The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…)

    (IDW, 2006–2007)
™ and © 2006 Idea + Design Works

Anyone who’s familiar with Clive Barker’s writing knows what a Herculean task it should be to adapt The Great and Secret Show to a comic book. Points to the powers that be (also known as Barker and IDW) for making this a 12-issue effort, instead of death-culling it to anything less. Still, even with 12 issues, writer Chris Ryall has his hands full.

In this first issue, he appears to be on the right track. He uses protagonist Randolph Jaffe’s adventures to make a highly entertaining and enjoyable series debut. Gabriel Rodriguez’ art seems perfect for the task, especially with the gloom-and-doom emotions apparent in the characters’ faces. This is dark art that’ll hold the eye.

For those who read this issue and aren’t sure if they want more, odds are the situation won’t improve; Barker’s material doesn’t make for one- or two- or three-issue taste tests. Either sign up and hang on—or pass altogether.

Fans of horror, especially horror with macabre supernatural elements thrown in willy-nilly, will find that IDW’s adaptation of this Barker novel is satisfying.

— Ray Sidman
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  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    May 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    3 copies from $2.99
  • 4/A
    #4 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Jun 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    B&W
    2 copies from $3.50
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    Cover A (regular cover): color cover with a man and a floating orb
    Jul 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    4 copies from $1.68
  • 6/A
    #6 Variation A
    Cover A: Broken Glass Cover
    Sep 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Includes sneak preview of Angel: Masks
    6 copies from $2.40
  • 7/A
    #7 Variation A
    Regular Cover A (2 characters on cover)
    Nov 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Includes sneak preview of #0 Days Of Nights: Spreading The Disease #1
    2 copies from $0.96
  • 8/A
    #8 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Dec 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Continued in The Great and Secret Show Book 9
    4 copies from $3.39
  • 9/A
    #9 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Jan 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    4 copies from $1.44
  • 10/A
    #10 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Feb 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    2 copies from $2.25
  • 11/A
    #11 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Mar 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    2 copies from $5.50
  • 12/A
    #12 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Apr 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    1 copy for $9.00
  • Bk 2
    Book #2
    Aug 2007
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #7–12
    2 copies from $19.00
  • Dlx 1
    Deluxe Set #1
    Dec 2007
    Cover: $35.00
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez, Clive Barker
    Softcover; Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1–12
    1 copy for $28.00