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Tapping the Vein #2
Tapping the Vein: Book Two
From major motion pictures like Hellraiser and Hellbound to the New York Times best-seller successes of The Damnation Game and Weaveworld, Clive Barker has brought dark fantasy to the consciousness of millions. Now he brings that award-winning imagination to comics.
Includes "Skins of the Fathers" and "In the Hills, The Cities"
Includes "Skins of the Fathers" and "In the Hills, The Cities"
59 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 1989
2 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Clive Barker
706 books15.2k followersClive Barker was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Joan Rubie (née Revill), a painter and school welfare officer, and Leonard Barker, a personnel director for an industrial relations firm. Educated at Dovedale Primary School and Quarry Bank High School, he studied English and Philosophy at Liverpool University and his picture now hangs in the entrance hallway to the Philosophy Department. It was in Liverpool in 1975 that he met his first partner, John Gregson, with whom he lived until 1986. Barker's second long-term relationship, with photographer David Armstrong, ended in 2009.
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 7, 2019
Horror done in true Clive Barker style. Sex, beliefs and humanity all come into question in these 5 graphic novels.
There are two stories / graphic novel and each story is not only different in content but also in art style. Essentially it's like reading 12 different comic books with the same writer. It's almost like reading an animated Books of Blood. And just like the Books of Blood some stories are better than others, nevertheless, Barker definitely has a handle on the short story format. And in book 3 we get to see one of his tried and true stories "Midnight Meat Train" come to life in true graphic novel form.
As always he is a fabulous writer and the artwork just accentuates his amazing writing. I do wish however that Clive Barker would have done some of the illustrations himself as he is a brilliant artist and some of his sketches are completely out of this world! I think it would have been nice to see a few of his sketches within these books. Perhaps at least on the covers.
All things considered these books definitely have my heart. ❤️ Clive Barker's work. Do recommend!
There are two stories / graphic novel and each story is not only different in content but also in art style. Essentially it's like reading 12 different comic books with the same writer. It's almost like reading an animated Books of Blood. And just like the Books of Blood some stories are better than others, nevertheless, Barker definitely has a handle on the short story format. And in book 3 we get to see one of his tried and true stories "Midnight Meat Train" come to life in true graphic novel form.
As always he is a fabulous writer and the artwork just accentuates his amazing writing. I do wish however that Clive Barker would have done some of the illustrations himself as he is a brilliant artist and some of his sketches are completely out of this world! I think it would have been nice to see a few of his sketches within these books. Perhaps at least on the covers.
All things considered these books definitely have my heart. ❤️ Clive Barker's work. Do recommend!
November 29, 2015
Overall Rating 3.5*
SKINS OF THE FATHERS. 2*
This I didn't really get so much. I seemed to doze through most of it. Not that it was boring, but it didn't shock me enough to keep me interested.
IN THE HILLS, THE CITIES. 4*
Now this, wow! Love how it starts off all quaint and mundane, a couple just travelling across Europe, just to land on the most gruesome scene of accidental pogrom neither of them have ever imagined. Wow! I was completely awestruck by this story. Chilled me too. John Bolton's artwork was one of the most gruesome and eloquent of all depictions of horror in the comic book medium.
SKINS OF THE FATHERS. 2*
This I didn't really get so much. I seemed to doze through most of it. Not that it was boring, but it didn't shock me enough to keep me interested.
IN THE HILLS, THE CITIES. 4*
Now this, wow! Love how it starts off all quaint and mundane, a couple just travelling across Europe, just to land on the most gruesome scene of accidental pogrom neither of them have ever imagined. Wow! I was completely awestruck by this story. Chilled me too. John Bolton's artwork was one of the most gruesome and eloquent of all depictions of horror in the comic book medium.
March 14, 2022
Two stories from Clive Barker's collection The Books of Blood are illustrated here in all their gory glory. "Skins of the Fathers" illustrated by Klaus Janson - about a sort of reverse demonic messiah begin born back into the world of men - with a sort of "who are the real monsters" vibe. And "In the Hills, the Cities" illustrated by John Bolton - in which two cities go to ritualistic war by working together in a massive harness to create a giant creature. Things go awry of course. These are two great stories well presented.
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October 10, 2022"Skins of the Fathers" - Davidson is stuck in Arizona after his car breaks down. He then witnesses a bizarre parade of freakish monsters. It turns out that these creatures mated with a woman in a nearby town six-years previously and are intending on reclaiming the child, which they promptly achieve. Davidson reaches the town where a posse of gun-toting locals are eager to set out to slay the monsters. Everything goes wrong, however, and Davidson and just a few other survivors end up with a horrific fate; they sink in quicksand which then hardens when they are half-buried (one man is left with just his face exposed, the rest of him in the solidified ground) and are left for dead in the burning desert heat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 13, 2020What the
what
...well, it was certainly, uh. Different.
Excuse me whilst I go and sit queasily in the corner.
what
...well, it was certainly, uh. Different.
Excuse me whilst I go and sit queasily in the corner.
November 16, 2024
I mean- what's there not to like. These are some of clive's strangest novellas in graphic novel form. 👌
November 5, 2012
If I were to rate these books solely on the job they do in adapting Barker's prose to comics, they would probably all be five-star ratings. However, the whole package has to be taken into consideration, so I'm rating them lower than I might.
Again with this book, we're given a ridiculous for-shock-value-only cover image, this time by Scott Hampton, and the same peculiar neon-spatter graphics.
The first story is 'Skins of the Fathers,' adapted again by project originator Chuck Wagner and editor Fred Burke with illustrations ineptly committed by Klaus Janson. Janson's style is just too cartoony and light for the story of monsters come to claim their offspring, and it takes a great deal of the strength out of the tale.
All is redeemed, though, with 'In the Hills, The Cities.' Though I never remember a great deal about this story, it has one highly potent image at its centre. I won't give that away, but I will say that it takes an artist of stature like John Bolton to pull it off without it seeming ridiculous. This is a serious story, and Bolton illustrates it beautifully and with respect for its weight. This one was also adapted by Wagner and Burke.
Again with this book, we're given a ridiculous for-shock-value-only cover image, this time by Scott Hampton, and the same peculiar neon-spatter graphics.
The first story is 'Skins of the Fathers,' adapted again by project originator Chuck Wagner and editor Fred Burke with illustrations ineptly committed by Klaus Janson. Janson's style is just too cartoony and light for the story of monsters come to claim their offspring, and it takes a great deal of the strength out of the tale.
All is redeemed, though, with 'In the Hills, The Cities.' Though I never remember a great deal about this story, it has one highly potent image at its centre. I won't give that away, but I will say that it takes an artist of stature like John Bolton to pull it off without it seeming ridiculous. This is a serious story, and Bolton illustrates it beautifully and with respect for its weight. This one was also adapted by Wagner and Burke.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews