Saturday, June 20, 2009

Brilliant and Beautiful : Comic Book Tattoo Tales Inspired

Over 80 of the best creators from every style and genre have contributed over 50 stories to this anthology featuring tales inspired by the songs of multi-platinum recording artist, Tori Amos! Featuring an introduction by Neil Gaiman and an extensive roster of talent, Comic Book Tattoo encapsulates the breadth, depth, and beauty of modern comics in this coffee table format book.


I hesitated to buy this book at first. I've sort of fallen away from my rabid Tori Amos obsession, but, I was curious about all the hype and press it's getting (in the Tori community) and found a copy on E-Bay.


It's stunningly beautiful. I admit, like many of Tori's songs, the message in some of the comics is a bit cryptic. Many of them are obtuse in their words, but gorgeous in their artwork. Some of them are silly in their artwork, but amazing in their story. Any way you slice it or dice it, this is a gorgeous optical orgy.

It's hard to not have the songs playing in your head while you're reading the book. I'm hoping they do another volume in the future because there are so many other songs that could be illustrated. Whether you love or hate Tori, you should pick up this book for the amazing artwork and the obvious love and attention they gave to her songs and her muse.