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Taboo #8
Taboo #8
Taboo is a comics anthology edited by Steve Bissette, designed to feature edgier and more adult comics than those published through mainstream publishers. The series began as a horror anthology, but soon branched out into other genres as well.
This issue features work from Al Columbia, Jeff Nicholson, Tim Lucas & David Lloyd, and Matt Howarth.
This issue features work from Al Columbia, Jeff Nicholson, Tim Lucas & David Lloyd, and Matt Howarth.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
129 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
25 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Bissette
264 books51 followersStephen R. Bissette is an American comics artist, editor, and publisher with a focus on the horror genre. He is best known for working with writer Alan Moore and inker John Totleben on the DC comic Swamp Thing in the 1980s.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 11, 2020
Another bumpy issue, of mostly leftovers. I feel bad about not being more enthusiastic, after reading parts of Bissette's sad intro.
There's a short but spectacular Al Columbia piece, in the style of his legendary Biologic Show. And Jeff Nicholson's "Cat Lover" is another grim installment of Through the Habitrails.
The rest are spotty. Tim Lucas' last "Throat Sprockets" installment is drawn by David Lloyd, not Mike Hoffman; I don't think the art worked as well (I'm probably just too used to Hoffman), but the story is also disappointing, essentially a rather old-fashioned ghost story with the "sprockets" material playing a relatively minor role. I've enjoyed Matt Howarth's work in the past, but I don't see the point of his piece here.
There's a short but spectacular Al Columbia piece, in the style of his legendary Biologic Show. And Jeff Nicholson's "Cat Lover" is another grim installment of Through the Habitrails.
The rest are spotty. Tim Lucas' last "Throat Sprockets" installment is drawn by David Lloyd, not Mike Hoffman; I don't think the art worked as well (I'm probably just too used to Hoffman), but the story is also disappointing, essentially a rather old-fashioned ghost story with the "sprockets" material playing a relatively minor role. I've enjoyed Matt Howarth's work in the past, but I don't see the point of his piece here.
August 10, 2018
All She Does Is Eat: *** "Empty Desert Highway Horror" drawn appropriately but should've had appropriate backstory
Lucifer and Jesus: ***** -Won't give away, it's brilliant, but not for Religion prudes/traditionalists
Doush Quimby: * -Could anyone understand this?
The Disaster Area: ??? -Can't rate only the final chapter of something so complicated and BIZARRE
Phillip K. Dick/Dickens Mashup: *** -Would be **** if didn't try so childishly hard to gross out
Johnny23: * -Could anyone understand this?
Cat Lover: * -This must be mostly or completely (auto)biographical as one couldn't make it up in the way its presented; It's too intimately and singularly detailed in terms of the events and the psychology of the character. It is by far the longest story and quickly becomes laborious in breadth and depth and is chronologically disjointed which is unnecessary and infuriating by revealing things before they happen to erase any possible suspense!
There is nothing thrilling about it and the chilling is grimy and pleasure-less causing you to wish (I hope) that the guy meets the grievous mind and stomach turning end he doles out to innocent cats out of his own bizarre and PATHETIC issues. He successfully pairs his emotional disdain of his catwife with its manifestation of his behavior to cats in general but he's so stupid and makes such bad decisions that even if you can relate, his behavior would nullify any connection to very close to 100% of readers.
Even if you're into cruel, disgusting, unnecessary murder of innocent cats HE'S SO PATHETIC AND NAUSEATING AS A PERSON that that will turn you away.
Twilight: **** -1916 adaptation of a lonely dying horse and his dog pal that is very real and not trying to be something it's not (opposite of cute/Disney)
Lucifer and Jesus: ***** -Won't give away, it's brilliant, but not for Religion prudes/traditionalists
Doush Quimby: * -Could anyone understand this?
The Disaster Area: ??? -Can't rate only the final chapter of something so complicated and BIZARRE
Phillip K. Dick/Dickens Mashup: *** -Would be **** if didn't try so childishly hard to gross out
Johnny23: * -Could anyone understand this?
Cat Lover: * -This must be mostly or completely (auto)biographical as one couldn't make it up in the way its presented; It's too intimately and singularly detailed in terms of the events and the psychology of the character. It is by far the longest story and quickly becomes laborious in breadth and depth and is chronologically disjointed which is unnecessary and infuriating by revealing things before they happen to erase any possible suspense!
There is nothing thrilling about it and the chilling is grimy and pleasure-less causing you to wish (I hope) that the guy meets the grievous mind and stomach turning end he doles out to innocent cats out of his own bizarre and PATHETIC issues. He successfully pairs his emotional disdain of his catwife with its manifestation of his behavior to cats in general but he's so stupid and makes such bad decisions that even if you can relate, his behavior would nullify any connection to very close to 100% of readers.
Even if you're into cruel, disgusting, unnecessary murder of innocent cats HE'S SO PATHETIC AND NAUSEATING AS A PERSON that that will turn you away.
Twilight: **** -1916 adaptation of a lonely dying horse and his dog pal that is very real and not trying to be something it's not (opposite of cute/Disney)
July 5, 2023
One of the strongest entries in Bissette's Taboo series, issue 8 includes fantastic stories from Jack Butterworth & Greg Capullo ("All She Does Is Eat"), David Sexton & P. Craig Russell ("Satan and the Saviour"), and Matt Howarth ("Revenge"). This issue also includes the grotesque Al Columbia piece "johnny 23" which was later reprinted in The Biologic Show #0. Jeff Nicholson continues also serializing "Though the Habittrails" in this issue.
The highlight of this issue for me was Matt Howarth's "Revenge" story which was the longest story in here and the most engrossing. The crude cartooning style allowed for some pretty heavy and mature subject matter to be covered without making things too uncomfortable, but Howarth still evokes a sense of unease with his writing. A great little horror tale for sure.
The highlight of this issue for me was Matt Howarth's "Revenge" story which was the longest story in here and the most engrossing. The crude cartooning style allowed for some pretty heavy and mature subject matter to be covered without making things too uncomfortable, but Howarth still evokes a sense of unease with his writing. A great little horror tale for sure.
April 1, 2023
This was a very disturbing read…for a few reasons. Even the introduction is really angry.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews