THE BLACK BOOK II

THE BLACK BOOK II

20-page digest sized comix
Published by Thru Black Holes Comix
Published 2006
Copyright 2006 by Michael Roden
$5.00

As with the previous issue of THE BLACK BOOK (published in 1984), this issue features striking Covers that are Printed on Heavy Black Card Stock with a Relic Gold Real Parchment Outer Cover (Glued & Stapled). And, as with the previous issue, THE BLACK BOOK II features what MR appropriately terms "Dark Goth Artwork" throughout:

cvr JOHN THOMPSON and ROMAN SCOTT untitled collage

The amazing cover collage (created in 1982 by underground comix legend JOHN THOMPSON) depicts a Giant Insect Monster Attacking a Castle; the cover border is by the mysterious ROMAN SCOTT. The combination on these two artists' styles is quite striking.

pp 3-5 MICHAEL RODEN The Seed of Fear

This absolutely amazing cosmic horror story first saw print in SHOCKING FEAR No. 2 in 1983. This is still one of my favorite MICHAEL RODEN stories of this genre. Both the art (collage and drawing) and the script ("Some thrived on the Fear.") are outstanding. This is simply a great story!

page 6 ED H. DORN Devil Dog

This almost whimsical drawing dates back to 1978 and is published here for the first time. During his tenure with TBHC in the 1970s and 1980s, ED H. DORN developed a beautifully disturbing drawing style.

page 7 MICHAEL RODEN Skull Indian Chief

This cool full-pager was drawn especially for this comix. This is a finely detailed and mysterious drawing with just a hint of Crazy Men in the way the skull is drawn. I love this page!

page 8 D. HUTCHINSON and M. RODEN Haunted Crypt

This page began as part of a planned digest-sized comix to be titled THE GREAT STONE HEAD . That book was never published but pages from it have shown up in various TBHC titles through the years.

page 9 MICHAEL RODEN Demon Cathedral

This stunning drawing (with a collage background) first appeared in the fabled XEX MAIL ART published in 1985. The monster head floating in the sky is as detailed as it is hideous. This is a wonderfully intricate drawing!

pp 10-12 TOM BRINKMANN Vampires Night

This visually striking vampire tale drawn is a cosmic-psychedelic style that makes dramatic use of blacks and whites to create a dark mood.

page 13 MICHAEL RODEN I love the Dead!

This wonderfully freaky portrait-tribute (first published in PSYCHOMIX 3) was created in 1986 following an ALICE COOPER concert in Dayton, Ohio.

page 14 D. HUTCHINSON and M. RODEN Skeleton Ruins

This is another drawing that originally began life as a page for THE GREAT STONE HEAD. The fountain of skulls spewing out of the ground is awesome!

page 15 ED H. DORN Demon Woman

This is another previously unpublished drawing from 1978. This is truly imaginative stuff.

page 16 M. RODEN and ED H. DORN Land of Monsters

Alright. This is one totally amazing page. There is enough stuff happening on this one page to fill an entire comix. Herein the careful observer will find everything from the classic MR bubble-monster (eating a house!) to a subtle tribute to the late R. HAYES. This is a one of those pages you could just stare at for an hour and never get bored.

page 17 MICHAEL RODEN Mexicano Circo

This cool fun page depicts a happy skeleton flanked by Smiley the Snake (in a headdress) and a whimsical Aztec god. This is another one of those delightfully busy MR pages.

page 18 Information Page

back cover MICHAEL RODEN Voodoo Child

This totally amazing collage-drawing was also first published in XEX MAIL ART.

As MR notes in the eBay item description for this comix, "this book is so good it should cost $20." Sounds like a bargain to me!

Resource Notes:
Thanks to MICHAEL RODEN for sending me a copy of this fabulous comix.
Price per: MR eBay item description.
Information re: cover per MR: email to DLC dated Jan 7, 2006.
Information re: page 13 per MR: letter to DLC dated 11/23/86.

Available From:
Thru Black Holes Comic & Collectibles eBay Store

History:
Page posted to the online MICHAEL RODEN CATALOG 24 July 2006.