Customer Reviews

The Spider Garden (Spider Garden Book One)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many of my favorite comix share the quality of appearing to be self-contained artifacts dropped in from a different world, like the encyclopedia volume in Borges' "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius." They create little worlds with a totally persuasive ecology and aesthetic. Some examples of this have been THB #1 by Paul Pope, Louis by Metaphrog, New Hat by Tom Hart, and Cave-In by Brian Ralph (only the last of those is available through Amazon, unfortunately).

The Spider Garden and its sequel, Hydrophidian, overflow with this quality. Drawing on Japanese woodblock prints and Cyberpunk science fiction, Manning creates an engrossing world of intrigue and decadence.

It's worth emphasizing that Spider Garden is also extremely kinky and explicit fetish porn. It's rare that someone creates a work of artistically ambitions erotica where the sexual heat is not stifled by the author's pretentions, but here the intricate and subtle plot and the extensive sex scenes achieve a symbiotic relationship that increases the power of both.

Manning has only begun to explore the world he suggests in these books, and his output is notoriously slow. I hope to see many more volumes of this story before he ends the series.

Note: Unfortunately, like so many NBM books, the binding is lousy. The content bears repeated re-readings, but the spine does not.

This graphic novel is the tale of the Shaalis, an androgyne living a high tech mansion surround by her human pets and intelligent machines. Inside her special Garden, leather clad concubines wait to service her every whim while she engages in political machinations with her various other world peers.

A somewhat convoluted plot, it has all the Manning signature elements of high quality illustration and incredibly inventive settings. This book is executed in Manning's heavy, black line illustration that is very reminiscent of Japanese wood cuts. The settings and the characters are original and beautifully rendered. This book has something to appeal (or offend) almost everyone - elaborate costumes, bondage, bestiality, female bisexuality and good old hardcore sex. Interesting and inventive - I can't wait to see the next book in the series, Hydrophidian.

the fetishism isn't cheesy. the sex isn't cheesy. the storyline is engaging and artwork is absolutely beautiful. it left me wanting more . . . and within two minutes of me showing my copies to various friends they were shoving money into my hands, begging me to order them their own books.

In Michael Manning's world, my dreams and fantasies come to life.... His images are sensual and lush... The universe he creates is complex and his characters are well fleshed out. He has blended the tradition of Shunga, Ukiyoe, manga and the graphic novel in an elegant hypnotic visual feast. Even after years of owning the book, I return to savor its pleasure over and over again.

Ffor those who love erotic comix this is the one for you. Tthe drawings are superb, the story is complex and exciting, and the sex is the hottest. Heavy sub/dom(mme) content, bizzarre characters, dreamy sceens. Well worth the price and Manning has many other books as well, each one a delight.

This book is a work of obscene art, naughty and brilliant. And though straight, I'd almost instantly fall in love with Shaalis.

It's great. But it's not for the sexually weak hearts. This book is best viewed with an open-mind and a love for erotic art. At first, I thought it wasn't going to argee with me but it did. It's very good and the stories will pull you in. The art is fanstastic and beautifully detailed. This is just my opinion on the book. If you do buy it, I hope that you will enjoy it.

Not as strong as his later book Transeptor, but Spider Garden is a cool dream world of bondage and domination. Buy it for the art...and you'll be taken to places that will fill your dreams for years to come.