Clive Barker’s Nightbreed #2 Retro Review
The second issue of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed, by same writers and artist as issue one, covers a lot more of the book and movie then the first issue did. The first issue covered about 24 minutes of screen time, while this issue covered about 40 minutes of screen time. As far as what part of the original book this issue covers, we are talking about 10 chapters, while the first issue covered 6 chapters. I think part of the reason for the disparity is that the comic and movie added alot of scenes to the beginning. [click the link to continue]
It is in these chapters of the book in which Lori not only shows up for the first time, but the narrative switches to her Point of View as well, and it stays there throughout this section of the book, except for one scene that I will get to in a minute. As a matter of fact, last post I didn’t really give that much of a synopsis of the story, but instead concentrated on the differences between the three source materials. This section, there are so many different differences, that I will practically be summarizing anyway.
The issue starts with Boone’s Autopsy and jumps back and forth between that and Decker and the Police questioning Lori. The book doesn’t show Boone actually awaken, Lori finds out that he is missing. This adds to the mystery for first time readers. The movie then shows a scene (one of several in this portion) that is neither in the book nor the comic. Decker is in his office, on a long table covered with Knives of various shapes and sizes, listening to tapes of his interviews with Boone, in which he talks of Midian. When Boone gets to the part where he mentions he is beyond death in Midian, Decker’s anger gets the best of him and he throws the tape recorder against the wall.
The next part of the story tracks fairly well with each other, except for a few differences. Lori travels to Midian, and meets Sheryl. In the Book, it is in a diner, where in the movie and Comic, it is in a Bar. The Book stretches these scenes out longer. Lori and Sheryl visit the Ghost Town of Midian and have a quick glimpse of the Cemetary, and then head back. That night Sheryl goes out and meets “Curtis” while Lori stays in the room. The next day, Lori heads back out to the cemetary alone. The Comic is closer to the movie, but they do visit the Town of Midian first, and then Lori enters Cemetary, while Sheryl stays outside to do “somethin’ else.”
It is around here that a pivotal scene was added for the movie that was not in the book or the comic : Boone’s Baptism. This is one of the scene’s where you start to get a glimse of the bigger picture Barker was building. Not only with the Mythology of Baphomet, but he hints at a connection between Boone and Shuna Shassi. They both mention that they had dreamt of each other. This connection is never really touched on again.
The scene where Lori rescues Babette is fairly similar between all three. The comic shows Lori exploring cemetary, and then cuts real quick to a scene where Sheryl is exploring the ghost town, and whuile in a gutted building, sees Curtis/Decker. The comic then jumps back to Lori finding and helping Babette. As in the book, Lylesburg is referred to as Mr. Lylseburg. Lori tries to follow them down the stairs, but some monster in the dark makes her change her mind and sends her back out of the cemetary in search of Sheryl. The comic does not deliver the great “Y’all come back now, ya hear?” line from Peloquin.
Here is where the book stretches things out again. In the Book, Sheryl hadn’t even traveled out to Midian the second time. Lori meets her back in the room and Sheryl convinces her to go out with her and Curtis. The women arrive at a burnt down restauraunt. Sheryl says this is Curtis’ sense of humor. The women get seperated, and Lori finds Sheryl’s dead body, and then encounters Decker. She escapes, and then DRIVES back to Midian, only to encounter Decker again, in the cemetary. I prefer the movie (and Comic) version where Sheryl’s death and Lori’s Encounter with Decker happen outside of the Cemetary. In just makes more sense. One difference between the comic and Movie ,however, is that Lori finds Sheryl’s body in a building in the Ghost town.
In the book, it is here where the Narrative switched back to Boone. You see him argue with Lylesburg because he wants to help Lori, but it is forbidden. He goes anyway. In the Movie, you actually see him break into Fisticuffs in order to get topside. The Comic just shows the conversation in word boxes, while you watch Lori struggling with Decker.
In all three Boone, and later, Narcisse, arrive to rescue Lori. The book, again, is different. First off, Decker uses a gun instead of his knives. He does have a knife, however, that he uses to disembowel Narcisse. I wish that was how it played out in the movie, because I love that scene. All three do portray Boone getting banished for breaking the law. Lylesburg tells him to take the girl and leave.
The next few scenes are radically different however. The Movie has a scene that is not in the movie, nor the book. Decker goes to a local gas station to call Detective Joyce to tell him Boone is alive and in Midian, and to meet him in Shere Neck. The Gas Attendent, a crazy old man, hints that he knows things about Midian, but won’t say anything. Decker leaves. This scene, and the other one involving Decker torturing, and then killing this old man for info pertaining to the Nightbreed, is another one of my favorites in the movie. I am glad that Barker added it to the movie.
Although the comic does portray the empathic connection between Lori and Babette, as does the book, neither show the tragic history of the Nightbreed, both in what Rachel tells her, and what Babette shows her. The comic does this through exposition from Rachel, but not through the connection with Babette.
The search for Boone is abbreviated in the Comic and book, but that is more of a visual thing, better suited for the movie. The Movie also adds the scene where Lori has her run in with Peloquin and Narcisse. Neither of which are in the book or comic. The comic still has her encounter the Beserkers and she gets rescued by Ohnaka. Again, due to the Narrative being focused on Lori, the book and comic don’t show Boone’s encounter with Baphomet. We just see the effect it has on him when Lori finally finds him.
Neither the Comic nor the book introduce Eigerman during this section. The Movie shows Decker and Joyce planning to visit Midian, and Eigerman telling them that it is crazy talk. The comic doesn’t show Decker, Joyce, or the Poilce again until the scene in the motel at the end of this section of the story.
Back at Midian, Lori and Boone make their way back up to the surface. The movie shows this scene with Ohnaka taking them up there and then closing the door behind them forcing them to leave, however the Comic and Movie show Lori convincing Boone that they don’t belong here and they leave, heading back to Lori’s Motel.
The Movie has another bonus scene at this point. The one where the girl at the front desk gets murdered by Decker. This is one of those scenes that was forced in because the studio wanted this to be more of a slasher movie. It doesn’t really fit with the tone at all and spoils the reveal later that Decker had his way with guests at the motel. The remainder of the comic issue tracks fairly well witht he movie and the book. Lori and Boone discover the carnage next door to them. Lori escapes before police arrive, but Boone is captured.
This is where Clive Barker’s Nightbreed #2 ends. If someone where to read this, with no prior knowledge of either the book nor the movie, this is the issue that would really pull them in. It gives the reader glimpses of this whole other world and mythology. It is these glimpses that made me such a fan in the first place. Comic fans can’t help but draw parallels to The X-Men. They are different, and more powerful, yet the rest of the world Hates and Fears them so they are forced into hiding. I remember having a conversation with my wife about this very thing, back when the Occupy Midian Movement and the Cabal Cut where first being made public. This was why I was so amused to later hear Russel Cherrington make the same connection on the Podcast a month later.
I think I have rambled on long enough on this Issue, and the portion of the movie and book that it covers. Join me next week as I do the same for Issue 3!
