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KISS Kompendium
KISS Kompendium is an eye-popping compilation of the previously out-of-print Stan Lee Marvel comic book adventures of the legendary heavy metal band, as well as the famed Psycho Circus and Dark Horse editions and KISS's own KISStory. Featuring artwork by Todd McFarlane and other acclaimed graphic artists and fully authorized by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, KISS Kompendium coincides with the release of the latest album and includes candid, never before seen photos from the recent KISS tour and from the band members’ personal archives. Here is the perfect gift for every comic book lover, rock music aficionado, and KISS fanatic on the planet.
1280 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Gene Simmons
80 books67 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
From genesimmons.com
Gene Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel in 1949, and is the only child of his mother, a German Nazi Concentration Camp survivor. He has always attributed his ethics, morals and drive to his mother's notion's about life. "Every day above ground, is a good day," his mother is apt to say.
He came to America at eight and a half years of age. He graduated State University (NYSU) and City University (CUNY) and got a Bachelor of Education degree. He taught sixth grade in Spanish Harlem in New York City.
He then became the Assistant to the Director of the Puerto Rican InterAgency Council, a government funded research and demonstration project. He worked at Glamour and then at Vogue, as the assistant to the editor, Kate Lloyd.
Gene speaks a few languages: English, Hungarian, Hebrew, German and is getting better at Japanese every day.
Gene Simmons has never been married.He has had live in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross. He has been happily unmarried for 25 years to Shannon Tweed, the mother of his two beautiful children.*
*Simmons and Tweed finally wed on October 1, 2011
From genesimmons.com
Gene Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel in 1949, and is the only child of his mother, a German Nazi Concentration Camp survivor. He has always attributed his ethics, morals and drive to his mother's notion's about life. "Every day above ground, is a good day," his mother is apt to say.
He came to America at eight and a half years of age. He graduated State University (NYSU) and City University (CUNY) and got a Bachelor of Education degree. He taught sixth grade in Spanish Harlem in New York City.
He then became the Assistant to the Director of the Puerto Rican InterAgency Council, a government funded research and demonstration project. He worked at Glamour and then at Vogue, as the assistant to the editor, Kate Lloyd.
Gene speaks a few languages: English, Hungarian, Hebrew, German and is getting better at Japanese every day.
Gene Simmons has never been married.He has had live in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross. He has been happily unmarried for 25 years to Shannon Tweed, the mother of his two beautiful children.*
*Simmons and Tweed finally wed on October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2024
In the world of Kiss, bigger is always better. Going with that logic, the Kiss Kompendium is easily the best there is. This book is a monster, clocking in at 1,280 pages, being as tall as a DC Absolute Edition or EC Library Edition, with superb paper and sewn binding. If production values alone made a book great, then this would be the greatest book ever made. Unfortunately for Kiss, this is not the case. These are the worst comic books that I have read in a long time.
There are moments where it's enjoyable (the dated but lovable Bronze Age goodness of the Marvel Super Specials, Clayton Crain's early artwork on the later issues of Kiss: Psycho Circus), but most of this book was such a chore to read. It took several months of on again, off again reading for me to make it to the end. I take no joy in writing this because I am a lifelong Kiss fan, but these comics are for masochists only. This book reprints all of the Marvel, Dark Horse, and Image Kiss comic books in one "handy" package.
There are moments where it's enjoyable (the dated but lovable Bronze Age goodness of the Marvel Super Specials, Clayton Crain's early artwork on the later issues of Kiss: Psycho Circus), but most of this book was such a chore to read. It took several months of on again, off again reading for me to make it to the end. I take no joy in writing this because I am a lifelong Kiss fan, but these comics are for masochists only. This book reprints all of the Marvel, Dark Horse, and Image Kiss comic books in one "handy" package.
May 8, 2018
Took a long time to get through this huge ass book, I didn't like the Dark Horse comics stories as much, but overall I liked it being as big as a Kiss fan as I am.
July 5, 2013
Disappointed is the word that comes to mind with this compilation. The main reason why I picked it up in the first place was A) I'm a huge fan of KISS and B) I'm a huge fan of Angel Medina. The idea of turning the KISS characters into characters not of this world a creation that serves itself well. I certainly like the idea of using them as 'God-like' beings that were more supernatural in presentation instead of the typical 'KISS guys turn into superheroes and battle monsters' angle that the first couple of comics took. It was hokey and just didn't work for me.
So, the idea of this new take would fly right? Well, yes and no. I like the new direction of where they took the characters, but I thought the writing was beyond sub-par with no foresight in creating some sort of mythology for the 'Four as one. The art by Angel and his successor Clayton Crain was fantastic and the one area where the original issues of Psycho Circus shined. It's the writing that truly cripples itself in the end. First off, there are far too many stand alone issues. Granted there were a few that had two part stories. But as a whole, there really was no connection from one issue to the next, so it never was building toward something much larger, which is what I was hoping to get. Also, the writing itself was somewhat of a rehash and too similar to Spawn and not even close to being as good either.
The issues that came after the final installment of Psycho Cicrus was really bad, both in writing as well as art. It was enough for me to decide to throw in the towel and not bother trying to finish the book. No need to mention how weak the first two issues are that open the book. It was from the 70's so I can give it a pass. Kinda. The book is worth a Rent from the Library if you're looking for some cool art to feast your eyes on. Just don't expect much of anything else. 3 Stars out of 5.
So, the idea of this new take would fly right? Well, yes and no. I like the new direction of where they took the characters, but I thought the writing was beyond sub-par with no foresight in creating some sort of mythology for the 'Four as one. The art by Angel and his successor Clayton Crain was fantastic and the one area where the original issues of Psycho Circus shined. It's the writing that truly cripples itself in the end. First off, there are far too many stand alone issues. Granted there were a few that had two part stories. But as a whole, there really was no connection from one issue to the next, so it never was building toward something much larger, which is what I was hoping to get. Also, the writing itself was somewhat of a rehash and too similar to Spawn and not even close to being as good either.
The issues that came after the final installment of Psycho Cicrus was really bad, both in writing as well as art. It was enough for me to decide to throw in the towel and not bother trying to finish the book. No need to mention how weak the first two issues are that open the book. It was from the 70's so I can give it a pass. Kinda. The book is worth a Rent from the Library if you're looking for some cool art to feast your eyes on. Just don't expect much of anything else. 3 Stars out of 5.
November 11, 2013
Production wise this book is awesome ....the art are mixed with the highlight is the Image comics Psycho Circus as oustanding ...the story is not outstanding though...I got this book at a bargain shop..it is worth the money that I paid for but not the RRP USD 75 thatwas recommended...I would think 10 times to splurge that amount of money...none the less..it is quite a piece of history for a KISS fan...
Want to read
August 17, 2010WOW! This book was a surprise. It is 8 x 12 and 3+ inches thick, and must weigh like ten pounds. This is one massive volume and beautifully put together. High quality, thick glossy pages, this book contains every comic done by Kiss, from the original two Marvel releases, to the Kissnation one, the Psycho Circus series and the Dark Horse set. What a great prize book having them all together.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews