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Joe Golem: Occult Detective
Joe Golem: Occult Detective, Vol. 2: The Outer Dark
More chilling tales of supernatural horror!
Occult detective Joe Golem invesitgates two supernatural mysteries, while demons from his past seep into the present. When men are being driven mad by otherworldy voices in their heads, Joe's search for an explanation leads to another dimension, and a dangerous man who wants to harness its power. Then, Church leads Joe to a crumbling home where a young woman is being possessed by the ghosts of her family.
Collects Joe The Outer Dark #1-3 and Joe Golem - Flesh and Blood #1-2.
Occult detective Joe Golem invesitgates two supernatural mysteries, while demons from his past seep into the present. When men are being driven mad by otherworldy voices in their heads, Joe's search for an explanation leads to another dimension, and a dangerous man who wants to harness its power. Then, Church leads Joe to a crumbling home where a young woman is being possessed by the ghosts of her family.
Collects Joe The Outer Dark #1-3 and Joe Golem - Flesh and Blood #1-2.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2018
14 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,863 books2,531 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 4, 2023
Another installment of Joe Golem consisting of two stories both enhancing the history and secrets of Joe Holem.
Joe still works for Simon Church and has a relationship with Lori, something that Mr Church looks less than favorable upon. Like any woman in love she stands up for her beau Joe, for which she pays a price.
Joe in the meantime takes care of business in which he finds himself opposed by a group of people that want to find answers about the space between worlds. And he gets involved in what could be possessed person and the outcome makes him question himself more which adds to his nightmares.
Another excellent set of stories and the art is quite good too, the setting is original and so is the idea of these stories and background. A very satisfying read.
Joe still works for Simon Church and has a relationship with Lori, something that Mr Church looks less than favorable upon. Like any woman in love she stands up for her beau Joe, for which she pays a price.
Joe in the meantime takes care of business in which he finds himself opposed by a group of people that want to find answers about the space between worlds. And he gets involved in what could be possessed person and the outcome makes him question himself more which adds to his nightmares.
Another excellent set of stories and the art is quite good too, the setting is original and so is the idea of these stories and background. A very satisfying read.
October 20, 2019
Solid, but the story wasn’t as good as vol 1. I’m still really into the characters and the setting, but the cases themselves here felt a bit filler.
January 31, 2021
Wheel Picks for January 2021
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Read a comic
December 16, 2021
I can't get enough of this series.
From what I understand, this is the volume that ties into the Baltimore series that I have yet to check out, but now simply must. In this volume sinister forces are trying to get into communication with what is called "The Outer Dark." Think Lovecraftian horror, but even less thoroughly defined. In the process of trying to halt this from happening, Joe begins to suspect more about himself than he previously has. Just what was Mr. Church doing? Just what is Joe's past?
The second story in this volume, "Flesh and Blood," is a tragic one. Lori learns the truth about Joe Golem and just how little he knows of himself. Of course, Simon Church just can't have this be... You can see where this is going, right?
Thankfully there is more Joe Golem to dig into, because I just couldn't bare for it all to end here. I need to read more of this series and the surrounding ones. This is world that appeals to me on such a visceral level, however tragic it all might be.
From what I understand, this is the volume that ties into the Baltimore series that I have yet to check out, but now simply must. In this volume sinister forces are trying to get into communication with what is called "The Outer Dark." Think Lovecraftian horror, but even less thoroughly defined. In the process of trying to halt this from happening, Joe begins to suspect more about himself than he previously has. Just what was Mr. Church doing? Just what is Joe's past?
The second story in this volume, "Flesh and Blood," is a tragic one. Lori learns the truth about Joe Golem and just how little he knows of himself. Of course, Simon Church just can't have this be... You can see where this is going, right?
Thankfully there is more Joe Golem to dig into, because I just couldn't bare for it all to end here. I need to read more of this series and the surrounding ones. This is world that appeals to me on such a visceral level, however tragic it all might be.
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.
July 24, 2021
The story is terrific but the art makes some scenes slightly puzzling, like when the story changes from one location to a different location/characters without any visual clues from one panel to the next. Also, sometimes it is difficult to tell which character is which due to the roughness of the art.
The art in the next volume is much better.
The art in the next volume is much better.
April 14, 2024
Segundo tomo de Joe Golem que comprende las historias La oscuridad exterior y Carne y hueso, ambas muy interesantes y de buen nivel, que mantienen el del primer tomo.
La oscuridad exterior tiene ciertos tintes lovecraftianos (casi todo Joe Golem está impregnado de ello), y uno de los momentos álgidos y que te ponen en tensión: las ratas. Además, la trama de Joe y su novia junto con el señor Church crece en intensidad y misterio.
Carne y hueso es un relato de brujas y exorcismo. Aparece un nuevo personaje, el padre Ryan, y es aquí cuando descubrimos la naturaleza de las pesadillas de Joe Golem.
La oscuridad exterior tiene ciertos tintes lovecraftianos (casi todo Joe Golem está impregnado de ello), y uno de los momentos álgidos y que te ponen en tensión: las ratas. Además, la trama de Joe y su novia junto con el señor Church crece en intensidad y misterio.
Carne y hueso es un relato de brujas y exorcismo. Aparece un nuevo personaje, el padre Ryan, y es aquí cuando descubrimos la naturaleza de las pesadillas de Joe Golem.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2024
What’s not to like about a flooded city, witches and a golem!
Folk and cult elements intertwine to provide some suspenseful mystery.
It’s Mignola doing what he does best.
Folk and cult elements intertwine to provide some suspenseful mystery.
It’s Mignola doing what he does best.
April 23, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 4.75/5
Even better than the pretty damn solid opening volume, and with my main criticism more than mitigated in this volume. What more could a guy ask for. I really can't say how much I have fallen in love with this series. Yes, it has been a very brief affair, and its new, and a little bit scary, but it just feels right, ya know? Like its meant to be. Now I'm not saying were talking about moving in together, or marriage, or anything like that, but yeah, ya know. It's happened really suddenly, but were both really happy, and that's all that matters.
All carry on aside, everything I loved about the opening volume has been ratcheted up just that little bit more. The slightly scarce writing I mildly lamented in volume one has been significantly increased, with lots of words, and good words at that, which have gone together to continue to build an interesting world, containing complex and engaging characters, which continue to gain personality and polarise my opinion on just what their motives are, and just what I truly think about them. I'm actually pretty god damn impressed with the writing in this one. It rather perfectly encapsulates the old timey setting, and smoshes it together with some lovely Lovecraftianisms. Throw in my previous gushing praise for artist Patric Reynolds and you have yourself one helluva tight package. I'm off to read some more of it. No, I don't think were spending too much time together. Mind your own business. 4.75/5
OmniBen.
Even better than the pretty damn solid opening volume, and with my main criticism more than mitigated in this volume. What more could a guy ask for. I really can't say how much I have fallen in love with this series. Yes, it has been a very brief affair, and its new, and a little bit scary, but it just feels right, ya know? Like its meant to be. Now I'm not saying were talking about moving in together, or marriage, or anything like that, but yeah, ya know. It's happened really suddenly, but were both really happy, and that's all that matters.
All carry on aside, everything I loved about the opening volume has been ratcheted up just that little bit more. The slightly scarce writing I mildly lamented in volume one has been significantly increased, with lots of words, and good words at that, which have gone together to continue to build an interesting world, containing complex and engaging characters, which continue to gain personality and polarise my opinion on just what their motives are, and just what I truly think about them. I'm actually pretty god damn impressed with the writing in this one. It rather perfectly encapsulates the old timey setting, and smoshes it together with some lovely Lovecraftianisms. Throw in my previous gushing praise for artist Patric Reynolds and you have yourself one helluva tight package. I'm off to read some more of it. No, I don't think were spending too much time together. Mind your own business. 4.75/5
OmniBen.
April 3, 2019
I love the setting of a drowned New York City--not too different from the current Venice, with people getting around by boat, living on the upper floors of skyscrapers, with boards connecting one building to another. Patric Reynolds' artwork is the real star here. The stories are good, though not great, and the first, The Outer Dark, isn't really resolved at the end. The writing could stand to be a bit tighter, a bit more gripping and urgent. Still, if there are more Joe Golem adventures to be had, I'll be there for them.
May 17, 2020
Much like volume 1, the second entry in the series was a bit uneven. The first 3 issues of the collection follow Joe’s investigation of an arcane scheme to peer beyond the veil of this universe and make contact with forces beyond human comprehension. It’s the better of the two short arcs collected here and felt like a cross of what classic Mignolaverse stories do best. The mash up of religious history, voices from the beyond, demons, and possession will surely feel familiar to most. The second arc is just a two issue story of witchcraft that felt very much like filler.
The seeds for future Joe Golem arcs I referenced earlier continue to be the most interesting nuggets in the series. This is a bit of a double-edged sword. The creators have managed to start building an intriguing B plot that I’m excited to learn more about. I love getting more details about Joe’s history, his relationship with Lori, and the increasingly ominous behavior of Mr. Church. While I find myself drawn to learning more about all of these plot lines, it ends up being much more interesting than the A plot. The series so far feels a bit like 75% generic occult detective filler and 25% supernatural character mystery. There’s just enough breadcrumbs to keep me engaged but I’m hoping the A plot stories round into shape a bit more in the future volumes. There’s a really good series here if the creators can start nailing both aspects.
I’m hoping volume 3 will move from pockets of interesting story to something more sustained and substantial. Surely there is a balance to be found between the slow-burn sub-plot and the more generic story of the week storytelling. I felt like this was a downturn from the first volume, but there’s still enough good here for fans of Mignola and Golden’s other work to make for a fine read.
Read more here
The seeds for future Joe Golem arcs I referenced earlier continue to be the most interesting nuggets in the series. This is a bit of a double-edged sword. The creators have managed to start building an intriguing B plot that I’m excited to learn more about. I love getting more details about Joe’s history, his relationship with Lori, and the increasingly ominous behavior of Mr. Church. While I find myself drawn to learning more about all of these plot lines, it ends up being much more interesting than the A plot. The series so far feels a bit like 75% generic occult detective filler and 25% supernatural character mystery. There’s just enough breadcrumbs to keep me engaged but I’m hoping the A plot stories round into shape a bit more in the future volumes. There’s a really good series here if the creators can start nailing both aspects.
I’m hoping volume 3 will move from pockets of interesting story to something more sustained and substantial. Surely there is a balance to be found between the slow-burn sub-plot and the more generic story of the week storytelling. I felt like this was a downturn from the first volume, but there’s still enough good here for fans of Mignola and Golden’s other work to make for a fine read.
Read more here
August 30, 2020
The weirdness continues as Joe the supernatural detective falls in love, contends with cultists serving the Outer Gods and suspects that his adoptive father might not be telling him the whole truth about his own origins. It's all put together well by Mignola, Golden and company - with especially strong artwork. But once again, it all feels like a BPRD side story that never really had to be told. Plus...what's with the Drowning City, anyway? All of post-WWII Europe was rebuilt in less time that it's taken occupt NYC to remain underwater as if the deluge happened yesterday. As a setting detail, it feels superfluous and never really adds much to anything.
November 4, 2022
Still enjoying this series but didn't have the momentum of volume 1. Since we seem to know the secret behind Joe and the other characters are catching up with what we know it loses some of the "mystery". Now, maybe the obvious mystery isn't what I am thinking (That Joe used to be a real golem in a past life) but if there is some kind of twist to that I would be a little upset because the writer is forcing us to believe that the way the story is laid out.
