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Shame #1-3
The Shame Trilogy
Collecting all three books in this acclaimed trilogy for the first time. When the purest woman on earth allows herself one selfish thought, it is enough to conceive the most evil woman the world has ever. The classic fantasy of good versus evil, mother versus daughter, as Virtue gets the daughter she wished for, Shame, and has to deal with the consequences of releasing this powerful woman to a world ill prepared for her campaign of evil. Also includes the first 10 pages of the first book in the Tales of Hope trilogy, John Bolton's original pencil layouts for the books, an interview with both Lovern and John about the trilogy, and additional background material.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2016
1 person is currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Lovern Kindzierski
332 books37 followersLovern was born in the small town of Arborg, Manitoba in 1954. His father was a partner in a small trucking company and his mother waited and managed for the local Canadian Legion. The first house his family owned was a converted chicken coop without running water and equipped with an outhouse.
Lovern graduated from Arborg Collegiate in 1972 and enrolled at Red River Community College, where he attended the first year of their Advertising Art course. The following year, he entered the work force as a printer’s assistant at Bulman Brothers Printing. After several years as a printer he quit his job and enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the University of Manitoba in 1982. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours and started his first work in the comic book industry as George Freeman’s assistant.
Lovern eventually won representation by Star Reach Agency and found colour work at 1st Comics on the Elric series. Shortly after he completed a try out book at DC Comics. Lovern was engaged by DC to develop a look and colour for the book John Constantine: Hellblazer, which was to become a flagship title for the Vertigo imprint.
Lovern, with the aid of his cousin Christopher Chuckry developed a computer colouring method with the use of Photoshop and started a company called Digital Chameleon. Their method redefined production in the entire comic book industry and graphic field.
While residing over Digital Chameleon as creative director Lovern had his first comic book story published. He wrote and coloured the short story, “So This Is Christmas”, which was illustrated by Tim Sale for the benefit book Within Our Reach” published by Marvel and Star Reach.
Lovern went on to write Agents of Law for Dark Horse Comics and the Victorian for Penny Farthing Press. In 1997 he wrote, “Tarzan: Le Monstre” for Dark Horse Comics and was nominated as best writer based on the six issues those stories spanned. Since then Lovern has written several other comic books and contributed short prose pieces to several anthologies.
In 2011 Lovern signed a deal with Renegade Arts Entertainment to colour the graphic novel, “The Loxleys & the War of 1812.” Shortly after that he signed the deal with that publishers to put his creator owned series, “Shame” into print. Shame was followed by the graphic novel, “Underworld” and this year the “Shame” hardcover collection will be released. Lovern is presently working on “Necromantic” a new creator owned series from Renegade Arts Entertainment.
Lovern graduated from Arborg Collegiate in 1972 and enrolled at Red River Community College, where he attended the first year of their Advertising Art course. The following year, he entered the work force as a printer’s assistant at Bulman Brothers Printing. After several years as a printer he quit his job and enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the University of Manitoba in 1982. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours and started his first work in the comic book industry as George Freeman’s assistant.
Lovern eventually won representation by Star Reach Agency and found colour work at 1st Comics on the Elric series. Shortly after he completed a try out book at DC Comics. Lovern was engaged by DC to develop a look and colour for the book John Constantine: Hellblazer, which was to become a flagship title for the Vertigo imprint.
Lovern, with the aid of his cousin Christopher Chuckry developed a computer colouring method with the use of Photoshop and started a company called Digital Chameleon. Their method redefined production in the entire comic book industry and graphic field.
While residing over Digital Chameleon as creative director Lovern had his first comic book story published. He wrote and coloured the short story, “So This Is Christmas”, which was illustrated by Tim Sale for the benefit book Within Our Reach” published by Marvel and Star Reach.
Lovern went on to write Agents of Law for Dark Horse Comics and the Victorian for Penny Farthing Press. In 1997 he wrote, “Tarzan: Le Monstre” for Dark Horse Comics and was nominated as best writer based on the six issues those stories spanned. Since then Lovern has written several other comic books and contributed short prose pieces to several anthologies.
