The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…)

    (IDW, 2006–2007)
™ and © 2006 Idea + Design Works

Anyone who’s familiar with Clive Barker’s writing knows what a Herculean task it should be to adapt The Great and Secret Show to a comic book. Points to the powers that be (also known as Barker and IDW) for making this a 12-issue effort, instead of death-culling it to anything less. Still, even with 12 issues, writer Chris Ryall has his hands full.

In this first issue, he appears to be on the right track. He uses protagonist Randolph Jaffe’s adventures to make a highly entertaining and enjoyable series debut. Gabriel Rodriguez’ art seems perfect for the task, especially with the gloom-and-doom emotions apparent in the characters’ faces. This is dark art that’ll hold the eye.

For those who read this issue and aren’t sure if they want more, odds are the situation won’t improve; Barker’s material doesn’t make for one- or two- or three-issue taste tests. Either sign up and hang on—or pass altogether.

Fans of horror, especially horror with macabre supernatural elements thrown in willy-nilly, will find that IDW’s adaptation of this Barker novel is satisfying.

— Ray Sidman
Jump to issue:
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    Cover A: mailbox in the desert (day)
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 1/B
    #1 Variation B
    Cover B: mailbox on the beachside (night)
    Mar 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 1/C
    #1 Variation C
    B&W sketch cover C of a path winding through palm trees under the sun
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 2/A
    #2 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Apr 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 2/B
    #2 Variation B
    Retailer Incentive A: Boy watching girl struggling in whirlpool (with electric sparks) Cover B
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 2/C
    #2 Variation C
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    May 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    3 copies from $2.99
  • 3/B
    #3 Variation B
    Black and white sketch Cover B
    May 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 3/C
    #3 Variation C
    Black and white sketch Cover C
    May 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 4/A
    #4 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Jun 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    B&W
    2 copies from $4.75
  • 4/B
    #4 Variation B
    Sketch Cover B
    Jun 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    B&W
    No copies available
  • 4/C
    #4 Variation C
    Sketch cover C signed by Clive Barker
    Jun 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    B&W
    No copies available
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    Cover A (regular cover): color cover with a man and a floating orb
    Jul 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    4 copies from $1.68
  • 5/B
    #5 Variation B
    (retailer incentive): Clive Barker B&W Sketch Cover B by Clive Barker
    Jul 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 5/C
    #5 Variation C
    Cover C (retailer incentive): Clive Barker B&W Sketch Cover signed by Clive Barker
    Jul 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 6/A
    #6 Variation A
    Cover A: Broken Glass Cover
    Sep 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Includes sneak preview of Angel: Masks
    6 copies from $2.40
  • 6/B
    #6 Variation B
    Cover B: Clive Barker Sketch Cover (Retailer Incentive)
    Sep 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 6/C
    #6 Variation C
    Cover C: Clive Barker Sketch Cover signed by Clive Barker (Retailer Incentive)
    Sep 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 7/A
    #7 Variation A
    Regular Cover A (2 characters on cover)
    Nov 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Includes sneak preview of #0 Days Of Nights: Spreading The Disease #1
    2 copies from $0.96
  • 7/B
    #7 Variation B
    Clive Barker Retailer Incentive cover B (zombie-like creature on cover)
    Nov 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 8/A
    #8 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Dec 2006
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Continued in The Great and Secret Show Book 9
    4 copies from $3.98
  • 8/B
    #8 Variation B
    Retailer Sketch Incentive Cover B by Clive Barker
    Dec 2006
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 9/A
    #9 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Jan 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    3 copies from $3.25
  • 9/B
    #9 Variation B
    Retailer Incentive Cover B by Clive Barker
    Jan 2007
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 10/A
    #10 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Feb 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    2 copies from $2.25
  • 10/B
    #10 Variation B
    Retailer Incentive sketch Cover B
    Feb 2007
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 11/A
    #11 Variation A
    Regular Cover A
    Mar 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    1 copy for $5.50
  • 11/B
    #11 Variation B
    Reatiler Incentive Sketch Cover B
    Mar 2007
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • 12/A
    #12 Variation A
    Regular Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Apr 2007
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    1 copy for $9.00
  • 12/B
    #12 Variation B
    Incentive sketch Cover B by Clive Barker
    Apr 2007
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    No copies available
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Oct 2006
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1–6
    No copies available
  • Bk 2
    Book #2
    Aug 2007
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #7–12
    2 copies from $19.99
  • Dlx 1
    Deluxe Set #1
    Dec 2007
    Cover: $35.00
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez, Clive Barker
    Softcover; Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1–12
    1 copy for $28.00
  • Dlx 1/A
    Deluxe Set #1 Variation A
    Deluxe, Oversize, Hardcover A Edition with Cover A by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Cover: $49.99
    W: Clive Barker  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez
    Collects Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1-12
    No copies available
  • Dlx 1/HC
    Deluxe Set #1 Hardcover
    Hardcover Edition with cover by Gabriel Rodriguez
    Dec 2007
    Cover: $55.00
    W: Chris Ryall  ·  A: Gabriel Rodriguez, Clive Barker
    Collects The Great and Secret Show (Clive Barker’s…) #1–12
    No copies available