The Big Book of Vice

Paradox Press series of Big Books

by Steve Vance

70 of the world's top comic writers and artists. Graphic stories of such topics drugs, pornography, booze, gambling, cigarettes, etc.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Humor, Anthologies, Graphic Novels Comics, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Credited as: Writer, Inker, Penciller mainly for DC Comics

list of work can be found here, in chronological order:
http://www.comicbookdb.com/creator.ph...

Reviews

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the "Big Book" series, and this one was no exception. This focuses on Vice in its many forms be it alcohol, tobacco, harder drugs, illicit sex, pornography, gambling and more. The origins are very interesting, and it's amazing how things have progressed through time. There's just too many interesting facts to get into here, but it's loaded with amazing knowledge.

I really wish I could retain ALL of the information I'm getting from the Big Books series but there's just too much to remember. It's an entertaining read, however, and the art is always nice as well. I highly recommend any of the "Big Book" series, and it's really a shame more volumes weren't produced. There are still plenty more I haven't read though, so I'll be making my way through those as I find time.

[Daniel A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read The Big Book of Vice, primarily written by Steve Vance (with others' assistance), I hadn't yet read most of the other books in this series, and I gave the book four stars. However, after having read all but one other of Paradox Press' Big Books Of…, I upgraded that rating, because The Big Book of Vice is arguably the best of all of them (perhaps fitting, since the publisher and writers had by then had more than a dozen previous volumes to perfect the formula). Unlike, say, The Big Book of Death, Vance et al. take the entirety of the subject matter very seriously, and Vance et al. don't give any of the topics therein short shrift whatsoever; Vance also isn't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom about alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, etc., etc., but he also is clear when these vices pose a real social problem. As such, The Big Book of Vice is simply excellent.

There are parts of the book—say, Vance's mention of Magic: The Gathering (then a very new phenomenon) in the section on "introductory" vices for children, or that on caffeine as a narcotic substance—that seem positively quaint in 2020, and there are other sections, among them on Hugh Hefner (to whose Goodreads profile I'm linking to allow my readers [if any] to make their own decisions), that have not aged especially well, if we knew then what we know now, but these examples really are limited; far more impactful and frequent are Vance et al.'s discussions of human trafficking, tobacco company lobbyists, Native American casinos, rampant racism in the legislation of vice, and so forth, in which the extensive bibliography and point-blank tone hit home strongly. Vance et al. don't mince words when they decry moralism and/or hypocrisy and/or the actual problems (such as, say, Anthony Comstock) behind the control of vice, and that renders the entire work more poignant than it would be were it wholly dispassionate. The Big Book of Vice purports to be along the same lines as Paradox Press' other Big Books Of…, but in effect it's something very, very different, and that's the kind of thing that sticks with me as a reader.

[Elusive.Mystery · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing this book at some friends’ cabin, I was delighted to find a copy at Powell’s Book. Strange tales told in graphic novel format.

[Roman Stadtler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one of my favorite Big Books (I also have a fondness for the Big Book of Martyrs, and the Big Book of Urban Legends) but how could it not be? Tales of infamy and ignominy centered around sex, Sin Cities, gambling, drugs, tobacco, juke boxes, pool halls, & comic books(!), all illustrated by top comic book talents, arranged bite-size morsels perfect for bathroom reading!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Book series were always excellent...to bad they didn't keep it going for many more years. The Big Book Of Vice is interesting as it presents a good history of gambling and believe it or not dice. Loved it and always a pleasure to see two of my favorite artists Rick Geary and Sergio Aragones.

[T. Smith]

"Big Book of..." is great illustrated series on a wide variety of topics with lots of top-notch artists and authors.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is top notch, the writing... not so much.