In 2011 Lovern signed a deal with Renegade Arts Entertainment to colour the graphic novel, “The Loxleys & the War of 1812.” Shortly after that he signed the deal with that publishers to put his creator owned series, “Shame” into print. Shame was followed by the graphic novel, “Underworld” and this year the “Shame” hardcover collection will be released. Lovern is presently working on “Necromantic” a new creator owned series from Renegade Arts Entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 22, 2021
A fairy tale about a kind old woman whose momentary wish to have a child of her own sets off a series of horrible events that will threaten her world. A demon fulfills her wish, impregnating her with a child, Shame, cursed with the nature and powers of her father. As the child grows up alone in the forest, she's influenced by her father to become a wicked young lady looking to lash out at her mother. The graphic novel reminded me quite a bit of Neil Gaiman's Snow, Glass, Apples as it has some of that same Grimm's fairy tale perversion.
John Bolton's art is gorgeous (and horrific when painting the demons in the story.) There is quite a bit of female nudity so be forewarned if that is an issue for you.
John Bolton's art is gorgeous (and horrific when painting the demons in the story.) There is quite a bit of female nudity so be forewarned if that is an issue for you.
November 1, 2016
Pros: lush artwork, bonus features
Cons: nudity started to feel excessive
When the white witch Virtue makes a selfish wish for a child, the demon Slur grants that wish. He taunts her that their daughter, Shame, will be a tool of evil. To prevent Shame from damaging the world, Virtue contains her in a forest grove. But evil cannot be contained.
Shame is comprised of three comics: Conception, Pursuit, and Redemption. There’s a forward by Colleen Doran, a preface by Lovern Kindzierski, and a preview of the next comic in the series, Tales of Hope. It also contains a discussion about Shame between Lovern Kindzierski, John Bolton, and Alexander Finbow (publisher and editor in chief of Renegade Arts Entertainment) that includes some concept and finished artwork, the original outline for the Shame graphic novel, and some panel description to finished copy artwork stills.
Graphic novel artwork can be hit or miss for me. John Bolton’s artwork is lush and descriptive. It is done in photorealistic watercolours and form a mix of gorgeous and grotesque. When the artwork aims for beautiful it’s stunning. When it doesn’t, there are hideous, misshapen creatures. I really liked the artwork around the young Virtue in book 2, and a lot of Shame’s medieval outfits in book 3. Personally I’m not so keen on the grotesque side of art, and so many panels were not to my liking. Virtue’s old form, for example, is the unattractive, warty witch from traditional fairytales.
There’s a fair amount of nudity, as fits the adult nature of this fairytale. Some of it felt warranted, like the nymphs, though at times it started to feel gratuitous, as when nipples were visible through opaque cloth. Having said that, there is no sexual violence or gratuitous sex depicted.
I’d expected the plot to have a more Pandora’s Box feel, showing how the world changed when shame was introduced to it, but that’s not what happened. It’s a clear cut story of evil versus good, where true evil cannot be redeemed, and pure good cannot be corrupted. Only a man of fate, standing between them, has the ability to choose which side to join, and thereby change the outcome.
Slur and his minions are quite terrifying in execution. Their guiding of Shame down the dark path is chilling.
As someone who doesn’t believe in original sin or that the sins of the parents damn their children, I was surprised that Virtue simply left the child and didn’t even try to prevent her corruption (though the assumption is that Shame is automatically corrupt, I would argue that the fact that she wonders why her mother abandoned her shows she could have turned another way).
It’s an interesting story with a unique art style.
Cons: nudity started to feel excessive
When the white witch Virtue makes a selfish wish for a child, the demon Slur grants that wish. He taunts her that their daughter, Shame, will be a tool of evil. To prevent Shame from damaging the world, Virtue contains her in a forest grove. But evil cannot be contained.
Shame is comprised of three comics: Conception, Pursuit, and Redemption. There’s a forward by Colleen Doran, a preface by Lovern Kindzierski, and a preview of the next comic in the series, Tales of Hope. It also contains a discussion about Shame between Lovern Kindzierski, John Bolton, and Alexander Finbow (publisher and editor in chief of Renegade Arts Entertainment) that includes some concept and finished artwork, the original outline for the Shame graphic novel, and some panel description to finished copy artwork stills.
Graphic novel artwork can be hit or miss for me. John Bolton’s artwork is lush and descriptive. It is done in photorealistic watercolours and form a mix of gorgeous and grotesque. When the artwork aims for beautiful it’s stunning. When it doesn’t, there are hideous, misshapen creatures. I really liked the artwork around the young Virtue in book 2, and a lot of Shame’s medieval outfits in book 3. Personally I’m not so keen on the grotesque side of art, and so many panels were not to my liking. Virtue’s old form, for example, is the unattractive, warty witch from traditional fairytales.
There’s a fair amount of nudity, as fits the adult nature of this fairytale. Some of it felt warranted, like the nymphs, though at times it started to feel gratuitous, as when nipples were visible through opaque cloth. Having said that, there is no sexual violence or gratuitous sex depicted.
I’d expected the plot to have a more Pandora’s Box feel, showing how the world changed when shame was introduced to it, but that’s not what happened. It’s a clear cut story of evil versus good, where true evil cannot be redeemed, and pure good cannot be corrupted. Only a man of fate, standing between them, has the ability to choose which side to join, and thereby change the outcome.
Slur and his minions are quite terrifying in execution. Their guiding of Shame down the dark path is chilling.
As someone who doesn’t believe in original sin or that the sins of the parents damn their children, I was surprised that Virtue simply left the child and didn’t even try to prevent her corruption (though the assumption is that Shame is automatically corrupt, I would argue that the fact that she wonders why her mother abandoned her shows she could have turned another way).
It’s an interesting story with a unique art style.
October 21, 2019
This was a pretty good graphic novel about what happens when a woman named Virtue whose selfish wish to have a child of her own is granted when a demon named Slur mysteriously impregnates her and gives her a daughter named Shame who causes chaos to the land. If you want to read more, be sure to check this book wherever graphic novels are sold.
October 1, 2016
Utterly entrancing! A mature fairy tale for adults, this is a sensuous and macabre story of evil. Virtue loses her "pureness" by making a wish for self, the wish she could have a daughter. This opens her up to the dark side and the demon Slur visits her and she is with child. She abandons the child to a natural Eden where she is cared for by nyads so to protect her from her father. But Shame is full of the demon's dark arts and she morphs her world into the grotesque. She gets pregnant by an incubus and trades her baby's soul for that of her mother's. Good battles evil until Virtue is finally able to redeem herself. Fantastic story, well-written. The watercolour art is breathtaking and luscious. You'll want to spend time just studying the art. Highly recommended.
September 9, 2018
I grew up reading comic books and was compelled to buy this graphic novel online when I caught sight of the exceptional artwork. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Though the art is amazing, I find that there is an excessive amount of female sexualisation, even when not needed. Almost all of the characters are female or female-like (even the male demon has a boob). The storyline is interesting but the characters could have been given a little more depth.
January 17, 2020
The artwork in this trilogy particularly impressed me. I will have to re-read the book itself as I think I was often too busy just admiring the pictures. It was an honour to meet John Bolton and to have my copy signed!
October 6, 2018
Engaging dark fable in which an unselfish and caring woman wishes for a child. The demon, Slur, grants her wish and she gives birth to a daughter, Shame, who is both beautiful and evil. The writing is crisp and the art is extraordinary. I very highly recommend this adult graphic novel.
June 22, 2020
‘The Shame Trilogy’ is a fantasy graphic novel written by Lovern Kindzierski and art by John Bolton. Mother Virtue is an ugly old lady but full of goodness and everyone in the village likes her, especially the children, who she loves in return. Sadly, she has never had a child of her own. One night, she selfishly wishes for a child of her own and the words are overheard by Slur, a force of dark, dark evil who looks quite a lot like the alien in ‘Alien’. In a bad immaculate conception, Slur implants a life in Mother Virtue which will become a daughter named Shame and will mean trouble for the world.
