The Coffin [Paperback]

Phil Hester (Author), Mike Huddleston (Author), Gary Peterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

Since the birth of man, eternal life has been one of the species' greatest dreams. For Dr. Ashtar Ahmad, it has been more than a dream; it's been a lifelong obsession. And while he has not conquered death's rule over the body, he has found a way to keep the soul alive - a complex suit that houses the inner being of the deceased and allows them to go on living. When a group of unknown assailants come of Ahmad's research, the doctor is caught in the crossfire, and his only chance at survival is an untested prototype of his most prized invention. But when the megalomaniacal tycoon responsible for the break-in kidnaps Ashar's daughter to use as a bargaining chip in acquiring the groundbreaking discovery, the good doctor must discover how to stop his enemy and keep his soul intact. Can he make up in death for his misdeeds from life? A mix of classic science fiction and superhero comic books, The Coffin points in the direction of the bold new future of the genre-driven graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Phil Hester is a popular comics artist whose work has appeared in DC's SWAMP THING, Oni's CLERKS: THE LOST SCENE, and the independently published FOOTSOLDIERS. He is also the creator of THE WRETCH, and is currently working with Kevin Smith on GREEN ARROW and Brian Bendis on ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN AND INCREDIBLE HULK. THE COFFIN marks his first foray into writing for another artist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929998163
• ISBN-13: 978-1929998166
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully thought-provoking speculative fiction, September 26, 2001

By 

Dave Thomer (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Coffin (Paperback)

The Coffin is a wonderful book, an intelligent piece of science fiction that meditates on life, death, and life after death with no sacrifice of characterization or plotting. Combined with beautiful illustration that shows off Mike Huddleston's versatility, this book is exactly the sort of thing that would have had my college roommates and me up until six in the morning and loving every second of it.

Dr. Ashar Ahmad has discovered a way to trap the soul at the moment of death, by placing the body in a hermetically sealed containment suit made from a new type of polymer. Heller, the head of the company that funds Ashar's experiments wants the technology for himself, and orders Ashar killed; the doctor manages to encase himself in the suit in time to trap his soul, and sets out to stop the financier. More importantly, he has to determine what kind of life he hopes to lead, now that he is dead.

This book has a very well-done action-adventure plot, very nice character work, and some fascinating ideas about the relationship between the soul and the body and other of life's big mysteries. The philosophical musings don't feel like a forced attempt to give the book depth, nor does the narrative feel liek a forced excuse for Hester and Huddleston to talk about their ideas of the after life. The balance of the two is one of the book's major strengths.

Another is Huddleston's fine art. The book is crisply drawn, the coffin is suitably spooky, and the visions of souls suitably wondrous. Huddleston conveys not only the action of what the characters are doing, but the emotion of what they're feeling. And some of the texturing work here is just absolutely gorgeous to look at. This is a top notch book, and it's well worth reading and sharing with your friends. Assuming you don't have to be up early the next morning.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing work, Lush B&W, February 1, 2011

By 

Arthur Elliott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Coffin: 10th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

I've wanted to read The Coffin since I saw one cover in a comic shop years ago. When I saw the gorgeous oversize 10th ann. hardcover I jumped at it and was NOT disappointed. After reading Coffin I automatically pre-ordered Deep Sleeper by the same team. This book is phenomenal. The artwork is simply amazing. I haven't seen black and white art like this since Charles Burns. The story, about life, death and redemption, is fast paced and truly haunting. It ranks in my top five favorite comics of all time.

3.0 out of 5 stars Great art, okay story., October 17, 2011

By 

Patrick Robertson "4u2c" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Coffin: 10th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

Read though this in one sitting and I have to say I enjoyed it, but I felt that I didn't completely buy the characters and their motivations. Beautiful art for the most part. I'd love to see more of this world that feels barely touched on in these few pages.