Graphic Novel Review: CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER: PURSUIT of the FLESH

Since the remake of Clive Barker's film Hellraiser (1987) has been put on hold (a new sequel Hellraiser: Revelations (2011) has just been released) and his final novel in the series is still yet to be released it's great to know that Barker still has a few stories left to tell with the creation that gave him International film acclaim. Barker is one of the people behind BOOM! Studio's latest ongoing series "Clive Barker's Hellraiser" now with the first four issues finally collected in graphic novel form and titled "Pursuit of the Flesh."

The new ongoing series is written by Barker and Christopher Monfette with artwork by Leonardo Manco (for issues 1 & 2) and Stephen Thompson (for issues 3 & 4). In this latest story the infamous Cenobite Pinhead has a new agenda and he needs Kirsty Cotton in order to fulfill his ultimate agenda. Kirsty on the other hand has moved on with her life but at a cost. She is now the leader of a group of traumatized survivors like herself who are trying to rid the world of all objects that are gateways to the gates of hell and damnation. Pinhead isn't the only demon out to capture souls and the puzzle box is but one problem that Kirsty and her group must face.

The book is pure Barker and faithful to the Hellraiser universe as blood is sprayed everywhere yet never takes away from the story. You can tell from the onset that Barker and company have a huge story that they are setting up for and that this is the sequel to Barker's original that fans have been waiting years for. The artwork by both Manco and Thompson is perfect for the series as both deliver a dark and brooding comic look and feel similar to the experience of the original film. This book has put in place the artistic team to truly do justice to the material and I'm sure all fans out there can finally rejoice.