But beyond that - not much character development but some fun stories. Again - not as strong as volume 1 but fun. And the art is still great. I will see if volume 3 picks up a bit.
But beyond that - not much character development but some fun stories. Again - not as strong as volume 1 but fun. And the art is still great. I will see if volume 3 picks up a bit.
August 21, 2023
Damn that was kind of disappointing.
It was mostly just a rehash of volume 1 and didn't real "go" anywhere.
Like the things we learn are:
There's an occult organization linked to witchcraft and probably linked to the flood - We knew that already - And that they are trying to summon some type of aincent gods from "the outer dark"
Simon church has some ulterior motives (we knew that already)
Joe really is a golem (we knew that already)
This these two series should have been merged together into one 2 issue series. It would have been way better.
(Or at least like two, two issue mini-series and a one-shot)
It was mostly just a rehash of volume 1 and didn't real "go" anywhere.
Like the things we learn are:
There's an occult organization linked to witchcraft and probably linked to the flood - We knew that already - And that they are trying to summon some type of aincent gods from "the outer dark"
Simon church has some ulterior motives (we knew that already)
Joe really is a golem (we knew that already)
This these two series should have been merged together into one 2 issue series. It would have been way better.
(Or at least like two, two issue mini-series and a one-shot)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
Just as good as the first volume. Layers of story. You have the main investigation of the book which is great, the doomed love story, a back story that clearly has a long way to go and underneath it all is the friendship / abusive relationship Joe has with Church. I’m slightly sad as I only got 2 of the volumes of this to try and that is me done.
Later when I have read a load of the other stuff I have to read I will be back to this as it is a fantastic read.
Later when I have read a load of the other stuff I have to read I will be back to this as it is a fantastic read.
June 6, 2021
Beautiful art, good story. Can't get enough of the covers. Stunning!
January 29, 2020
This was just as good as volume 1 and I wanted to pick up the next volume as soon as I finished this one. Too bad my library doesn’t have it. Joe Golem is an interesting hero and has some great supporting characters as well as a mysterious backstory that unfolds without competing with the present. I’ll probably buy volume 3 if I can’t convince my librarian to order it.
October 29, 2020
A great follow-up to the first volume, this has more of the same pulpy Lovecraftian, drowned city, grimy artwork while revealing more about Golem's true nature and the not-exactly pure motives of his friend/mentor. These books are great and, immediately after reading, I ordered the third volume.
March 31, 2021
An improvement on the first volume, I think. Here Joe battles occultists plotting to summon Lovecraftian horrors and solves a case of possession; behind the scenes we learn more of his origin and what a shitbag his friend/boss Simon Church really is.
September 29, 2021
Another layer of the Drown City, with the Lovecraftian barrier, oh so thin, between our bubble of reality and the dark forces that seek to consume the light. As indicated in John: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
May 29, 2018
Two great short stories in this intriguing supernatural world.
February 20, 2019
Great pulpy guilty pleasure.
September 20, 2020
still interested but big rats and ghost witches are not as compelling, tbh
January 9, 2024
Buena parte 2 sin niguna nueva sospecha. Confirma lo que ya intuiamos con nuestros personajes en la parte 1.
April 1, 2024
My review of the series attached to volume 1. So out of fairness, I rated this as well. 10/10 Deep Ones!
May 13, 2024
Las historias se me quedan cosas pero todo lo demás está tan bien...
August 28, 2024
3/5 - Graphic Novels
3/5 - Crime / Noir
2/5 - Characters
1/5 - Story
2.25/5 - Rating
3/5 - Crime / Noir
2/5 - Characters
1/5 - Story
2.25/5 - Rating
October 1, 2025
My video review of this volume of Joe Golem can be found by clicking the following link: https://youtu.be/_oSX9mUf2dc?si=N7PO9...
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews