Customer Reviews

Se7en

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Seven or Se7en as it's officially known, was one of those rare films that was able to cross genres. Like Silence of the Lambs, this was a crime thriller but worked equally effective as a horror film. This was one of the more unsettling films in recent memories, perhaps even more so than Silence of the Lambs. As terrifying as "Silence" was, it still gave audiences the chance to walk away feeling pretty good that the serial killer was caught, even if Hanibal Lecter was now on the loose. Se7en gave its audience no such benefit.

In the film, two homicide detectives, Somerset and Mills, played by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, are investigating a series of grisly murders. These ritualistic murders are inspired by the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, pride, envy, and wrath. The sin of gluttony results in the killer forcing a morbidly obese man to keep eating until he hemorrhages internally and dies. Five murders have been committed by the man who refers to himself as John doe (played unforgettably by Kevin Spacey), a virtual nobody and the detectives are trying to stop him before he completes all seven murders.

This hardcover book collects the seven issue series published by Zenescope Entertainment. However, this series isn't just an adaptation of the film. While the film was told from the perspective of the cops, the book is told from the perspective of John Doe. In the film Doe was a virtually untraceable, as if he didn't exist prior to starting his murder spree. The Zenescope series lifts the shade on his background as well as his zealous obsession with religion, and especially as it relates to sin. The religious imagery of the film is carried over to the comic series. It's a grim and grimy story, and every bit as potent as the film its based upon.

Each of the seven issues was handled by a different creative team, resulting in a fresh new look with each chapter. The gluttony chapter features art by Tommy Castillo, who is one of my favorites. Murder by being forced to eat to death is as disgusting as it sounds and Castillo's art smacks the reader in the face with its repulsiveness. Other featured artists include: Jason Craig, Brett, Weldele, Leif Jones, and Steven Perkins.

One of the most artistically interesting chapters in the book is the one on "Sloth" that is told through a combination of digital art and photography by artist David Seidman. Seidman had to find a look alike for Spacey's character and the resemblance is uncanny. Punctuating each chapter are pages from Doe's notebook, which are terrifying in their own right and shed a dark light on his psychotic mind. There are also some rather disturbing photographs of autopsies, murder victims, and disease victims, all of which play into each chapter's theme. This is definitely a book geared towards a mature audience.

This book has had one major effect on me...it's made me want to go back and watch the film again and pickup on some of the things that I may have missed the first time I watched it over a decade ago. Zenescope has unleashed a powerful and chilling book upon an unsuspecting comic book audience.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

Just a fascinating look behind the storyline of Se7en. I think about this book and the movie alot when I go around town. Its true, we see a deadly sin on the street everyday and its meaningless, trivial, it means nothing because we see it so much.

well, i just wanna share my experience with this seller (amazon.com) that was wonderfull, i get my order 2 days later!, about the product, it must be a enforced item for a big fan of John Doe like me.

I just received the book today and wanted to make sure nobody makes the same mistake I did. I was looking forward to a great read and upon receiving it then realized it is a hard cover comic book. I came back here to read the description in case I am the one that missed this but no where does it state it is done with "phenomenal artwork by the best artists and comic book writers" as written on the back of the book. Just an FYI for the future buyers.