Mother Virtue takes action to stop Shame after the child is born. She summons the nymphs and dryads of the forest to guard her, turns her home and the woods around it into a living prison then leaves. Shame is indeed powerful and even as a child can bend reality. She is cruel and gives the nymphs and dryads who were her playmates new distorted forms, including enormous breasts like Hugh Hefner’s playmates! The fact that the normal beautiful ladies have small bosoms and only the distorted ones have large may be a sly feminist comment by the artist on our peculiar plastic age or it may not. In general, there’s a lot of female nudity, continuing the fantasy tradition of soft porn that dates back to thirties ‘Weird Tales’ covers featuring ladies being whipped. Anyway, continuing with the story, ‘Shame’s father sends shadow beings to help her escape the prison and she plans exquisite revenge on her mother.
That’s the plot for the first half of book one and I don’t want to give away any more. There’s a nice twist as book two begins. Suffice to say that it’s still a story about good versus evil and evil seems to be doing well if that’s not a misuse of the word. Healers are burned as witches and Shame’s army is crushing all opposition. She hangs about her palace dressed a bit weirdly to show off her breasts and thighs. The use of sexual imagery, nubile young ladies beautifully drawn by John Bolton, is presumably meant to attract male readers. The use of women as the most powerful figures in the story should attract female readers. It’s only fair to warn potential purchasers that it all gets pretty dark at times and this isn’t one for the children.
All in all, it’s pretty good. John Bolton’s art is absolutely outstanding, every panel a thing of beauty and of pen and ink and watercolour. Even if you didn’t like the story you could buy this just for the art. The hardcover edition is gorgeously printed on lush paper and is magnificent just as an artefact. There are many splash pages you could cut out and frame and put on the walls. But please note that the story is entertaining, too. There are bonus features as well, a long interview in the back of the book with the artist and writer and some character sketches and background on its creation. The graphic equivalent of extras on a DVD, I suppose.
A lovely book that may one day be a prized collectors’ item so snap it up quick if you like this sort of thing. I do.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at www
Mother Virtue takes action to stop Shame after the child is born. She summons the nymphs and dryads of the forest to guard her, turns her home and the woods around it into a living prison then leaves. Shame is indeed powerful and even as a child can bend reality. She is cruel and gives the nymphs and dryads who were her playmates new distorted forms, including enormous breasts like Hugh Hefner’s playmates! The fact that the normal beautiful ladies have small bosoms and only the distorted ones have large may be a sly feminist comment by the artist on our peculiar plastic age or it may not. In general, there’s a lot of female nudity, continuing the fantasy tradition of soft porn that dates back to thirties ‘Weird Tales’ covers featuring ladies being whipped. Anyway, continuing with the story, ‘Shame’s father sends shadow beings to help her escape the prison and she plans exquisite revenge on her mother.
That’s the plot for the first half of book one and I don’t want to give away any more. There’s a nice twist as book two begins. Suffice to say that it’s still a story about good versus evil and evil seems to be doing well if that’s not a misuse of the word. Healers are burned as witches and Shame’s army is crushing all opposition. She hangs about her palace dressed a bit weirdly to show off her breasts and thighs. The use of sexual imagery, nubile young ladies beautifully drawn by John Bolton, is presumably meant to attract male readers. The use of women as the most powerful figures in the story should attract female readers. It’s only fair to warn potential purchasers that it all gets pretty dark at times and this isn’t one for the children.
All in all, it’s pretty good. John Bolton’s art is absolutely outstanding, every panel a thing of beauty and of pen and ink and watercolour. Even if you didn’t like the story you could buy this just for the art. The hardcover edition is gorgeously printed on lush paper and is magnificent just as an artefact. There are many splash pages you could cut out and frame and put on the walls. But please note that the story is entertaining, too. There are bonus features as well, a long interview in the back of the book with the artist and writer and some character sketches and background on its creation. The graphic equivalent of extras on a DVD, I suppose.
