Product Description
Established in 1968, John Fuller's Sycamore Press published some of the most influential and critically acclaimed writers of the past half-century. In addition to publishing established authors, such as W.H. Auden, Philip Larkin, and Peter Porter, the press sought to promote young poets, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success. The Sycamore Press ceased operations in 1992, but it remains an excellent example of the unique qualities associated with the small press movement in England. In addition to a full descriptive bibliography, the book includes an interview with John Fuller and numerous personal reflections by Sycamore Press authors about John Fuller, the press, and the works it produced. ... Read more

Product Description
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, CT. Annual source of medical, toxicological, legal, and technical information concerning human exposure to metals and chemicals. Previous edition was a single volume. Includes case reports. For clinicians. Softcover, softcover with CD-ROM also available. ... Read more

Product Description
This long-awaited update of Meyer's Wavelets: Algorithms& Applications includes completely new chapters on four topics:wavelets and the study of turbulence, wavelets and fractals (whichincludes an analysis of Riemann's nondifferentiable function), datacompression, and wavelets in astronomy. The chapter on datacompression was the original motivation for this revised edition, andit contains up-to-date information on the interplay between waveletsand nonlinear approximation. The other chapters have been rewrittenwith comments, references, historical notes, and new material. Fourappendices have been added: a primer on filters, key results (withproofs) about the wavelet transform, a complete discussion of acounterexample to the Marr-Mallat conjecture on zero-crossings, and abrief introduction to Hölder and Besov spaces. In addition, all of thefigures have been redrawn, and the references have been expanded to acomprehensive list of over 260 entries. The book includes severalnew results that have not appeared elsewhere.

Wavelet analysis-an exciting theory at the intersection of thefrontiers of mathematics, science, and technology-is a unifyingconcept that interprets a large body of scientific research. Inaddition to its intrinsic mathematical interest, its applications haveserious economic implications in the areas of signal and imagecompression. For these expanding fields, this book provides a clearset of concepts, methods, and algorithms adapted to a variety ofapplications ranging from the transmission of images on the Internetto theoretical studies in physics. The use of wavelet-based algorithmsadopted by the FBI for fingerprint compression and by the JointPhotographic Experts Group for the new JPEG-2000 compression standardconfirms the success of this theory.

The authors present with equal skill and clarity the mathematicalbackground and major wavelet applications, including the study ofturbulence, fractal objects, and the structure of the universe. Neverbefore have the historic origins, the algorithms, and the applicationsof wavelets been discussed in such scope, providing a unifyingpresentation accessible to scientists and engineers across alldisciplines and levels of training.

Written specifically for scientists and engineers with diversebackgrounds, the material is presented in a manner that will appeal toboth experts and nonexperts alike. This book is a valuable tool foranyone (from graduate student to expert) faced with signal or imageprocessing problems. It also answers the question, "What arewavelets?"

The first seven chapters trace the historical origins of wavelettheory and describe the different time-scale and time-frequencyalgorithms used today under the term "wavelets." Specific examplesinclude the application of wavelet techniques to FBI fingerprintcompression problems and the use of wavelets in the new JPEG standardfor still image compression. Applying wavelet analysis methods tosignal and image processing, fractals, turbulence, and astronomy iscovered in the balance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Lots of new additions.
Of the many recent books on wavelets, this one by Jaffard, Meyer et al stands out. This is a new edition of earlier ones, starting with a French one, then a first translation, and now this expanded version. There is lots of new material, covering new developments, both with regards to theory and applications. The authors communicate the main points in a clear and attractive way, and it stresses lucid presentation of ideas over formulas. And with an infectious enthusiasm! The presentation is especially refreshing, in that the authors do not hide behind excessive technicalities and mathematical jargon. It is the central idea that shines through. And yet the mathematically sophisticated reader is paid his dues,-- in some cases via the appendices. At that point, the technical mathematical points have been well motivated. The emphasis of the book is the mathematics behind the many algorithms that emerged from the wavelet trends since the 1980ties. And lots of new stuff added (for example JPEG-2000), right up to the present. The book is rich in applications, many of which are not found elsewhere. The inclusion of motivation and historical remarks is welcome, and makes the book enjoyable reading.

