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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  NotesWriterArtist
#1 Variation B (Cover B: mailbox on the beachside (night))

March, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $7.98 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#2 Variation A (Regular Cover A)

April, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $4.98 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#2 Variation B (Retailer Incentive A: Boy watching girl struggling in whirlpool (with electric sparks) Cover B)


Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $8.00 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#3 Variation A (Regular Cover A)

May, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $1.63 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#4 Variation A (Regular Cover A)

June, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
5 copies available from $1.63 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#5 Variation A (Cover A (regular cover): color cover with a man and a floating orb)

July, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
5 copies available from $1.50 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#6 Variation A (Cover A: Broken Glass Cover)

September, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
7 copies available from $2.00 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#7 Variation A (Regular Cover A (2 characters on cover))

November, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
3 copies available from $0.88 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#8 Variation A (Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez)

December, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $3.39 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#9 Variation A (Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez)

January, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $1.44 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#10 Variation A (Regular Cover A)

February, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
3 copies available from $0.96 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#11 Variation A (Regular Cover A)

March, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
2 copies available from $5.50 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
#12 Variation A (Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez)

April, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $9.00 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
Book #2

August, 2007
Cover Price: $19.99
2 copies available from $14.45 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
Deluxe Set #1

December, 2007
Cover Price: $35.00
1 copy available for $28.00 		Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez, Clive Barker