandestine organization to find the truth behind Philip's suicide and a "Clean Room" that she's heard whispers of--a place where your deepest fears are exposed and your worst moments revealed.
This volume features a spectacularly disturbing standalone issue that delves into the depths of Astrid's terrifying personal history and explains why demons have haunted her since birth.
Collecting: Clean Room 7-12
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2017
About the author
Gail Simone
1,112 books1,246 followersGail Simone is a comic book writer well-known for her work on Birds of Prey (DC), Wonder Woman (DC), and Deadpool (Marvel), among others, and has also written humorous and critical commentary on comics and the comics industry such as the original "Women in Refrigerators" website and a regular column called "You'll All Be Sorry".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
October 29, 2021
This continues to hold my attention.
It's kind of fucknuts and all over the place, but in a good way.
There's a bit more backstory and you do find out more of what's happening, but you never really know how to feel about Astrid. <--or I didn't.
She's a very unlikeable hero in just about every way imaginable.
I was right about the Outcast vibe I was feeling from the first volume, but it's not quite the same thing.
Overall, I thought this is a bit of wacky fun wrapped up in a horror comic.
Buddy read with Alex Go Clean Your Room!
It's kind of fucknuts and all over the place, but in a good way.
There's a bit more backstory and you do find out more of what's happening, but you never really know how to feel about Astrid. <--or I didn't.
She's a very unlikeable hero in just about every way imaginable.
I was right about the Outcast vibe I was feeling from the first volume, but it's not quite the same thing.
Overall, I thought this is a bit of wacky fun wrapped up in a horror comic.
Buddy read with Alex Go Clean Your Room!
August 4, 2020
This graphic novel series is still very weird, but it started to make a little more sense in this volume . . .
Just a little . . .
If I had a gun to my head and was being forced to explain the plot of Clean Room, I would be in big trouble. It is sci-fi/horror with a bit of supernatural demon stuff going on. Each chapter combines normal goings on with the extremely bizarre. Just when you settle in to the plot, it throws you for a curve with disturbing imagery and jarring plot twists. I have to say, I am actually enjoying this bumpy and crazy ride (even if I am not quite sure why!)
The art of this is very eye-catching. The depiction of human characters is well done, and when things get into the bizarre, it is quite striking and often horrific. Some of it is very Lovecraftian. For some reason, I found the depiction of mouths on the creatures particularly disturbing. This is definitely one to give you nightmares if you have a weak constitution for the visually unsettling.
This graphic novel series is not for everyone. In fact, it may not be for many. But if you have a thing for confusingly bizarre horror, then you really must try it out.
Just a little . . .
If I had a gun to my head and was being forced to explain the plot of Clean Room, I would be in big trouble. It is sci-fi/horror with a bit of supernatural demon stuff going on. Each chapter combines normal goings on with the extremely bizarre. Just when you settle in to the plot, it throws you for a curve with disturbing imagery and jarring plot twists. I have to say, I am actually enjoying this bumpy and crazy ride (even if I am not quite sure why!)
The art of this is very eye-catching. The depiction of human characters is well done, and when things get into the bizarre, it is quite striking and often horrific. Some of it is very Lovecraftian. For some reason, I found the depiction of mouths on the creatures particularly disturbing. This is definitely one to give you nightmares if you have a weak constitution for the visually unsettling.
This graphic novel series is not for everyone. In fact, it may not be for many. But if you have a thing for confusingly bizarre horror, then you really must try it out.
October 18, 2019
Who knew Gail Simone had a horror writer lurking inside her? Simone continues with the twists and turns that keeps this book interesting. We get to see more of the backstory of what is really going on as the story focuses a bit more on Astrid's backstory and each of her lieutenants. Jon Davis-Hunt continues to impress with his stunning body horror. His character work is fantastic which makes those creepy of hell monsters he draws look even more horrifying.
October 18, 2021
Better than the first volume, has more of an actual plot. Also quite funny, in a dark, body horror sort of way.
Yes go!
Reading this series with the devil's own teats, Anne and Mike.
March 31, 2017
Another great volume!
Astrid is turning out to be a really great character! I really like that we're seeing more of what Chloe can do and Killian is still a badass character with depth to her motivations. We also get more on Capone and Duncan, Astrid's good little soldiers.
The monsters are even better in this one! I actually felt a little bad for Spark until we got more on his history. I love how Chloe's mind works in this volume!
We get more on Astrid's history and kind of how she began the company and that was interesting.
The art was great as ever. There were quite a few pages where I paused because of how striking the monsters were. A+ for that.
The ending is driving me crazy! I need the next part!
Astrid is turning out to be a really great character! I really like that we're seeing more of what Chloe can do and Killian is still a badass character with depth to her motivations. We also get more on Capone and Duncan, Astrid's good little soldiers.
The monsters are even better in this one! I actually felt a little bad for Spark until we got more on his history. I love how Chloe's mind works in this volume!
We get more on Astrid's history and kind of how she began the company and that was interesting.
The art was great as ever. There were quite a few pages where I paused because of how striking the monsters were. A+ for that.
The ending is driving me crazy! I need the next part!
March 21, 2026
3.5 maybe
April 7, 2025
Sick, weird, confusing, loved it!
February 6, 2017
Gail Simone is sick, twisted, more than a little worrying, and absolutely amazing.
Clean Room continues to shock and surprise at every turn, with plot twists you'll never see coming (check out the first double page spread in issue 8) and yet some deeply personal and intense characterization that balances it all out. We still don't have all the answers, but the bigger picture is coming into focus, and it's scary as hell.
This book wouldn't be half as effective without Jon-Davis Hunt, who draws body horror to an insane degree while making the rest of the cast as lifelike as possible. Colourist Quinton Winter makes sure everything pops, and the Clean Room itself is a perfect sterile white that will haunt your dreams.
Not for the faint of heart, but a blindingly good read.
Clean Room continues to shock and surprise at every turn, with plot twists you'll never see coming (check out the first double page spread in issue 8) and yet some deeply personal and intense characterization that balances it all out. We still don't have all the answers, but the bigger picture is coming into focus, and it's scary as hell.
This book wouldn't be half as effective without Jon-Davis Hunt, who draws body horror to an insane degree while making the rest of the cast as lifelike as possible. Colourist Quinton Winter makes sure everything pops, and the Clean Room itself is a perfect sterile white that will haunt your dreams.
Not for the faint of heart, but a blindingly good read.
December 11, 2020
I probably won't end up reading volume 3 but this was still quite enjoyable. I just don't really like where the story is going enough to finish it, and it isn't as scary as promised so it's kinda underwhelming. That said I did have fun reading even if it was a bit confusing overall it was still easy to read and the art was nice!
January 9, 2019
https://leiturasdelaura.blogspot.com/...
http://popoca.com.br/sala-imaculada-v...
Não é porque o Desafio Literário Popoca de janeiro é sobre o primeiro livro de uma série que vou me limitar apenas a isso. Faço ainda melhor, aproveito e leio a série completa, claro!
Nessa continuação de Sala Imaculada, a autora Gail Simone começa a mostrar a que veio com sua história pesada sobre a verdadeira realidade do mundo!
O segundo volume, Exílio, consegue ser mais opressivo do que o primeiro. A questão é que no primeiro livro da série o leitor ainda não entendeu o que está acontecendo direito, enquanto aqui a ficha começa a cair e, gente, que coisa mais apavorante.
Sala Imaculada se revela aquele tipo de história de dar pesadelos, mas que você não consegue parar de ler para ver onde ela vai acabar. Se o primeiro livro é violento, esse aqui é ainda pior. É definitivamente viciante.
Mas não necessariamente isso é bom. A história tem lá os seus furos, e, talvez por originalmente a série ser publicada em capítulos menores, tem um quê de repetição de falas que serve para lembrar o leitor que compra mensalmente a história o porquê de algumas coisas. Só que isso não funciona bem quando você junta tudo.
A minha sensação é que a história é melhor do que Gail Simone foi capaz de contar. Ficou bom, mas deixa a desejar.
http://popoca.com.br/sala-imaculada-v...
Não é porque o Desafio Literário Popoca de janeiro é sobre o primeiro livro de uma série que vou me limitar apenas a isso. Faço ainda melhor, aproveito e leio a série completa, claro!
Nessa continuação de Sala Imaculada, a autora Gail Simone começa a mostrar a que veio com sua história pesada sobre a verdadeira realidade do mundo!
O segundo volume, Exílio, consegue ser mais opressivo do que o primeiro. A questão é que no primeiro livro da série o leitor ainda não entendeu o que está acontecendo direito, enquanto aqui a ficha começa a cair e, gente, que coisa mais apavorante.
Sala Imaculada se revela aquele tipo de história de dar pesadelos, mas que você não consegue parar de ler para ver onde ela vai acabar. Se o primeiro livro é violento, esse aqui é ainda pior. É definitivamente viciante.
Mas não necessariamente isso é bom. A história tem lá os seus furos, e, talvez por originalmente a série ser publicada em capítulos menores, tem um quê de repetição de falas que serve para lembrar o leitor que compra mensalmente a história o porquê de algumas coisas. Só que isso não funciona bem quando você junta tudo.
A minha sensação é que a história é melhor do que Gail Simone foi capaz de contar. Ficou bom, mas deixa a desejar.
April 12, 2018
An assassin's bullet strikes Astrid, and an attempt to take over the board of the Honest World Foundation is made. And we get glimpses of just what exactly this is all about. It's not pretty.
In some ways, this series reminds me of Robert Kirkman’s Outcast. In both cases, we have otherworldly entities controlling humans in ways that resemble demonic possession. Whether that's actually what's going on remains to be seen. Also, in both titles, the doling out of clues is slow and deliberate. Simone knows very well what's going on here, but she won't tell us until she's ready. Evil woman!
This is definitely not a title for the squeamish, but I’m liking it quite a bit so far. Recommended!
In some ways, this series reminds me of Robert Kirkman’s Outcast. In both cases, we have otherworldly entities controlling humans in ways that resemble demonic possession. Whether that's actually what's going on remains to be seen. Also, in both titles, the doling out of clues is slow and deliberate. Simone knows very well what's going on here, but she won't tell us until she's ready. Evil woman!
This is definitely not a title for the squeamish, but I’m liking it quite a bit so far. Recommended!
October 31, 2021
I’ve heard this series ends in a worse way than it should, but so far the story is deeply intriguing, the characters don’t take the steps I thought they’d take, and I still don’t know who the real “bad guys” are.
Aliens as antagonists but not necessarily villains is a neat meditation to take your readers along, and Astrid as a sympathetic sociopath wasn’t at all expected.
Definitely gonna see this one through, and not just because it’s thematically suited to spooktober readings. Gail Simone has surprised and disappointed me both in the past, so I’m wary but enjoying this so far.
Spooky Buddy read with the Shallows
Aliens as antagonists but not necessarily villains is a neat meditation to take your readers along, and Astrid as a sympathetic sociopath wasn’t at all expected.
Definitely gonna see this one through, and not just because it’s thematically suited to spooktober readings. Gail Simone has surprised and disappointed me both in the past, so I’m wary but enjoying this so far.
Spooky Buddy read with the Shallows
October 30, 2025
Fancasting Duncan as a gigantic gay Pierce Brosnan. Rowr!
March 18, 2017
Deeper down the rabbit hole we go.
This volume contains possibly the most horrifying, dehumanizing torment I've ever seen. Kevin Smith's TUSK, but worse. Gail Simone and Jon Davis-Hunt are a little scary.
Davis-Hunt's illustrations crush it once again. He blends a remarkable clarity with interesting, almost cinematic choices: perfectly composed overhead views, or a series of nigh-identical panoramic shots in which the only change is the speck of a sniper in the distance.
Plot points (it's a busy volume):
This volume contains possibly the most horrifying, dehumanizing torment I've ever seen. Kevin Smith's TUSK, but worse. Gail Simone and Jon Davis-Hunt are a little scary.
Davis-Hunt's illustrations crush it once again. He blends a remarkable clarity with interesting, almost cinematic choices: perfectly composed overhead views, or a series of nigh-identical panoramic shots in which the only change is the speck of a sniper in the distance.
Plot points (it's a busy volume):
September 11, 2017
I admit that I binge read at times. And, when I do that I do not always post reviews the same day I complete a trade and move onto the next one. This is my attempt at saying sometimes the reviews are shorter than they should be.
What sticks with me regarding this installment is Astrid. It is not just that she is one of the story's main characters. Unlike Chole, or the rest for that matter, we get more insight into the events that created this uncompromising woman. Many would consider Astrid very unlikable.
What I do appreciate about her, despite some arguably wallowing in self pity for part of this trade, is her conviction that she is doing the right thing.
Even if it might harm people along the way.
What sticks with me regarding this installment is Astrid. It is not just that she is one of the story's main characters. Unlike Chole, or the rest for that matter, we get more insight into the events that created this uncompromising woman. Many would consider Astrid very unlikable.
What I do appreciate about her, despite some arguably wallowing in self pity for part of this trade, is her conviction that she is doing the right thing.
Even if it might harm people along the way.
August 1, 2017
I'd swear this is Gail Simone writing as Garth Ennis, but Simone of course has more sophistication and knows the boundary between grotesqueries and just gross.