Good covering of wavelets applications
Although this book emphasis is on algorithms and applications, the general presentation of wavelets for signal processing is great. The introduction to the subject is really excellent and great care has been given to explaining the use of wavelets for applications in signal processing. On the other side i found the last chapters dealing with applications a little too light for being useful...

Anyway, a great book for "wavelets and applications in signal processing"...(also go to "Time-Frequency Time-scale analysis" by Patrick Flandrin which is wonderful). ... Read more

Product Description

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Product Description
Witness Invincible's transition from new hero just starting out to an established superhero!This volume collects Invincible's confrontation with Cecil Steadman, the return of the Reanimen, and the beginning of a bold, new era for Invincible! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Freakin' Sweetness Continues
The story really picks up in volume five leading to new directions and evolving the storyline. Oliver and Eve begin to play a bigger part in Marks life leading to more conflict. Some old and new villians appear to try to take down Invincible too. Also some nice cameos by other heroes. The art continues to be awesome.

Invincible gets a purply sidekick
Don't let the bright, bright colors and the very cool art and all the exuberant superhero antics fool you. There's a sort of camouflaged complexity to INVINCIBLE, underneath that shiny sense of fun, and that's only one more layer which Robert Kirkman consistently weaves into his world-building and storytelling. It seems like only yesterday when I first picked up this comic book, and look at it now, about to hit the 75th issue mark, clearly having stood the test of time. And the same nod goes to Kirkman's other monumental title, THE WALKING DEAD. At this stage, Mark Grayson, teenaged powerhouse, has become an established superhero, the go-to savior of the world. But he's still learning.

INVINCIBLE: ULTIMATE COLLECTION Volume 5 collects issues #48-59 of the ongoing series, as well as ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #11, meaning that if you already have the trades INVINCIBLE Vol. 10: WHO'S THE BOSS? and INVINCIBLE Vol. 11: HAPPY DAYS, then you've already peeped this bunch of goodies. What's striking about this particular run is that it doesn't seem to feature a consistent thru thread, unless you count the arc which develops Invincible's younger half-brother, Oliver, whose own powers manifest in early, astronomical fashion. We follow Oliver's acclimation as a fledgling superhero under Invincible's wing, and it's interesting that the kid means to redeem the reputation of his hero-turned-villain father. And so he assumes the codename "Kid Omni-Man.' The most fascinating theme in these issues, for me anyway, is the clash between Oliver's pragmatic worldview and Mark's more humane principles. This is one of the things Robert Kirkman, a dynamite writer, really excels at. He raises morality issues but offers no pat resolutions, although the characters do engage in meaningful conversations about them. Kirkman always sets a torrid pace. He throws in oodles of other story arcs. Except that, in this particular stretch of issues, those story arcs don't feel epic.

Friendly warning: The following may be fraught with SPOILERS and, also, with words like "fraught."

Kirkman, possibly comic books' premier dabbler in the realm of pure superhero escapism, keeps on cavorting in his personal playground, guest-starring plenty of his other created characters as well as other established characters from Image Comics. The first arc here deals with Mark Grayson's falling out with Cecil Stedman and the Global Defense Agency, as Mark leans that Stedman is even more underhanded than first suspected. Also, Dr. Seismic launches his big power play, utilizing his legions of Underearths to capture most of the world's superheroes. This gives us a chance to feast our eyeballs on the likes of the Dynamo 5, Savage Dragon, the Capes, the Guardians of the Globe, and the Astounding Wolf-Man rubbing elbows in shared captivity. Invincible and Atom Eve dramatically fly in to save the day. Except that they don't.

I don't know exactly what it is about Atom Eve that I like so much. Maybe it's her awesome power set, or maybe it's that she's simply this hot babe, and yet she acts like that down-to-earth girl next door. Anyway, there's solid progression in her relationship with Mark, although Mark's ex-girlfriend manages to briefly pop up.

Ryan Ottley's artwork is clean and crisp and dynamic and so dang perfect for this comic book. And Robert Kirkman keeps you guessing. You just never know in which direction this dude is gonna swerve. Predictably, he peppers in a few shocking moments in these pages, again reminding readers that the contents here aren't suited for the younger kids. As always, Kirkman ushers in new plotlines even as he closes off existing ones. Somewhere in this trade we get sucked into a gang turf war and there's a catch-up interlude with Allen the Alien, still imprisoned in a space vessel, and with Omni-Man, Mark and Oliver's dad, who is still scheduled for execution. There's a nifty crossover with Gary Hampton, a.k.a. the Astounding Wolf-Man. Gary is a fugitive wanted for his wife's murder, and Mark gets roped into bringing him in. Later, Mark and Eve, looking ahead financially, venture into freelance superheroing. Mark responds to a plea for help from the future and runs into an old friend. At the hind end of the volume, we get wind of Kirkman's next epic arc as the demented genius Angstrom Levy, after months of discreetly spying on Mark, finally launches his revenge scheme against Invincible. But, in issue #59, we don't have to wait to see how supervillain Powerplex's revenge play turns out.

End SPOILERS.

To commemorate having achieved the 50th issue landmark, Mark Grayson gets new superhero threads (even though he didn't ask for a makeover). Oliver also gets outfitted, and his costume is actually cooler looking than Mark's. And because absolutely no one asked for it, there's also Cecil Stedman's secret origin revealed.

As ever with these terrific Ultimate editions, there's a ton of extra goodies in the form of Ryan Ottley's sketches and cover art with behind-the-scenes commentary from Kirkman and Ottley. The script for issue #50 is also reproduced (in very, very small print). As fun as they are to read, I do get the sense that most of the stories in ULTIMATE INVINCIBLE Volume 5 are of the tread-the-water variety, filler stuff while Kirkman preps for the massive events about to go down. I collect the individual issues, so I know what I'm talking about. Devastating, earth-shaking stuff is about to go down! ULTIMATE INVINCIBLE Volume 6 can't come soon enough. Still, this Volume 5 is still very much worth the get, even if its sense of epic isn't as "epic" as in the previous editions. But no one blends those personal little moments and those large scale, world-hanging-in-the-balance moments quite as exquisitely as Kirkman. And no one draws his stuff as invigoratingly as Ryan Ottley. This applies to Volume 5.

Charming characters, superheroes, true love, what's not to like?
Invincible is one of the best new superhero books of the last 10 years.It grew from being a take-off on Superman to a well-developed book with memorable and very likable characters.In this volume we get 12 issues of story and 50 pages of sketches and scripts.

This volume is fairly calm, it fills us in on the supporting cast, catches up on some old plot lines and introduces new threats.It also has a crossover with Kirkman's Astonishing Wolf-Man book.The pages are nicely over-sized and the printing is top quality.These Ultimate Collections are definitely the cadillac of reprints.

Good overall, but substandard compared to previous collections
Here's the lowdown. I loved all of the Ultimate Collections, but this one was just lacking overall compared to the others. Don't get me wrong... It's still worth checking out, but nothing really happens.

The whole Doc Seismic plot line felt a lot more like an advertisement for other comics than anything else. I'm all for crossovers, but not when there isn't any meat to it.

There are a couple of short stories as well. One is from the Astounding Wolfman, but if you read those books you'll already have read it. Another is about Allen the Alien and Omni-man in prison, and the last is about Invincible in the future. They are more filler than anything.

The rest is just set up for the big events that come after this. If it wasn't a year or so between the Ultimate Collections I wouldn't mind, but it is so I'm disappointed.

All that being said... the art and writing overall is still great. It has definitely gotten me excited for what's to come.

The best pure superhero book of the 21st Century continues
I gave up buying individual issues of comics a few years back in favor of hardcover and trade collections, but I swear if any title is compelling enough to get me back to the monthly issues it has to be Invincible. It was almost impossible to wait a year for a new hardcover collection to arrive.

Invincible Ultimate Collection Volume 5 is here now, and it was absolutely worth the wait. This is probably the only series in recent memory that is so consistently good. Remember that really lousy Invincible issue? No, because there isn't one. I imagine this is what it must have felt like to go to the newsstand in the 60's and read new Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four or Lee/Ditko Spider-Man issues.

The main focus of the issues in Volume 5 is the split between Mark and his government employers, but there are some highly interesting developments with his half-brother Oliver (that I didn't see coming) and his relationship with Atom Eve (that I had been hoping to see), plus various battles, time traveling adventures, an interlude with Allen and Nolan and an Astounding Wolf-Man crossover. You also get a ton of extras, including cover art, sketches, and the like.

Kirkman is in top form here. He's not as edgy as Bendis or Millar, but he has really become the best writer in the business one exceptional issue at a time. The dialogue, the action, the characters (major and minor) - Invincible is always perfect. It doesn't hurt that he has a stellar artistic counterpart in Ryan Ottley, who can draw dynamic fight scenes and everyday situations with astonishing style. The eye-popping colors are the icing on the cake.

At this point, do I even need to recommend a new Invincible hardcover collection? If you're already a fan of the series, you know you need to buy this, and if you're new to Invincible you need to go get the Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 collection pronto. Trust me, you'll be a raving fan in no time. ... Read more

Product Description
Allen the Alien returns to Earth as directed by the Coalition of Planets - he's come to gather information from Mark about his father - the Viltrumite Traitor. Meanwhile, the Viltrumites have come to Earth to check up on Mark's progress as the reluctant Viltrumite Agent of Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

invincible book 9
You already know why you're here.Because this comic is awesome.Keep on reading; I certainly am.

this book doesnt get old
the story in this book it just as good as all the others. and the character is growing as the story does. i read this one for myself. its the only book i have picked up in a while that i am still following. a great title.

Invincible is growing up
Another nice installment in this high-calibre comic book... In this volume covering issues 42-47 of Robert Kirkman's "Invincible" series, our hero finds himself bored with school and ready to ditch his secret identity in favor of an all-out life as a government agent/superhero. He's also in a funk about his lovelife -- he and his civilian girlfriend just broke up, but surprisingly he's also not sure if he wants to go out with the super-gal known as Atom Eve. Mark's life is in a bit of a holding pattern, even though emissaries from various outer space factions keep zooming down to Earth to get his attention, gearing up for a big space war with the mighty Viltrumite empire.Meanwhile, Mark is growing up -- assessing his life, confidently setting boundaries with others, and trying to figure out what his next steps will be.

Some readers (see other Amazon reviews) found this particular volume to be boring, complaining that Kirkman is treading water... I'm not so sure I agree.As with other "Invincible" volumes, I found it very readable and entertaining -- the conversational tone of the dialogue is still very appealing, and the pacing and artwork just keep getting better. Also, contrary to the impression you might get from other reviews, there *is* action in this book, although the nature of the fighting is more plot-oriented, basically sizing up how powerful the various opponents are, and introducing the possibility that Mark can beef up his own powers if he starts to work out some more. How strong can he get? We'll find out when the big battle really gets underway... and when it does, I have a feeling it will be a real doozy, on the same scale as the epic brawl between Mark and his father, when the series began. I liked reading this slower-paced interlude, and I look forward to reading it again, when the time comes to re-read the series from start to finish. Definitely worth picking this one up!(Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

Still one of the best superhero comics
This volume was a bit of a setup for the big confrontations coming up between Invincible and his US Gov't handler over them making Reanimen and the even bigger battle with the Viltrumites (think of a whole planet of people with Superman like powers who are trying to conquer the universe).However, it was still a well constructed story of Mark's ongoing efforts to understand his father (who manages to be sympathetic while not forgivable for the murders he's committed), work out his relationship with Atom Eve, and deal with a evil, hottie Viltrumite Amazon.And a beefed up Allen the Alien returns.

Heavy-handed recaps ruin this arc
This is a strong series, but these issues are filled with hardly any momentum or purpose and packed with recaps and reintroductions.That's not to say nothing important happens, but it all happens without excitement and with no driving plot.Little changes, nothing resolves and all the characters feel like they're forcing lines because they have to remind readers who they are.

Much of Kirkman's work during the time these issues were being released suffered similarly (Ultimate X-Men specifically, but the Walking Dead has been in a slump also).I can't wait for him to work through this funk he's in so Invincible can really shine.It's one of the best comic books I've read, and it's sad to see a trade with as little substance as this.It also seems unbelievable that something like this would suffer months and months of delays. ... Read more

Product Description
Witness Invincible's transition from new hero just starting out to an established superhero! This volume collects Invincible's violent battle with the villainous Reanimen, the invasion attempt by the Sequis from Mars, and the introduction of the Viltrumite agent, Anissa. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A comic book lovers dream
Robert Kirkman can spin an entertaining yarn. Love the Invincible series. Can't wait till I read the next story. A great collection of stories.

Great
Not much to stay, if you've liked Invincible so far, you'll definitely love this installment. Can't wait for the 5th to come out :)

Stop reading reviews to these and just buy all the volumes already!
Stop scrolling down here and reading reviews you already can see everybody gives these 4 or 5 star ratings. There is a reason for that because these comics are some of the best pieces of literature EVER written! Amazing art, story, & characters! I'm going to stop typing now so you can scroll back up and do what you should have done 5 minutes ago and thats to click the freaking BUY button!

Robert Kirkman keeps taking my money
Robert Kirkman keeps on writing some of the best comic books out there, with THE WALKING DEAD and with INVINCIBLE, and, for a change, his stuff is even coming out on schedule. Whereas THE WALKING DEAD is a slow burn psychological approach to zombie horror, INVINCIBLE is a study in exuberant superhero storytelling. And, after all these years, INVINCIBLE still feels fresh and exciting and still sits at the top of my pull list.

INVINCIBLE ULTIMATE COLLECTION Vol. 4 collects issues #36-47 (basically, the same issues collected in the TPBs, INVINCIBLE Vol. 8: MY FAVORITE MARTIAN and INVINCIBLE Vol. 9: OUT OF THIS WORLD). As a bonus, ULTIMATE COLLECTION Vol. 4 offers a 48-paged sketchbook with commentary from Kirkman and Ryan Ottley and also reprints the covers to the INVINCIBLE trades, Vols. 8 & 9.

In these dozen issues Mark Grayson finds that the demands on him as a superhero are seriously eating into his personal life. He's been neglecting his academic responsibilities; Mark isn't even certain he wants to continue attending college. His relationship with his girlfriend Amber is going downhill fast. And, after certain recent events (the ones in which he was tossed into all those alternate realities and learned that thing about Atom Eve), he really doesn't have his act together, romantic wise.

For a series ostensibly featuring one central protagonist, INVINCIBLE showcases a sprawling supporting cast, most of which are given evolving character arcs. Kirkman expands on the lovey-dovey soap opera by delving into the relationships between the newlyweds Immortal and Multi-Kate and between Monster Girl and Robot (who is clearly the Reed Richards of the Invincible universe). Matter of fact, Monster Girl and Robot together form a sweet AND bittersweet love story.

On the bad-guy-stomping side of things, there's plenty of movement. I don't think we really have to worry that this series will ever slow down and take a load off. Robert Kirkman is excellent at juggling busloads of plot threads - there's always one or two on center stage, and plenty more brewing in the pot. The current batch of shenanigans kicks off with Mark and his best friend William's search for their long missing buddy Rick. This then leads to an encounter with the cyborged-up Reanimen.

Then there's the four-part arc featuring Invincible, Atom Eve, and the strongest members of the Guardians of the Globe launching into space to avert an invasion by that NASA astronaut guy what got possessed by the more dangerous than you think Sequids, alien squid thingees which share a single intelligence, a sinister hive mind of sorts. This is a pretty awesome deep space adventure, and the heroes find themselves really up against it. But, as the heroes in space make calamari, back home, the leftover Guardians of the Globe face off against the formidable Lizard League, who'd taken over a missile silo - and it doesn't look good for the good guys.

A while ago Invincible, being half-Viltrumite, had been designated by the Viltrumite Empire as the agent tasked with preparing Earth for the inevitable takeover. If I remember it right, he was given 100 years to do this. But that doesn't stop the Empire from sending someone to check on Mark's progress (which is, of course, nil). Invincible learns yet again that he's got far to go to match the power and prowess of a mature, full-blooded Viltrumite. And this one's a chick!

And more stuff happens.

Kirkman has a knack for writing interesting characters. Shapesmith is very likeable. Allen the Alien returns, and he's still this cool dude with one honking eyeball. And there's a sighting of Mark's dad Nolan, who was last seen being captured and led away for execution by his fellow Viltrumites. We check in on the progress of that cute little tyke Oliver Grayson, Mark's purple half-brother. Oliver, half born of an alien race with a diminished life span, demonstrates accelerated aging and growth spurts. Mark's powers developed with puberty. With Oliver, it might not take as long. And, heck, even Brit drops in for a cameo.

Ryan Ottley, the artist, keeps laying down fantastic pencils and inks. His stuff is pitch perfect for the mood and the look of INVINCIBLE. I don't think more needs to be said.

What Kirkman has going for him is his ability to tell stories that feel contemporary yet resonate with that Silver Age enthusiasm and clarity. I think, for right now, the best word I can come up with is "joyous." Kirkman's stuff reeks of this joyousness and you can't help but be swept along. And yet the lightness of the tone carries this undercurrent, of epic doings and big consequences. Kirkman is steadily building up Invincible to become the preeminent superhero in his universe, but there are learning curves and stumbling blocks along the way. And it's partly this hook, of watching Mark Grayson grow into his role, that lends his series gravitas.

The lightness of the tone, the cleanness of Ottley's art, the college atmosphere, all these elements lull you so that, sometimes, you forget that tragic, awful things have happened in this comic book. Kirkman is so adept at keeping it real, or as real as you can make a superhero story, and the key is in his writing of dialogue that feels believable and rings true. I'd like to point out, as an example, Mark's conversation with his mother about why he should or shouldn't stay in school. Mark submits a pretty strong and lengthy argument, and he punctuates it with this comment: "You know I don't really need school. What -- am I going to be a dentist? Why would I do that?" To her credit, Mark's mom listens and ponders his words. A real conversation, I dig it. It's little things like that which lend substance and a relatability to all the crazy superhero bluster. INVINCIBLE is one of the best superhero comics out there, if not THE best! And if you haven't sampled this series yet - well, first, what the eff? - and then, second, what are you waiting for? Because if you don't know, now you know.

Keep them coming Kirkman!! :)
All I can say is when does volume 5 come out?

Yes it's that good. I reread the first three volumes before I read this one. I want more.

It definitely is the best superhero book out there today. ... Read more

Product Description
Mark is brought to another planet in order to save it. Is he their only hope - or the source of the worst disaster to ever befall them? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

invincible book 6
You already know why you're here.Because this comic is awesome.Keep on reading; I certainly am.

Contains one of the best superhero battles I've seen in a long time
This is a magnificent trade paperback collecting issues 25 - 30 of Robert Kirkman's Invincible, with a few extras included, such as pencil sketches of selected panels and splash pages, along with commentary by the author and artist. In these collected issues we see Mark Grayson flying off into space to save a race of insect-like aliens from extermination. This leads to Mark being reunited with a certain someone who was last seen flying off into space after beating Mark into a bloody pulp. Eventually the Viltrumites arrive, and what follows is the bloodiest (and best) super-brawl I 've seen in ages. Sure, the action's there, but what makes Incincible so appealing to a wide variety of readers is also the non-stop drama that Kirkman specializes in (see Walking Dead if you don't believe me). While Mark is off saving a planet, his family and friends deal with his absence and a few menaces plaguing the earth to boot. Character development is strong and Mark's girlfriend Amber is being fleshed out by Kirkman as more scenes are being devoted to her and how she deals with her life as the girlfriend of a superhero. Kirkman also introduces an interesting new element into the story in the form of a little 'surprise' from Mark's dad, but I don't want to ruin anything for you. Read the book and find out. It's a humdinger!

Incredible is Amazing
These books will uplift you and make you believe in comics again.

its like a fine wine....it just gets better with age
If you are reading this review then you must be familiar with Invincible and already know that this truly is the best super hero comic on the market.This story arc contains plenty of twists to keep the reader intrigue and introduces plot developments that will be critical to future story lines. If you havent read Invincible yet pick up the two Ultimate Collection hard covers and see what you are missing by not reading this great title.

Invincible is full of action and adventure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the only comic book I collect when it is published as trade paperbacks. They are worth the wait. Image and the team of Kirkman/Ottley are great. Lots of twists and turns in this title. The art is crisp and the writing stellar. Kudos to all involved!! ... Read more

Product Description
Crimson Imjin Korea 1951, the symbolic title chosen for this book, was influenced by the bloodshed by both sides during heavy fighting occurring in the hills bordering the shores of the Imjin River in North Korea.


I didn't intend to have this book published, as it was written strictly as a means to alleviate the nightmarish combat memories that surfaced during the Vietnam War and continued into the nineties.


Vietnam had unleashed the horror and hopeless situations that I thought were buried away forever. With God's loving presence guiding my fingers over the keyboard, rewarding me with His comforting peace of mind, I believe He freed me once and for all from the fear and furor of combat. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane present Haunt! Based around two brothers, one a less-than-perfect priest, the other a government agent, the men struggle to get along, rarely agreeing on anything. An unexpected accident forces them to work together in ways they never thought possible. Struggling with his own personal demons, the priest begrudgingly works alongside the spirit of his recently deceased brother, who possesses him. Together, the brothers form a new superhero, Haunt. Featuring the artistic team of Ryan Ottley, Greg Capullo, and Todd McFarlane, with story by Robert Kirkman. Collects Haunt issues #1-5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Now for something different
Robert Kirkman seems determined to take over the comics world.Based on his latest successes, that could be possible.His comics series The Walking Dead is basically a soap opera with zombies that keeps readers hanging on by their fingernails from month to month, and is now going to be a television series as well as a prose novel series.He's also rewritten some of the comics mythos with Invincible, which turns some of the superhero tropes on their ears and kicks them in the butt to provide some necessary (arguable in several comics shops) changes.

In Haunt, authors Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane offer up a fresh and twisted take on supernatural superheroes.At least, I think Haunt is a superhero tale.It might just be a monster story where the monster ultimately ends up doing some good.I haven't decided exactly how that's shaping up.Oh, and there's a lot of spy stuff thrown in too.

Kirkman is known for not pulling punches in his stories, and he doesn't pull any in this origin arc either.McFarlane (Spawn) leans toward the hard-hitting and gritty himself.As a result, this comics series is definitely not one I'd recommend to youngsters.Not only is there lots of graphic violence, but the themes are adult as well.

So with the audience defined, I'll say that the story is pretty intense and gripping.Nothing terribly original stands out in the series, though.Comics have been filled with characters haunted by ghosts that made them into something more than human (Spectre, Brother Voodoo), so that riff - though certainly not played out - has been around.

Another thing that bothers me is the stuff Haunt is constantly shooting around.I'm still not sure if it is ectoplasm or what, but it certainly reminds me of Spider-Man's webbing.In fact, the way that Haunt uses the ectoplasm (my word to talk about it) is a lot the same way Spider-Man employs his webbing.Except for the whole razor-sharp edges eviscerating and dismembering his opponents thing.

The premise is fairly simple.Two brothers are joined together by an unholy bond so that the living one joins with the dead one and they become a force for - well, a force for something.Maybe the intelligence agency one of them worked for?The first brother Kurt is (was) a government intelligence operative, one of those bloodthirsty black ops types that doesn't stop killing when the going gets rough.The other brother is Daniel, a failed priest who hasn't gotten over his love for Kurt's wife.And that's just part of the twisted dynamic that keeps the brothers fighting on both sides of the afterlife.

After Kurt gets killed, he shows up and persuades Daniel to go warn Amanda, Kurt's widow.During the save operation, Daniel and Kurt merge to create Haunt and end up battling the men that killed Kurt.At first they're fighting, which is to be expected, but that seems to get shelved pretty quickly throughout the first five-issue run.

Ryan Ottley (a frequent Kirkman collaborator) and Greg Capullo draw the comics and do a bang-up job of presenting action and emotion throughout the panels.The world feels big and fast as they present the stories, and I enjoyed what I saw a lot.

Haunt leaves me kind of torn (haunts me, perhaps?).On one hand, it's a fun ride filled with violence and melodrama, but on the other it just doesn't feel too terribly original.I'll pick up the second volume to keep up with the story, but I'm not compelled to go find it immediately.

Certainly not a bad start
I can't say anything bad about the first volume of Haunt from Image comics except that it's too short & ends just when it's staring to get intriguing. But other than that Robert Kirkman continues to infuse new blood into the medium with assisting from Todd McFarlane & Greg Capullo. The artwork is terrific & Ryan Ottley's pencil's are perfect for this story. It's a fair mix of action, violence, & covert operation politics that might seem reminiscent of the early Spawn books but overall Haunt is it's own beast & this is a good thing. This is definitely one of the more interesting alternative "super hero" reads out there. I'm looking forward to more.

