King Diamond Abigail

by Dan Watters, King Diamond, Damien Worm (Artist)

The Legendary King Dimoand Brings his beloved concept Album Abigail to the Graphic Novel Format

King Diamond’s classic horror story featured on his 1987 concept album “Abigail”, has received a masterful in-depth overhaul and is brought to life in a whole new way in this stunning graphic novel by Dan Watters, Damien Worm, and King Diamond himself!

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Music, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Sparks Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adds some new depth to a familiar tale. King Diamond still manages to make me feel like a kid hearing a particularly scary campfire story, dunno what it is.

[X_Amytiville_X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a longtime King Diamond fan I, of course, knew the story of Abigail and this graphic novel brought the story to a whole new level. The story itself is amazing and this artwork…wow! The artwork blew me away. So beautiful. The use of the purples (I’m a purple girl) and the reds…impeccable! The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars is because I wish it would’ve been longer. If you’re a King fan, this beauty is a must have.

4 stars

[Pyramids Ubiquitous · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so cool to see what is probably my favorite album of all-time adapted as a graphic novel. The presentation is wonderful. The art style and coloring are hit or miss, but it's still a wonderful adaptation. This also means we are one step closer to an Abigail movie.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good graphic novel to accompany a great album.
The artwork is beautiful and very fitting but the design feels rushed at times, the same goes for the story. Nonetheless, it is a real treat to read together with the album and fleshes put the story.

[Marko Kivimäe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raske jälle rääkida asjast, mida kõik ju niikuinii teavad. Heavy metal bänd King Diamondi üks klassikalisi albumeid "Abigail" (ilmus aastal 1987) on pandud koomiksivormi, ootasin seda ikka päris kaua. Sest välja hõigati see juba eelmise aasta kevadel, tellida sai sügisest ning teadmata põhjusel tõi postikana seda Ameerikast Euroopasse kohale mitu kuud. Kaua oodatud kaunikene.

Hea küll, eks ma natuke nokin niisama. Eks need, kes metalimaailma on omal ajal nuusutanud, on kindlasti tolle taani päritolu pundiga kursis. Samuti kui ajakiri Mardus kunagi ilmus, siis seal oli selle seltskonna "Them" laulusõnad ära tõlgitud ühes numbris, väga peen. Seega on ka Eesti vanemad ulmehuvilised selle šokirokkariga kursis. On ju King Diamondi näomaalingud üks osa bändi ümbritsevast lummavast esteetikast, lisaks tihtipeale väga eklektilised lood. Loomulikult King Diamondi enda hääl, mis on meeletu ulatusega, hõlmab neli oktaavi: on falsetti, "tavalist" laulmist ja erinevat kõrihäälset "värki". Kui keegi tahab ise kõrva peale visata, siis "Abigaili" albumil "The Family Ghost" on üks paras vokaalide popurrii.

King Diamond on nii ansambli kui ka juhtfiguuri nimi, nende albumid on enamasti olnud kontseptuaalsed, laulud moodustavad plaadil terviku, kuulajale räägitakse üks huvitav lugu. Üldistades on King Diamondi temaatika õudus, näiteks "Them" räägib kusagilt "asutusest" tagasitulnud vanaemast, kellel on seos vaimumaailmaga ning kes joob hea meelega teed verega. "House Of God" põhineb osaliselt Rennes-le-Château legendil, album räägib loo sellest, kuidas Jeesus Kristus peale ristilöömist tegelikult veeti-viidi Lõuna-Prantsusmaale, kus ta elas edasi hoopis omamoodi elu. "Voodoo"... noh, siin on juba pealkirjast aru saada, ms teemad on jutuks.

Aga et siis "Abigail"... Abigail on naisenimi. Album räägib loo sellest, kuidas aastal 1845 Miriam Natias ja Jonathan La'Fey lähevad Jonathani päritud mõisasse. Teel takistavad neid seitse ratsanikku, kes hoiatavad, et paar häärberisse ei läheks, sest muidu "saab 18'st 9" (mis on selle veidra väljendi taga peidus, see selgub albumi lahtirulludes). Mõisas kohtub Jonathan esimesel ööl krahv de La'Fey'ga, ühe ammusurnud esivanemaga, kes näitab surnud vastsündinud tüdrukut nimega Abigail ning mainib, et kunagi ammu jubeda otsa leidnud Abigail tahab tegelikult ellu tagasi ärgata ning see juhtub läbi Miriami (kes muide pole võimeline lapsi saama). Abigail oli paras koletis, aastal 1777, seitsmendal juulil hoitigi ära ta sünd väga võikal moel. Aga nüüd kogub ta jõudu... no umbes selline lugu, siin on veel detaile ning ega ma rääkisin ainult natuke otsast midagi ära.

Päris jälk ja hirmus lugu, King Diamond ongi õõvalugude peale mihkel, üks album jubedam kui teine. Koomiks räägibki siis üldistatuna sama loo - aga märksa põhjalikumalt! Koomiksi loomisesse kaasati ka härra King Diamond isiklikult, siin ongi väga mõnus jälgida, et kuidas albumil olevat stoorit on kõvasti rikastatud. Siin on loodud Jonathanile ja Miriamile rohkem tausta, kui album hakkab peale sellega, kuidas nad juba mõisa suunas sõidavad, siis koomiksis on algus üldsegi Londonis, on juttu Jonathani eelmisest suhtest, mis annab väga mõnusa lisanüansi kogu loole. Pagana mõnus on lugeda sellist pikemat ja visualiseeritud lugu, kus kogu aeg on igalpool kasutatud ära algseid laulutekste ning lisatud juurde veel kihte. Eks see on kokkuvõttes ikkagi koomiks - aga teate, väga hästi loodud.

Miinuspoolel tooksin välja seda, et kohati on pildid kuidagi veidralt katki murtud, st jäävad lehekülgede vahele. Lisaks oli veel mõningaid pisivigu. Kokkuvõttes aga jäin väga rahule, koomiks ongi väga hea viis anda praeguseks 35 aastat vanale rockiklassikale värske hingamine. Soovitan soojalt pilk peale visata, kui King Diamond huvi pakub. Ilma albumit kuulamata... ma ei usu, et siis see vihik nii huvitav on. Oluline on ikkagi see, kuidas on visuaalis siin ja seal näha albumi esteetikat, kuidas lüürika igaltpoolt läbi kumab ning kokkuvõttes saab sellesama jubediku uuesti läbi elada. Hurmav!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first heard about this I was already invested and preordered Abigail as soon as I saw the cover. The hard cover is a beautifully designed book that follows the album it was based on while adding new depth to a story King Diamond fans already know. This is clearly meant for fans, but horror fans who aren't familiar with the album will find a lot to like here. The artwork is dark and matches the story perfectly and the story while simple, is engaging. At it's core is a ghost story with a chilling twist. You have the creepy mansion and a dark past that comes back to haunt a man and his young bride. It breathes new life into a classic album that has always needed a movie adaptation, but the graphic novel works well in bringing King's story to life.

I loved that pieces of King's lyrics find their way into the story and while we get a deeper story that the one the album gives us, it doesn't add anything nor does it stray far from the source material. You'll have some people that will argue that King is becoming too comercial but the fact is, King's music and graphic novels were a match made in hell. This is a great story and hopefully we'll see more of his work featured in graphic novels. Z2 comics did a great job here in allowing King to present his story in a way that enhances a story most of us know, but if this is your first time meeting Abigail, you should listen to the album as well.

[Severind Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I write this as someone who, until this graphic novel adaptation, had never been formally acquainted with Abigail. I've heard King Diamond's music, but I never sat down and actually listened to it. As such, I was a bit hesitant in buying this because I wasn't sure if it would appeal to someone who wasn't already a fan. But as it turns out, there is plenty here to like for someone as ignorant as myself, especially if you're invested in gorgeous graphic novels that follow chilling tales of horror.

The story was easy to follow along, which is impressive considering I'm not familiar with the source material, and given that graphic novels are almost always a bit more simplified in their execution, since you can't fit a ton of dialogue in. The artwork was captivating. The characters had me intrigued. And overall, I really enjoyed reading this. The cover drew me in, and I'm glad I took a chance on this. It makes me hopeful that, one of these days, when I sit down and give King Diamond's music a grander listen, that I'll enjoy it and be able to see even more beauty in this adaptation than before.

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
Blasting the album as I write this review. I didn't even know this was a thing. So when I picked it off the shelf at the library, I may or may not have squealed like the King himself, such was my delight. And perhaps even better, it wasn't a disappointing cash in on one of the greatest concept albums in metal history (even if Them is my favourite).
Sure, it's not perfect. As per my gripes with everything made this millennium, I would have loved for a Bernie Wrightson or Gene Colan type on art duty and some old school colours to boot, but all said, the visuals here are pretty solid. Watters himself commits himself commendably, with a a well told tale, if a might bit lacking in places here or there. A few more chills, a little more blood perhaps, would have definitely pushed this over the edge from good to great, but hey. I'm just glad this exists. Now to do one based on Them, please! 3.5/5


OmniBen.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. Im familiar with King Dimond's music, but have not heard the album that inspired this story. Even without that background, I knew what to expect from the first the pannel: classic black/heavy metal fare influenced by Lovecraft and Poe. Im down for it, but feel like it works better as an album than a graphic novel. Though the art was good and properly set the tone of dread with a classic haunting, the story felt bland. I've seen this before. The mysteriously inherited house, the ancient evils, the haunted protagonists. Standard horror fare. Perhaps this novel exists to bring a visual to such a classic metal album. Im going to listen to "Abigail" and see if it changes my perception of this work.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of King Diamond way back in high school, so it's been a minute. This graphic novel is so beautifully illustrated and has rekindled my passion for this type of Gothic horror, as well as my desire to listen to the KD epic albums of yore.

[Chris Antal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail, don't you think I know what you've done!!!

This was phenomenal. The art felt exactly like a King Diamond album come to life. And the story was fleshed out so well.

18 will always be 9!

[MKF · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy which is what you would expect for a King Diamond comic book for the album of the same name. A part of me now wants a comic for the story of Melissa told by King Diamond with his band Mercyful Fate.

[Nathan Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fabulous art, cool atmosphere, some major misses at the quality control phase. A few misspellings and art cut off by page breaks. But still a fun read.

[Todd Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all fans of the King, putting the Abigail album into graphic novel format. Great artwork to go along with the story.

[Beth Voecks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the fact that this graphic novel is based on the concept album by King Diamond! I listened to it while reading the book and enjoyed both immensely!!

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, this one just didn't work for me and felt kind of stupid. It's based on an old King Diamond concept album about a couple who inherits an old haunted house and then things get really dumb.