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
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1 Variation B

March, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $7.98
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #2 Variation A

April, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $4.98
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #2 Variation B


Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $8.00
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #3 Variation A

May, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $1.63
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #4 Variation A

June, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
5 copies available from $1.63
Regular Cover A; B&W Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #5 Variation A

July, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
5 copies available from $1.50
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #6 Variation A

September, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
7 copies available from $2.00
Cover A: Broken Glass Cover; Includes sneak preview of Angel: Masks Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #7 Variation A

November, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
3 copies available from $0.88
Regular Cover A (2 characters on cover); Includes sneak preview of #0 Days Of Nights: Spreading The Disease #1 Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #8 Variation A

December, 2006
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $3.39
Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez; Continued in The Great and Secret Show Book 9 Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #9 Variation A

January, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
4 copies available from $1.44
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #10 Variation A

February, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
3 copies available from $0.96
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #11 Variation A

March, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
2 copies available from $5.50
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #12 Variation A

April, 2007
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $9.00
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) Book #2

August, 2007
Cover Price: $19.99
2 copies available from $18.00
Chris RyallGabriel Rodriguez
The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) Deluxe Set #1

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