Almost too violent for me, but very clever espionage elements
Wow, the violence is over the top in this story.It's not meant to be taken seriously, as Kirkman writes some gory mutilation or murder on roughly half of the pages of this collection, but it is definitely what made the biggest impression on me.Aside from the violence, this is a pretty good story.A priest who doesn't take his responsibilities very seriously finds himself haunted by the ghost of his estranged brother, and occasionally they combine into a Spawn-style antihero who jumps around and slices off people's appendages.The superhero elements are pretty derivative, I think intentionally, but they're solid for what they're presented to be.The spy elements of the story, though, are what really intrigued me, as the dead secret agent brother (for some agency that is never named) has to guide his living brother not only through intense physical combat but also through the little details, like how to address various employees of the agency, how to hire a cleaner after a successful battle, what to do after the inevitable double-crosses, etc.I usually prefer my comic violence in a more toned-down form than this collection offers, but the espionage elements are truly intriguing, and I recommend this title for anyone interested in that angle who can get through the gore to the intellectual challenges of the story.

great start
geez, i'm not gonna write a long review like that 1st review,lol. good art, nice story. i'm looking forward to the next tpb. haunt has promise.price is right.

If Cosmo Topper were a superhero and became all dark and vengeful... and writer Robert Kirkman took a day off
This guy Spaw- er, I mean, Haunt, may be the ickiest superhero this side of Arm-Fall-Off-Boy. Urban fanboy legend suggests that, once upon a time, Todd McFarlane was guest speaking at this or that convention when Robert Kirkman, who was in the audience, engaged him in Q&A, and that McFarlane asked Kirkman to collaborate with him on a project. This is, of course, after someone pointed out to Todd that that particular audience member was comic book writer Robert Kirkman.(I don't think I'm too impressed with Todd McFarlane). Anyway, the result is HAUNT, perhaps Kirkman's least inspired effort. The same could be said regarding Ryan Ottley's artistic contribution here. Maybe they feel the same way as I do about McFarlane.

Because Catholic priests simply don't garner enough awful press, one of the two central characters is Daniel Kilgore, an unsavory priest who steals money from his church to pay for the hooker he visits regularly. That's nice... Daniel has a brother, Kurt, and they've been estranged for some time now, and we learn the why of it later. Kurt is a secret agent and a stone cold killer and I find him more likable than the priest, and, oh yes, Kurt cheats on his wife. When Kurt is murdered during a mission, his spirit gets tangled up with Daniel's body, and Daniel suddenly can see and speak with Kurt's ghost. And, when endangered, Daniel and Kurt can somehow form the gross goo-armored entity called Haunt (although, come to think of it, I don't recall any of the characters calling him "Haunt"). Haunt excretesa gooey substance which enables him to stick to walls. The same substance can harden into vicious cutting, hacking, piercing tools. Haunt is not a pretty picture.

But he's certainly effective... and needed. The spy organization Kurt used to work for comes sniffing around after Daniel (or, wait, actually Daniel drops in for a visit first). Murderous enemy agents also come calling, and they're seeking a scientist's precious notebook. Daniel and Kurt don't like each other, and it's a task having to co-exist in the same space. When Haunt is summoned, Kurt is the one doing most of the piloting. Except that Daniel's jangled nerves and inexperience with the cloak & dagger stuff and sheer "What the f*** is going on?" demeanor tend to undermine Kurt's secret agent skills. Kurt keeps telling his corporeal bro to relax and not fight him. But what would you do in Daniel's place? Too, it becomes clear that, in the guise of Haunt, Kurt's ghost draws on Daniel's energy reserves.

HAUNT Vol. 1 collects the first 5 issues, and this particular run is long enough for Kirkman to establish, in broad strokes, the characters and the conflict. So the story is easy to get with, the motivations are easy to grasp. Kirkman provides the words. Greg Capullo (layouts), Ryan Ottley (pencils), and Todd McFarlane (inks) gang-draw the thing, and if the too-many-cooks scenario doesn't raise a red flag... I am a big fan of Ryan Ottley's art, but Ottley going over Capullo's layouts and then being inked by McFarlane, well, what happens is that Ottley's clean, distinctive style develops this unflattering murkiness. I don't like.

HAUNT is very violent, and that's fine. There's a relentlessly grim tone in the storytelling and a joylessness, and that would've been okay, I guess, but there's also this derivative 1990s Image Comics vibe I'm getting, and that puts me off. The characters come off as lifeless and not very likable. They make me want to scrub my hands over the sink really vigorously. What disappoints me most is that it feels like Robert Kirkman is just going thru the motions, earning a paycheck, not giving a what.

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Straight forward presentation....easy to read and get answers
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An excellent text for Fourier Analysis
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