A lovely book that may one day be a prized collectors’ item so snap it up quick if you like this sort of thing. I do.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at www
January 10, 2025
Wow, what have I just read? This feels like a fairy tale or perhaps a Disney movie (note, this is very much not for children) with the darkness, macabre and dark arts turned up to max.
Although the story and characters are grotesque, some of the visuals and illustrations are a delight.
There are two obvious factors that I feel need to be mentioned if one is to review this book. Firstly (avoiding spoilers) the interesting family tree that at first is a little twisted and later becomes something to recollect frequently. Secondly the frequency of the nudity throughout the novel. It doesn't necessarily feel out of place given the story and characters, but you do become aware of the regularity.
On the one hand I feel as though this was "too much" to be a preferred choice. On the other, I want to read 4 and 5 and find myself disappointed they were not included in the trilogy. A shame indeed.
Although the story and characters are grotesque, some of the visuals and illustrations are a delight.
There are two obvious factors that I feel need to be mentioned if one is to review this book. Firstly (avoiding spoilers) the interesting family tree that at first is a little twisted and later becomes something to recollect frequently. Secondly the frequency of the nudity throughout the novel. It doesn't necessarily feel out of place given the story and characters, but you do become aware of the regularity.
On the one hand I feel as though this was "too much" to be a preferred choice. On the other, I want to read 4 and 5 and find myself disappointed they were not included in the trilogy. A shame indeed.
May 2, 2019
Me ha gustado mucho la idea, la historia es macabra e interesante. Pero no me han gustado los bocadillos. La sensación de estar en un infodump continuo me sacaba de la historia constantemente.
Ahora, el guión es muy bueno y creo que la trama merece un desarrollo mejor. Hay cosas de esas de "lo ha hecho un mago" que podrían subsanarse con más páginas.
Me ha gustado, pero sin muchas alharacas.
El dibujo, por otra parte, no es mi estilo. Algunas viñetas son la bomba, opero la mayoría me han dejado fría. Creo que he visto al dibujante en algunos Sandman.
La estética del mal que pone el foco en la aceptación del cuerpo y el sexo me pone un poco nerviosa, la verdad. Ya es hora de que la virtud escape a la mojigatería.
Ahora, el guión es muy bueno y creo que la trama merece un desarrollo mejor. Hay cosas de esas de "lo ha hecho un mago" que podrían subsanarse con más páginas.
Me ha gustado, pero sin muchas alharacas.
El dibujo, por otra parte, no es mi estilo. Algunas viñetas son la bomba, opero la mayoría me han dejado fría. Creo que he visto al dibujante en algunos Sandman.
La estética del mal que pone el foco en la aceptación del cuerpo y el sexo me pone un poco nerviosa, la verdad. Ya es hora de que la virtud escape a la mojigatería.
January 14, 2025
Beautiful artwork, visually compelling erotica, but feels less like sequential storytelling than a series of tiny posters (not always, but too often to be immersive).
The dialogue reads somewhat overwrought, the story largely a series of character origins and motivations told rather than shown, which is a shame considering Bolton's talent.
But it's an award-winner, so what do I know.
The dialogue reads somewhat overwrought, the story largely a series of character origins and motivations told rather than shown, which is a shame considering Bolton's talent.
But it's an award-winner, so what do I know.
September 16, 2017
2.5* great art/weak writing
January 15, 2020
I'm torn between liking the visual style and the twisted fairytale-like story, and not liking how it's basically naked women drawn for and by men.
August 14, 2020
Beautiful book. A fairy tale triumph. The story goes unexpected places for sure. And the artwork is simply mesmerizing.
March 2, 2023
Disegni super belli e anche la trama è sviluppata bene
February 27, 2017
Solid 4 stars for the art work,theme and storyline. Dark, graphic and awesome. Was recommended by the owner of Red Skull Comics in #yyc. Recommended for those who enjoy dark stories and graphic novels with great artwork.
December 10, 2016
Une trilogie originale, une histoire étrange additionnée d’illustrations d’un genre unique. Je recommande cette bande dessinée, qui n’est cependant pas à mettre entre toutes les mains !
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews