Hungry Ghosts #1

Hungry Ghosts #1

by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, Paul Pope (Cover Art)

Kitchen Nightmares! On a dark, haunted night, a Russian oligarch dares a circle of international chefs to play the samurai game of 100 Candles--where each storyteller spins a terrifying tale of ghosts, demons and unspeakable beings--and prays to survive the challenge. Inspired by the Japanese Edo period game of Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, Hungry Ghosts reimagines the classic stories of yokai, yorei, and obake, all tainted with the common thread of food. First With bad consequence, a ramen chef refuses to help a beggar, and a band of pirates get more (and less) than they were bargaining for after their encounter with a drowning woman turns ghastly. Hungry Ghosts is cooked up by the infamous author and chef, Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential, Emmy-Award winning TV star of Parts Unknown) and acclaimed novelist Joel Rose (Kill, Kill, Faster, Faster, back again from their New York Times #1 best seller, Get Jiro!). Joining them this issue are stellar artists Alberto Ponticelli and Vanesa Del Rey, with amazing color by Jose Villarrubia, and a drop-dead cover by Paul Pope

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Japan, Short Stories, Fiction, Food

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2018

About the author

Anthony Michael Bourdain was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian. He starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.
Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of many professional kitchens during his career, which included several years spent as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).

Bourdain's first food and world-travel television show A Cook's Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste and consequently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Although best known for his culinary writings and television presentations, along with several books on food and cooking and travel adventures, Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction.

Reviews

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Russian oligarch, with an unsavory past (are there any other kind?), has assembled a group of international chefs for a night of feasting. Before the oligarch lets them go, he challenges them to play the samurai game of 100 candles. Each chef needs to tell a story featuring demons, ghosts, or revealing other teeth chattering, inspiring, supernatural beings, whose names you do not speak above a soft whisper.

The theme of these stories, of course, revolves around food and revenge, which for those who have followed Anthony Bourdain’s career know he speaks of with reverence often. I might even speculate that some of these tales give Anthony a chance to enact some literary revenge on some particularly nasty individuals he had the misfortune of meeting in his food service days. Only Anthony would know the true targets of his Hungry Ghost revenge, but hopefully, when he saw the proofs of this graphic novel, he chuckled over the eviscerated bodies of some old enemies.

The last correspondence between Anthony Bourdain and his collaborator, Joel Rose, was the dedication for the book.

“This book is dedicated to the memory and enduring allure
of EC Comics and their pre-Comics Code masterworks:
The Haunt of Fear, the Vault of Horror, and Tales from the Crypt
(nee The Crypt of Terror), and their master storytellers:
The Old Witch, the Vault Keeper, and the Crypt Keeper.
May resting in peace not be an option.”

When I was in my heyday of comic book reading, from about age 10-14, I didn’t even know those wonderful horror comic books existed. They didn’t show up on the shelves of my comic book dealer, who also doubled as the biggest drug dealer in the area, commonly called a pharmacist. He had superhero comics by the wheelbarrow load, Archie comics (isn’t Riverdale, by the way, proving to be so much fun?), and fortunately for me, Weird Western Tales, where I was first introduced to Jonah Hex. Unfortunately, EC Comics shuttered their doors long before I was reading comics, so in the late 1970s I would have had to be very fortunate to run across them. It wasn’t until I was in college and working in the used book industry that I ran across a batch of these old horror comics. I took them home and binged them. I was really impressed with the level of writing and the true terror they were able to inspire in me. I wish I had bought them instead of returning them to the shelves of the bookstore, where they disappeared in the blink of an eye into the greedy hands of wild eyed collectors, who were flinging money at us while trying to hide the boners inspired by their unexpected discovery of a goldmine of comics.

I’m not exaggerating.

Interestingly enough, Joel Rose mentions the influence that Lafcadio Hearn’s book Kwaidan: Japanese Ghost Stories had on the writing of this graphic novel, along with several other books he mentions in the Stirring the Pot essay in the back of the book. I’ve had Lafcadio Hearn on my radar for years, and now with a gentle nudge from Anthony, I’m going to make sure his book on Japanese ghost stories queues up in my reading list this year.



As a bonus, Anthony includes five Bourdain recipes with explicit instructions on how to make these mouth watering dishes in your own kitchen.

Who doesn’t need a splash of Food Noir Horror in their reading schedule, especially with a splash of that acerbic Bourdain wit which frequently had me muttering to myself...I see you Anthony, with your red rimmed eyes and mischievous grin?

