529 : Book Club of Blood – Human Remains

In Episode 529, Ryan and Jose are joined by David Blair for another Book Club of Blood episode. This time, we cover “Human Remains”. 

This is the Clive Barker Podcast, where long-time fans Ryan and Jose interview guests, bring you the news, and take deep dives into Barker-related stuff.  This episode will be available in Podcast Audio and Youtube Video. 

Sponsor : Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination | Pinterest | ETSY Store

• Check out his recent painting, Dreams I and Dreams II,  Untitled Abstracts, and The Messenger

Sponsor : Ed Martinez YouTube Channel

Sponsor : The Now Playing Podcast

Book Club of Blood Discussion: 

• Books. Of Blood Vol. 3 | Human Remains

Revisiting News from the Reef

• Bryan Fuller of Hannibal TV series says he is working on a TV Series with Clive Barker
• Discussing Hellraiser Revival Game
• Boom Studios Collected Hellraiser Comics

Show Notes

• Adapted in Tapping the Vein Book 1

Feedback / Questions

• Reddit

Coming Next 

• Clive’s Contemporary Commentaries : 1986 (Big Trouble in Little China)
• Portrait Study Pinhead? 
• News and Interviews
• BCOB – The Body Politic

Patreon Members Shout-Out (Become a Patron)

• David Anderson
• Erik Van T’ Holt
• Daniel Elven
• Amanda Stewart
• Bradley Gartz
• Matthew Batten
• Bennett
• Jesse
• Clara Leslie
• Timothy Ramakers
• Terry Murdock
• John-John
• Sponsor: Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination
• Sponsor, Ed Martinez YouTube Channel
• Sponsor : The Now Playing Podcast

Chat about Childhood Toys

And this podcast, having no beginning will have no end. 

web www.clivebarkercast.com

Apple Podcasts,  Android,  Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Libsyn, Tunein, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts, Radio.com, and YouTube and Facebook: | BarkerCast Listeners Group | Occupy Midian 

BlueSky | Reddit | Discord Community

Support the show

Buy Our Book: The BarkerCast Interviews Occupy Midian  Hardcover | Kindle | Apple

Become a Patreon Patron | Buy a T-Shirt

Music is by Ray Norrish

All Links and show notes in their Entirety can be found at https://www.clivebarkercast.com

AI Summary

Clive Barker’s “Human Remains” Analysis

The group discussed Clive Barker’s story “Human Remains” from Books of Blood Volume 3. José provided a detailed summary of the plot, describing the main character Gavin as an amoral hustler who discovers a golem-like creature in Reynolds’ apartment. The discussion explored themes of aging, retirement, and superficiality, with Ryan suggesting the story represents how younger people replace older professionals in various fields. The group analyzed key moments in the story, including Gavin’s discovery of the statue in Reynolds’ bathtub and the creature’s apparent attraction to Gavin’s appearance. The conversation concluded with reflections on Gavin’s character as a young, attractive but lost soul.

Gavin’s Shadow Statue Confrontation

The group discussed a story involving Gavin, who becomes entangled with a pimp named Pretorius after a misunderstanding about a crime committed against one of Pretorius’s sex workers. Gavin tries to escape but is caught and attacked with a knife, leading to a confrontation with a shadowy statue that appears to be coming to his aid. The statue, which seems connected to Gavin on a psychic level, transforms from a wooden statue to a more human form and helps defend him, eventually revealing a connection to Gavin’s own shadow self. The discussion touched on various themes including doppelgängers, golems, and depression, with the statue potentially representing Gavin’s inner demons or depression manifesting physically.

Doppelganger Story Plot Discussion

The group discussed a story involving a doppelganger that takes over a person’s life, with José explaining key plot points about how the doppelganger physically mirrors the original person’s injuries and experiences. They explored the character’s situation after murdering Pretorius and the gang, including his decision not to return home due to police involvement and his limited resources. The discussion also covered the character’s visit to Reynolds, who provided limited explanations about the creature’s origins and requirements for activation, though Reynolds himself had become isolated and deteriorated since encountering the entity.

Gavin’s Doppelganger Character Analysis

The group discussed a character named Gavin who creates a doppelganger that leads an independent life after copying him. They analyzed how Gavin loses his will to live as his clone becomes more human and powerful, with José comparing this to depression and Ryan drawing parallels to retirement. The discussion concluded with details about Gavin waking up to find his clone had been shot, highlighting the tragic consequences of losing one’s purpose and identity.

Graphic Novel Character Analysis

The group discussed a graphic novel, focusing on a character who takes on others’ lives and experiences. They explored themes of identity, grief, and the burden of life, particularly through the story of Gavin and his doppelganger. José highlighted the significance of the doppelganger’s wound and its healing process, while the group discussed the character’s potential curse and origins. They also noted the contrast between Gavin’s emotional state and the doppelganger’s ability to emote and connect with life.

Clive Barker’s Doppelganger Story Discussion

The group discussed Clive Barker’s story about a doppelganger, exploring its themes of grief, identity, and what makes someone human. They considered the story’s potential as an arthouse film, noting its low-budget production possibilities and discussing how to adapt the interior monologue elements for the screen. The conversation included insights about Barker’s own experiences that may have influenced the story, and they examined the connection between the doppelganger and Gavin’s character, speculating about how the story might end.

Clive Barker Rights Discussion

The group discussed Clive Barker’s rights to his works, particularly regarding the Books of Blood series and Hellraiser. They noted that rights typically revert to authors unless new adaptations are created, and discussed how rights complications can arise when multiple adaptations attempt to use the same material. The conversation concluded with plans to move on to Volume 4 of the Books of Blood, specifically discussing the story “The Body Politic” and mentioning a Christopher Lloyd adaptation titled “The Inhuman Condition.”

Hellraiser Adaptations and Projects

The group discussed various Hellraiser adaptations and related projects. They talked about a 2016 screenplay for “In the Flesh” by Mick Garris and Clive Barker, and expressed hope for an upcoming TV show by Brad Fuller. The conversation also covered a Hellraiser comic book collection by Boom Studios, which includes three volumes with a total of over 1,500 pages, though one participant had to cancel their pre-order due to the high cost of $200. The discussion concluded with a brief mention of Monstrous Press’s “Kolchak Meets the Monsters” crossover collection and a potential deal for 90s Hellraiser Epic comics.

Marvel Hellraiser Comics Discussion

The group discussed Marvel Hellraiser comics, including their completeness and value, with José noting that buyers should be aware of what they’re purchasing. They planned their next content, deciding to focus on Pinhead sketches and paintings rather than voting on a new movie, with José suggesting they could return to voting after this topic. The discussion concluded with gratitude to Patreon donors and a nostalgic conversation about vintage toys from the 1980s and 1990s, including Ewok movies, Universal Monsters playsets, and various action figures.

Toys Discussion

The group discussed childhood toys, including She-Ra dolls, Transformers, and Battlestar Galactica figures. José shared details about a new Masters of the Universe movie trailer featuring Jared Leto as Skeletor. 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.