Review: The Many Deaths of Barnaby James TP

Everybody loves the circus. Well, maybe not the people who (like me) cite animal cruelty; well, not the people who are scared of clowns, and don’t even get me started on the Graysons! Anyways, this trade from Dark Horse Comics, the first published from a new partnership with T-Pub features the Black Tp Circus. So with so much negative press for circuses, what better place then to base a gothic horror?

Beware the Black Top Circus for the playful acts and colors betrays its secret; the performers were previously dead! On the orders of the ringmaster, the dark and dastardly Azlon, young Barnaby James serves as a grave digger, sourcing a vein of workers that will erm, never die out. Now young Barnaby had a love, whom Azlon refuses to bring back to the land of the living. But the path of true love never runs straight or fair leads Barnaby on a quest where not everything is as it seems; no dear reader, things are much, much darker!

With a story by Brian Nathanson, featuring a script from Neil Gibson and Nathanson this book is part gothic horror, part fantasy with a whole lot of twists and turns. In Nathanson and Gibson’s hands, you can’t help but like Barnaby. Sure he might be a touch naive and as with most people, the heart wants what the heart wants. For Azlon, in particular and the cast of the circus, as whole, the pair have created monsters who have their own desires, though some more than others. The hook of this torrid tale of death and debauchery lends itself to a theorem of doing bad things for the best of reasons. The writing is tight and complex, with steps taken quickly to move the story along, though with same events being viewed from different perspectives gives the book a sense of layering.

The art is provided by Piotr Kowolski, who on first impression appears to be workman like, based on the figures and the poses. Yet that is a massive disservice as upon further inspection the level of detail and shading is fantastic, harking back to the European comics that may have served as inspiration for this Polish artist. Kowloski manages to deliver key nuances to proceedings aiding the the different views by adding continuity. The colors from Brad Simpson reminds, texture wise at least, of books like Sandman Mystery Theatre; the colors are dark, grimy in places, garish in others, combining the various states of unease and depravity. With so much going on, Saida Temofonte does well to deliver consistent fonts, adding to the vibe of the cast.

I love being surprised; this book surprised me. Nathanson and Gibson have craft a horrific tale that is fuelled by the deepest darkest in existence; love!

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Story by; Brian Nathanson
Script by; Neil Gibson & Brian Nathanson
Art by; Piotr Kowolski
Colors by; Brad Simpson
Letters by; Saida Temofonte
Published by; Dark Horse Comics with T-Pub

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network