If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten

[Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη · Rating 4 out of 5]

Καλά ξεκινάει. Η κεντρική ιστορία είναι ιντριγκαδόρικη (αν και κάπως παλαιομοδίτικη), αλλά οι χαρακτήρες, ειδικά των σεφ και του αφεντικού ενδιαφέροντες. Οι δύο εγκιβωτισμένες ιστορίες δεν με ξετρέλαναν, αλλά θα του δώσω ευκαιρίες.

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool concept! Can't wait to read the next issue, though I think this will eventually be best read as a trade. I also really want to cosplay the character on the cover. I think the make up would look really cool!

[Snakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a quick jaunt through something new from Anthony Bourdain. This first episode of three hits middle of the table. Nothing amazing but not terrible. A quick read of about 15 minutes. Three more episodes to come and I definitely love the concept of the Japanese ghost story samurai game. It appears to be on an uphill trek. Definitely keenly awaiting the next release.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not bad, but I found the stories predictable.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool concept but just didn't pan out.

[Tere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry, Anthony Bourdain but the Junji Ito collection and Image Comics' "Wayward" are way better than this collection of yokai and kwaidan tales. Still reading #2 though. Let's see if it gets better.

[Abby Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this graphic novel was enjoyable to me only because I have spent time in the restaurant industry. Quick read, some funny elements and beautiful color in the illustrations.

[Miguel Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hasta que tengo en mis manos algo de terror para leer, y qué mejor que en formato gráfico. Me gustó mucho la idea de retomar una forma narrativa antigua y modernizarla en un contexto diferente, pero conservando las partes fundamentales del formato. En esta ocasión, son varios chefs contando historias de terror que tienen que ver con comida, hasta un desenlace que tal vez debí esperarme.

Seguro podría estar más terrorífico, pero como entrada, está bastante bien.

[youssef · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve really enjoyed reading this. RIP BOURDAIN.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting concept. It came across as a bit disorganised: the opening page, and how it didn't relate right away with the premise, the odd profanity, the transitions between stories and the pacing that comes from different characters giving those stories. In itself, the art is lovely no matter who is drawing it and the lack of structure does work with the mood. I really like how we have a group of characters that don't have a lot of love for one another. They co-exist. They have their own opinions. Bourdain sets that up brilliantly and the social norms are the only thing keeping these people present, which promises to be a barrier broken down by subsequent horror stories.

All in all, I thought this a cool concept. It didn't win me over with anything spectacularly original or new, but it's a solid effort for what it wants to do.

(25.5/50)

[Kelly Sedinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Review is of the complete trade edition, not the first issue.]

Fun collection of horror tales that all revolve around food and eating, but the stories are too short. (I read the entire collection in about an hour.) I think that this would work a LOT better if each tale were given, say, twice the space to really grow and breathe. But the art is terrific, and there's a elegiac note in wondering if this might have blossomed into something bigger had Anthony Bourdain not chosen to end his life.

The addition of recipes at the end is a nifty touch.

[Bonnie Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best horror comic ever, but it's the format I'd hoped for with two stories per issue and excellent gory art. Solid three star book with a bonus star for the sea monster lobster woman. Did not see that coming.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

i enjoy a great deal of weird, bizarre, and strange content but this was not a good read for me. I really appreciate the concept but felt that it was not executed well. such a shame because I am a fan of bourdain and this was a lovely foray into the graphic novel realm.

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss him. These books are a way to have hear his words again. Illustrations are amazing! Loved it.

[Bulent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usta aşçı/yemek yazarı/televizyon programcısı/gurme Anthony Bourdain hatırına okuduğum bir çizgi roman serisinin ilk fasükülü. Amerikan "Comics" standartlarında. 32'şer sayfalık formatta bir giriş ve üç korku hikayesi var bu fasükülde.

1600'lü yıllarda oynanan bir Samuray oyunu KAIDAN'ı canlandırıyor aslında çizgi romanımız. Samurayların 1000 kandilin yandığı bir odada, bir aynanın karşısında doğa üstü yaratıklar, canavarlar, hayaletler, biçim değiştirenler üzerine birbirlerine öykü anlattıkları bir korku şenliği. Her öykü sonrasında bir kandil söndürülür, ortam giderek karanlık ve ürkütücü olurken, bir sonraki öykü daha da korkunç olur.

"Yemekler hiç bu kadar korkunç olmamıştı" alt başlığını taşıyan Aç Hayaletler serisinin ilk fasükülü, ilgi çekici öyküler anlatıyor. Korku türünden hoşlanıyorsanız, okumak şart. Ya da benim gibi Bourdain hayranıysanız yine okuyun.

[Aisling Kara Berube · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this since Anthony Bourdain passed away and finally got time to. This collection of short stories written and drawn by some of the top horror artists creates an amazing chronological collection. The stories range in horror and gore and some are stomach churning enough to put you off food for a while. The eulogy at the end for Anthony Bourdain is a great tribute to the world-famous chef who inspired so many, and the inclusion of his recipes that were based off the stories in the collection are a great finishing touch. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys horror, or anyone who wants a great gift for a fan of Anthony Bourdain.

[Ampersand Inc. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by Japanese Samurai tradition, this collection of ghost stories by the late Anthony Bourdain induces both terror and hunger. The tales are quick and fun, with an overtly political overarching narrative that concludes with hungry ghosts literally eating the rich, which is as gruesome (and awesome) as it sounds. Tragically, as the dedication tearfully describes, the graphic novel was finished days before Bourdain passed, but the chef and adventurer lives on through his words and recipes, some of which are included at the end.

[Fran · Rating 2 out of 5]

The comic book plot point in Station Eleven made me realize that aside from some elementary versions while subbing, I had never read a graphic novel. As a Bourdain fan girl, I had this on my shelf and quickly paged through it today. These short horror stories are based on Japanese legends and feature traditional ghostly spirits and themes of gluttony and revenge with a bit of erotica thrown in.
Definitely a book of horrific fables with excellent graphic art, but didn't spark an interest for me to invest in the other volumes.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to wonder if this book wasn't written with me in mind! It has everything that I love! Horror, Asian myths and ghost stories, and food!!

This is a great romp through some of the most popular Japanese ghost stories, up dated and with a dash of sass that has Bourdain's tone all over it.

And of course, not to forget that there are 5 recipes in the back that play roles in the stories!

This was a lot of fun!

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I knew this was a graphic novel when I bought it,
but I thought it was going to be more in the line of "Bone in the Throat" Tony Bourdain,
it wasn't awful, it was just was more graphically gory than my taste,
and the stories were not by Tony Bourdain, they were curated by Tony Bourdain.
As long as you understand the difference it's OK for what it is,
a collection of ghost stories centered/themed around food.

[Reg Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

All taken from established Japanese folktales, the tales of horror told are tied together well and illustrated with unique styles while still retaining a cohesive feel.

Which is good, this sense of cohesion, because it’s creating a feeling of a dinner party where everyone is sharing the same general ambiance.

The stories are all pretty tightly packed. My favourite is The Heads as it sets a good pace and the main character is fleshed out well.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am putting this graphic novel alongside Mr. Bourdain's last cookbook. I must say this was 10 times better than Get Jiro. But I digress... The artwork in this one was great! The horror stories in this book were definitely interesting and not for the faint of heart! A must read for any horror lover.

Bonus recipes in the back of the book from Mr. Bourdain?!?! Sweet

[Kat Aden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published posthumously, but is quite wonderful. It is reminiscent of his Jiro series in that there is a strong Japanese cultural influence, and each story revolves around food. More specifically each story revolves around hunger, appetites, and Japanese ghosts. The illustrations match perfectly with the feel of the book. This can be read in one sitting, but I would recommend it

[Pauli Chávez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cada historia es especial por su transfondo cultural y por su enfoque en el tema central que es la gastronomía, cómo el autor logró dirigir cada relato es lo mejor del libro, además de las ilustraciones que son arte por sí solas, el toque de las historias de los personajes y las recetas al final, un libro único.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I expected: the cover image is beautiful and the graphics inside are very well done, but its more just gruesome than it is scary or historical or interesting. I also have trouble getting into graphic novels, maybe it's just me!

[Debesuota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Klasik bir grubun oynadığı korkutucu bir oyunun biraz uzatılmış halini anlatıyor. Farklı korkunç hikayeler anlatılacak ve anlatan kişi aynadaki hayalet tarafından ele geçirilmeden kurtulabilecek mi falan falan. Fena değildi.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief horror stories

Dark horse comics is pretty good at horror stories. Anthony bourdain adds a little celebrity cachet. The stories are brief, and very similar to the old creepy or eerie series. Color artwork.

[Arjun Rajkumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on Japanese culture! worth a read.

[Kyra Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the premise, and the art seems dynamic and fun, but the mini stories don't seem to be connecting with me yet. I'll see how I feel with issue 2.