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Kabuki Library Volume 1 Hardcover – July 21, 2015

by David Mack (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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This first volume of the four-volume Kabuki Library collects the first two original Kabuki volumes: Circle of Blood and Dreams. The origin, the foundation of the story . . . The very beginning of the acclaimed series created by David Mack. Featuring a total of 11 separate issues and collected with loads of extras, this is the book that fans of Mack and Kabuki have been waiting for and the perfect book for brand new Kabuki readers to begin with.
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  1. Part of Series
    Kabuki Library
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Dark Horse Books
  5. Publication date
    July 21, 2015
  6. Dimensions
    9.22 x 1.5 x 12.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1616556773
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1616556778
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Mack is the New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Kabuki graphic novels, the writer and artist of Daredevil from Marvel Comics, and the author and artist of his children's book The Shy Creatures from MacMillan. Mack most recently created the art & concept for the credit sequence on the #1 hit film Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
David's work has garnered nominations for seven Eisner Awards, four International Eagle Awards, and both the Harvey and Kirby Awards in the category of Best New Talent, as well as many other national and international awards and nominations. The author lives in Portland, OR..

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dark Horse Books (July 21, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1616556773
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1616556778
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.48 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.22 x 1.5 x 12.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ami Ami
5.0 out of 5 stars David Macks art sometimes makes me weep
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024
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Thats all I can say, its so beautiful
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R. McCoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect execution, good story, incredible art.
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2015
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The story in Kabuki is well done, but relatively unsurprising. However, the execution is magnificent. The two great strengths are the art, and what literary critics would call character development. Mack's art is impressionistic, but sometimes detailed. The best parts are often in the "background", such as a stretch of barbed wire, where some of the barbs transform into birds taking wing. Sometimes there are multiple panels on a page. Sometimes the message of the art requires that it be presented on one, or even two, full pages. Also, I'm usually the kind of guy who wants to see the comic art colored in. This tome is B/W, and is the better for it. It matches the mood of the piece, like an old B/W film noir.
The background tragedy of Kabuki's origin in the world of "comfort women" is well done. I am fully cognizant of the trauma of this system, having lived in a Korean community for some years. The development and intertwining of the characters leads to tragedy (of course), but that's what this is about. Sure, there's action from beautiful costumed ladies, but that is not the dominant theme. This isn't some costume superhero story. This is a tragedy that uses fantasy to tell its story. Very well done. I'll get the rest of the series for sure.
3 people found this helpful
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C. Derick Varn
5.0 out of 5 stars This is much more than I even thought
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2016
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David Mack deserves the acclaim he has gotten, and in an age of prestige comics where many authors hype does not outstrip the quality of their output, Mack really does deliver. The first two arcs, Circle of Blood and Dreams, are interesting both in themselves and in contract to one and another. At first, Circle of Blood appears to be an early 1990s Grendel-inspired techno-noir guilty of no small amount of Orientalism. Yet as Mack builds the story, you realize that this is even more nuanced than Matt Wagner's work which it seemed to harken back to and Mack understands Japanese culture much more profoundly than it first appeared. Having lived in Korea and visited Japan myself, there are small details that show hints of understanding beyond exoticism and perhaps significant time spent in Japan. Mack's art and paneling gets better through the several acts of circle of blood, becoming more expressionistic and using chiaroscuro as well as Japanese symbolism to greater and greater effect.

While Circle of Blood moves from a techno-noir to something far more textured and mythic, "Dreams" jumps straight into the world of Kabuki as a dreamscape. The use of watercolors and multi-media as well as purely expressionistic story-telling techniques is particularly effective, especially when contrasted to the prior volume. Yes, Kabuki has sex and violence, but it is a highly accomplished bit of talking popular art to somewhere truly sublime.
One person found this helpful
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Paul Leach
5.0 out of 5 stars But this
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2020
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David Mack is brilliant. His images. His words. His transitions. Never have seen anyone like him.
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ReadBeforeBed
5.0 out of 5 stars Transcendent
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2019
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I’ve only recently become acquainted with Mack’s work and I’ll be a fan forever. I don’t care what else he will produce, I’ll buy/read everything he has to offer. Some people are just born geniuses and even their most mediocre work will be better that someone else’s best effort. The Kabuki series is David’s genius. It transcends anything I’ve ever read.
One person found this helpful
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D. Vest
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful artwork great stories
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015
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I had most of the single issues years ago and loved them.This collects Circle of Blood and Dreams...
Some extra stuff in the back.The art may not be for everyone,but I love it.
I will be catching up on this soon to refresh my memory.Volume 2&3 is soon to be released.
David Mack is a cool guy ,got to meet him a few times at various comicons.
3 people found this helpful
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Micah Ogé
5.0 out of 5 stars You could easily tell the writer was going through something painful in ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
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This story was very interesting and deep. You could easily tell the writer was going through something painful in his life as he wrote this. It bleeds into his work with the plot and character development. The art style reminded me a little of Sin City mixed with Aeon Flux. But the tone was more mysterious and feminine.
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Eric H.
2.0 out of 5 stars Damaged
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
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There was damage to the book that was not included in the description
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente de Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Cliente
Reviewed in Mexico on January 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
Excelente edición. Llegó muy bien y todo en orden.
Lo había visto en una librería en la CDMX pero estaba en más de 800 pesos y aquí lo encontré baratísimo.
Si te gustasel arte y los comics, es casi obligado tener este volúmen.
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Wayne
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for a Kauki fan who does not ahve all the books of the various Kabuki series.
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2016
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Love the work and writings of David Mack, and have been a long time fan of the Kabuki books. Purchased this so as to ensure I have the complete Kabuki since I may of missed a few individual issues over the years and with the over-sized hard covers and high quality gloss paper making each page really pop, was a no brainer to get this for my collection. Only downside is this is not something that will fit on the average sized book shelf and is hard to store, but as a David Mack fan is essential to me. Got volume 2 and have volume 3 on order.
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Camus Lights
5.0 out of 5 stars Kabuki
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2015
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There's nothing better than trying out a new series for the first time and having it blow you away. Kabuki is one such series. I'd been introduced to David Mack by his work on Daredevil and always wanted to try out Kabuki, but not sign up for a 10 volume commitment. I'm glad I waited. This collection brings together the first 2 volumes, the first (and longer) in black and white and the second in full painted/collage glory.

The pages in this book are massive, allowing you to really appreciate the art and the little details of Mack's artwork. The paper stock is thick and luxurious, however the binding on the book is on the tight side, which can make reading it an effort. It's a big book, and surely longer than the 296 pages Amazon has it listed as, but not so much that it's undreadable.

There are plenty of extra's- text by Bendis, Mack and Jim Steranko, cover collection etc.

The thing I like most about Kabuki is the symbolism. Images take on several meanings and recur in new situations. Visual motifs carry the story forwards as powerfully as the characters' actions and the words on the page. This is too rarely seen in comics, a medium practically built for this kind of storytelling, and Kabuki showcases how effective it can be.

Can't wait for the rest, and at the time of writing this is going for a very reasonable price.
3 people found this helpful
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Martin Holeysovský
5.0 out of 5 stars The book is great, the price was fair :)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2019
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The book is great, the price was fair :)
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Matt Holzman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2015
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The best!
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