Warren Ellis' Strange Kiss [Paperback]

Warren Ellis (Author), Mike Wolfer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2001

A horrific murder/suicide takes place in the middle of a busy city street at midday, while an old man rots in a hospital bed nearby, bloated with something sick and reptilian gestating inside. In a darkened place close by, people scream, impregnated and doomed. Something beautiful and awful is trying to reproduce, and its strange kiss is only to be feared... A mystery and horror thriller by comic book luminary Warren Ellis, featuring the introduction of soldier-turned-mystic detective, William Gravel!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Warren Ellis is the award-winning British author of comic books, novels, and television, most often recognized for his sociocultural commentary and ground-breaking work in the genre of science fiction. His most recognizable works include Transmetropolitan, Planetary, and The Authority. He maintains a consistent online presence which includes the weekly delivery of the FREAKANGELS web comic to millions of fans. Ellis has published over 25 different creator-owned projects through Avatar Press (including BLACK SUMMER, IGNITION CITY, and GRAVEL, the last of which is in development as a film through Legendary Pictures), with many more planned.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Avatar Press (January 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970678401
• ISBN-13: 978-0970678409
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,343,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Mystery

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Ellis' Very Best!, April 7, 2005

By 

Michael Szeles (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warren Ellis' Strange Kiss (Paperback)

This is amazing storytelling, wholely original, terrifying, and entertaining. I have never read another comic more disturbing, disgusting, surprising, overwhelming, amazing, and downright brilliant. This is not for the lighthearted, as it contains many disturbing incidents. It takes an awful lot to terrify me, and I was literally clutching my face in terror while reading the end of the opening sequence. The black and white illustrations match the world of death and mayhem. This is the introduction(wow!) of William Gravel, combat magician, a character who is relentless, violent, charming, and a complete pr**k-- a great character. A must-read for anyone interested in horror/crime comics and/or Warren Ellis' writing. His additional Strange Killing series' involving William Gravel are highly recommended as well.

3.0 out of 5 stars Graphic SF Reader, September 2, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warren Ellis' Strange Kiss (Paperback)

Strange Kiss is indeed a bit strange, in almost a Lovecraft sort of way. William Gravel is a SAS hard man, but that is not all. He is some sort of magic user as well, or as he calls himself, a combat magician. Not your average job.

He is marking time, having annoyed one boss too many, and trying mostly to stay alive. When a friend gets sick, he investigates and finds some truly horrific, disturbing, and alien that he must try and eradicate.

Not for the squeamish or prudish is this series.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not even close to Ellis's best, April 10, 2004

By 

Cora Sue Belcher (Springfield, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warren Ellis' Strange Kiss (Paperback)

I'm a huge Warren Ellis fan. Just thought you should know that right off the bat. This, however, was quite possibly his worst offering to date. I haven't read any of the sequels, mostly on the strength of this one being so horrendous. The bland, sometimes unintelligible, artwork by Mike Wolfer didn't help. It had some promising moments of horror early on. However, if anything, it moved a little too fast, and didn't go nearly as in-depth about the "mystery" as it should have. The ending was a complete train wreck, with the mystery "solved" and the enemy tidied up in a page or two. It felt like it should've had at least one more issue to fully flesh the whole thing out. Stay away from this one.