The second volume of this horror comic does a good job of making more sense and slowly bringing us into the backstory of what's going. There are also some very nice action sequences. On the flip side, the characters are less intriguing and more focused on just moving along the plot.
I'm looking forward to the next volume, which is sadly the last one from what I hear (at least the last with the dying Vertigo brand).
The second volume of this horror comic does a good job of making more sense and slowly bringing us into the backstory of what's going. There are also some very nice action sequences. On the flip side, the characters are less intriguing and more focused on just moving along the plot.
I'm looking forward to the next volume, which is sadly the last one from what I hear (at least the last with the dying Vertigo brand).
July 20, 2017
While I thought the first volume of this was pretty solid, what I'm surprised about with this second volume is how quickly it seems to fall out of the insanity and into a situation where things feel a little more structured. It becomes a miss as a result, and one I hate to admit I didn't love. I'll absolutely keep going with the story, especially since there was plenty here to keep my interest, but...
February 5, 2017
What a delirious ride!
June 2, 2025
I really goofed reading 3 before 2 but the library sends what it sends… anywho, a really twisted story. More details about Spark (who is just the sweetest little demon), the importance of forgiveness and justice, the conspiracies you know are better than the ones you don’t, Capone is such a badass hit-women.
The art is amazing, truly terrifying (the pony man) and great use of bright colors, this horror story happens in big white rooms and well lit offices, which is almost more frightening than in the dark- you really have to SEE the horrors around. A great horror comic!
The art is amazing, truly terrifying (the pony man) and great use of bright colors, this horror story happens in big white rooms and well lit offices, which is almost more frightening than in the dark- you really have to SEE the horrors around. A great horror comic!
February 17, 2019
'You know loyalty--I swear to god--we don't understand it. Kills more of you dipshits than cancer, you know that?'
THINGS GETS GROSSER AND MORE MESSED UP AND I'M HERE FOR IT ALL. Ughhh, this series is such a trip. But I gotta say I really love how many awesome female characters are in this
I really liked reading more about Astrid's origin story and the Muellers turning out to be more fucked up than I thought. There's more about Chloe and her mysterious powers and Killian remains a badass with a tendency to swear a lot. HOWEVER, CAPONE IS A+++. The scene where she falls on the snow twice because she's wearing heels was hilarious re: 'Also? Sidenote? Nature's panoramic majesty can suck my dick' ahahaha. Spark, though. He's adorable and I'm kinda conflicted about that fact LOL
With the way this volume ended, I'm sure things are only gonna get weirder.
As much as I love the body horror art, it really does grosses me out because it's creepy as shit and pretty hard to look at sometimes, which is the point.
THINGS GETS GROSSER AND MORE MESSED UP AND I'M HERE FOR IT ALL. Ughhh, this series is such a trip. But I gotta say I really love how many awesome female characters are in this
I really liked reading more about Astrid's origin story and the Muellers turning out to be more fucked up than I thought. There's more about Chloe and her mysterious powers and Killian remains a badass with a tendency to swear a lot. HOWEVER, CAPONE IS A+++. The scene where she falls on the snow twice because she's wearing heels was hilarious re: 'Also? Sidenote? Nature's panoramic majesty can suck my dick' ahahaha. Spark, though. He's adorable and I'm kinda conflicted about that fact LOL
With the way this volume ended, I'm sure things are only gonna get weirder.
As much as I love the body horror art, it really does grosses me out because it's creepy as shit and pretty hard to look at sometimes, which is the point.
November 16, 2021
Gail Simone’s weird, gory, and unsettling graphic novel series Clean Room continues to get weirder, gorier, and more unsettling in Volume 2, “Exile”.
In this issue: More about Astrid’s youth and her meeting of the mysterious young woman named Anika; Astrid’s brother, Peter, shoots her during a TED talk; Chloe starts dating Detective Demakos, who is freaked out because the body of the pretzelized homeless man has two right hands; Astrid’s bodyguard, Duncan, has been compromised by one of the demon-things; there’s a pony-man hybrid that gives me daymares; some whacko religious-nut CEO of a bottled water company wants to take over Astrid’s company; Chloe tries to save Spark, the demon-thing who she is trying to convince everybody is actually a good guy—-er, good “thing”, or whatever; Astrid’s people find Peter’s baby—Astrid’s niece—-which has snakes for a head.
So many horrors. So many nightmares. I love it.
