Comic Book Tattoo
Edited by Rantz A. Hoseley & Tori Amos
Image Comics
*****
For all those who love singer songwriter and pianist Tori Amos, this book is a testament to the sheer inspiration and tenacity of this truly unique musician. Here 80 plus contributors come together to transform 50 of Amos’ most beloved songs into wonderful pieces of narrative art ala comic book strips. The tome is hefty in size – taking on the dimensions of an old school 12 inch record – and scope, creating a veritable orgy for the eyes and the imagination.
The premise behind Comic Book Tattoo is simple: the artists were asked to interpret a Tori Amos song, not merely provide a comic book cover of it. As a result, many of the strips that appear within are as cryptic and poetical as an Amos song, if not more so. Some are a splash, a mere two or three pages, while others verge toward the epic. Overall though, each strip is a unique interpretation, accompanied at its outset by the lyrics of the song it tackles.
There are many highlights in the anthology. Mr Zebra is a psychedelic TV show crammed full of crazy characters while Little Earthquakes is beautiful, fragile and magnificently restrained in its execution. Elsewhere, Programmable Soda is new wave mythology which occupies itself with finding the perfect one night stand. Here, In My Head is a beautiful coming of age love story with wings yet Teenage Hustling is just that: a satirical look at a teenager’s libido.
Stand out piece, however, is Honey, drawn by the now legendary Mike Dringenberg, the man responsible for giving Neil Gaiman’s opus, Sandman, its unique look and feel, a vision which not only defined this series but which added to its meteoric rise to cult status. Dringenberg only worked briefly on Sandman, but in that time created a signature tone which captured the heart of millions, including Tori Amos. It’s no secret that Gaiman’s Sandman stories have direct influences on Amos’ songs, and the character Delirium in Sandman is actually based on Amos. What few realize though is that Dringenberg’s contribution to Comic Book Tattoo is his first comic strip in nearly a decade. He has been working as an illustrator but now, with his contribution Honey, it is rumoured that Dringenberg will make a long anticipated return to the art of comic book drawing. Yes, start squealing now narrative art aficionados.
Overall, Comic Book Tattoo is an adorable anthology, one crammed full of stories and poetry and so many visuals it’ll make your eyes giggle with glee. Tori Amos is an inspiration, and here is the proof. Add an incredibly affordable cover price ($49.95) and the gorgeous artwork of Dringenberg, and what you have is a must-have – particularly if you’re an Amos fan, but more so if narrative art and comic books hold a special childhood place in your heart.
