Gloom Cookie, Vol. 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Serena Valentino (Author), Ted Naifeh (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gloom Cookie | Publication Date: January 26, 2001

The first six issues of this comic book series of gothic fairy tales are collected with added sketches, fan art, and pin-ups.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Funny, sweet and human. Lovely, and a nice surprise. -- Neil Gaiman, writer Sandma n and Neverwhere, June 1999

Of the recent spate of "goth comics", GloomCookie is undoubtedly the finest of the bunch." -- Caitlin Kiernan, writer, The Dreaming, January 2001

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: SLG Publishing (January 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943151341
• ISBN-13: 978-0943151342
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I dedicate this review to...Bela Lugosi ;p, May 29, 2005

By 

Narcissa-Mae "Narcissa-Mae" (The Midlands, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gloom Cookie, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Having read the previous reviews here prior to buying Gloom Cookie, I wasn't expecting much in the way of plot or artwork. Perhaps due to this, I was very pleasantly surprised. Hell, I think everyone who has ever ventured into the Goth subculture has met a Vermillion. This book is brilliant both for the subculture mickey-take and the fairy tale undercurrents.

The only qualm I have is the complete lack of editing. This book is worse than Laurell K Hamilton in places, there is an abundance of 'your' instead of 'you're' and completely basic spelling errors that a five year old would know, I think Ms. Valentino needs introducing to the Apostrophe Protection Society.

*Just hopes that 2 and 3 are better edited* I look forward to hearing the rest of the story though.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down, December 2, 2001

By 

Liz "pomowomyn" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gloom Cookie, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

When I started this graphic novel, I wans't at all sure that I would enjoy it. Having read the comics of Jhonen Vasquez (I Feel Sick, et al) and Neil Gaimen (Mr. Punch and Sandman), I was Gloomcookie's target demographic, but it was the commnets of another customer that sold me. He told me that he never cries and that he cried numerous times while reading Gloomcookie. Then, he said he was usually laughing while he cried; the humor was so dark. Although I shed not a tear throughout my reading, I am at the comic book store every Wednesday to see if they got the new issue in.

So, why is it good? As another reviewer pointed out, there is a lot of catty, 6th grade conversations with rather purile behavior. That, to an extent, is true. Valentino is satirizing goth culture: the silly poems, the silly outfits, the silly cliques. If all the characters talked and behaved like mature adults, there would be no power in her punch. But the comic also shows good writing in not so much character dialogue, but plot formation. In one series there is a love story (that seems to stem from past lives and a recurring dream--I don't know that hasn't been completely reveled), an evil witch (who is also a monster), a benevolent monster under the bed, a cannibalistic girlfriend, a circus for a family and role players for whom the game is never over. While this may seem 200 pages of goth knocks and jokes, it simply shows the capacity of the sub-culture to laugh at itself (assuming that someone besides me laughed). But you don't need to be familar with Goth culture/comics/music to laugh. We all know people like this and sadly, will recognize someone in every character.

And, as have been covered in other reviews, the art is spectacular. However, beyond Issue 6 (the last issue in the novel), John Gebbia illustrates, not Ted Naifeh. Gebbia has a different style and there are minute changes in the features of the characters, but the comic doesn't lose its dark feel.

Just so you know, this comic is in black and white for those of you addicted to slick production.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Parody of Gothicism!, March 10, 2002

By 

"charism_x" (Rialto, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gloom Cookie, Vol. 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

For anyone who wants to approach the Goth lifestyle from an aloof perspective, search no further! Gloomcookie manages to incorporate all the tragic, yet inescapable aspects of those of us "Dark" individuals -- love gone wrong, revenge, and yes, even **BAD** Goth poetry. The characters really are interesting and fresh, particularly the love sick Vermilion and the sassy, taunting Chrys. Definitely worth your time and money.