In this issue: More about Astrid’s youth and her meeting of the mysterious young woman named Anika; Astrid’s brother, Peter, shoots her during a TED talk; Chloe starts dating Detective Demakos, who is freaked out because the body of the pretzelized homeless man has two right hands; Astrid’s bodyguard, Duncan, has been compromised by one of the demon-things; there’s a pony-man hybrid that gives me daymares; some whacko religious-nut CEO of a bottled water company wants to take over Astrid’s company; Chloe tries to save Spark, the demon-thing who she is trying to convince everybody is actually a good guy—-er, good “thing”, or whatever; Astrid’s people find Peter’s baby—Astrid’s niece—-which has snakes for a head.
So many horrors. So many nightmares. I love it.
August 22, 2017
Not as good as volume 1 for me. I still think the story is entertaining but I'm not sure it has much gas left in the tank. The story stalls a bit and new characters are introduced that do very little for the story. The writing is just inconsistent and there are moments where I am asking myself where is this going. The sudden romance with the detective was off base for the story and so was the backstory for Spark, it was sloppy. Overall the plot is OK seems predictable at times and slow. I hope it picks back up.
Spoilers below for a recap:
Astrid is shot and almost dies but Spark saves her. Then she goes AWOL and some random weirdos try to take over the company but Astrid already anticipated that. Spark is good then helps astrid then gets stuck in the clean room then goes bad then Chloe does the weird time travel thing and we see the backstory to spark.
Spoilers below for a recap:
Astrid is shot and almost dies but Spark saves her. Then she goes AWOL and some random weirdos try to take over the company but Astrid already anticipated that. Spark is good then helps astrid then gets stuck in the clean room then goes bad then Chloe does the weird time travel thing and we see the backstory to spark.
May 29, 2018
Although a couple of plot points in Clean Room, Vol. 2 seem a little bit underdeveloped (for instance, ), this volume is as weird, disturbing, captivating, and masterfully illustrated as the first one in the series:
September 3, 2020
A very exciting continuation of the story from the first volume. I really liked seeing Chloe come more into her power. I had a harder time connecting to Astrid's story in this volume. I also feel in love with Capone. The story is very character driven which I enjoy. We also got to see a wider view of the world and the secrets hiding in it. I can't wait to pick up the next volume.
October 9, 2021
Are they monsters? Demons? Aliens? I don’t know but I’m still enjoying the ride. Things are starting to heat up as more of these things are showing up. Plus someone has made an attempt on Astrid’s life……..twice and tried to takeover her company. But she won’t be taken out that easily. Art continues to be great and I can’t wait to read the finale!!
November 17, 2017
Intensely intense again! So happy there are already a few volumes out so I can dive right in!
July 30, 2017
A good continuation of the wild ride begun in the first volume, though the corporate takeover storyline seemed to be unnecessary padding.
August 30, 2018
"O inferno é real. E o diabo está chegando". Essa é a chamada para esta segunda edição de A Sala Imaculada, da renomada escritora feminista de super-heróis Gail Simone e do desenhista Jon Davis-Hunt. No primeiro número ficamos provocados e apavorados sobre a história de que pseudo-demônios vivem entre as pessoas. Somente a líder de uma seita salvatória moderna e chique, Astrid Muller, pode vê-los e nos salvar dele, a partir da posse do "cartão azul" da seita. Mas, neste volume, Astrid sofre um atentado e acaba salva por um desses pseudo-demônios que foi exorcizado. Mas ela resolve abandonar a sua seita e se exilar nas montanhas. Mas se Astrid não vai salvar a humanidade, então a quem vai recair esse papel? Ou a humanidade não será mais salva? E a sua seita e os seus fiéis? Aguém vai se aproveitar desse vácuo de poder? Todas essas perguntas são respondidas e resolvidas neste volume, em que o terror se desenvolve e se intensifica, mostrando o poder da escrita de Simone e também da narrativa e design de mundo de Davis-Hunt. E agora eu estou esperando ansiosamente o terceiro volume que, infelizmente, encerra a série.
May 23, 2017
This volume ups the ante, taking as read the invasion is coming and putting Mueller on the front line as she faces an assassin, a 'reformed' creature, and a hostile takeover. Her frenemy Chloe Pierce isn't quite as center-stage in this volume, but she does provide a lot of detail and pathos. Very little of this volume takes place in the activated clean room, with much of the horror being in the real world this time. A lot happens, with some flashback moments from Astrid's young life helping further develop her character. This is an intriguing and disturbing world, with very precise and clean art that strongly supports it. That said, I still feel like it hasn't quite hit a home run in a collection yet - I fully expect it to only get stranger and more powerful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews