Kabuki Omnibus Volume 3

Kabuki #7

by David W. Mack (Creator)

Immerse yourself in the inspiration for Sony's upcoming Kabuki television series!

A young woman code name, "Kabuki" works as a government operative in near-future Japan. After a daring escape from her former agency in the clandestine organization known as "The Noh", Kabuki comes face to face with her true calling...and a revolution of the mind led by the mysterious Akemi Network!

This edition collects the original Kabuki: The Alchemy in an easy to read trade paperback. Includes David's work with Neil Gaiman, Tori Amos, new Kabuki stories from Dark Horse Presents, & the multi-Eisner nominated Lil Kabuki in Dreamland, & more stories.

Loaded with extra material! New pages, commentary, art, and text! Perfect for old and new fans of David Mack and the Kabuki series!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction, Art

400 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.



David W. Mack is a comic book artist and writer, best known for his creation Kabuki and his work on the Marvel Comics titles Daredevil and Alias

The author of the Star Trek Novels is David Mack

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

With this Kabuki story, Mack has almost completely abandoned sequential art. This isn't so much a comic book as it is prose displayed on mixed media pages. While Mack is still a gifted artist, there is very little story here. Most of it is Kabuki writing letters to her friend and waxing philosophical for very long passages of the book. I hate to say it but I was bored to tears by this. I'm also curious why this is Dark Horse's Library Volume 3 when it's the last Kabuki book Mack has published. This omnibus edition has a ton of extras, over 100 pages.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

Imagine being born from a tragedy. Imagine growing up numb to life’s beauty, becoming part of a manipulative governmental system with no prospect of ambition or happiness. Imagine going full circle to try and end your suffering. Imagine embracing a newfound friendship following your intimate connection with loneliness. Imagine being given a chance to be reborn into the person you wished you were. What do you do? Collecting the nine-issue story-arc of Kabuki: The Alchemy, originally published under the Icon Comics imprint over at Marvel in 2008, this latest omnibus also includes an introduction by writer Chuck Palahniuk, after-notes from creator David Mack, additional stories (Prometheus Untold, Lil Kabuki, Fourth Mind, and more), letters from fans that helped shape up the creation of this story-arc as each issue was being released, and behind-the-scenes content on the creative process by creator David Mack.

What is Kabuki Omnibus Vol. 3 about? Kabuki: The Alchemy follows Kabuki, an ex-assassin for a clandestine government known as “The Noh”, now having escaped from the grasps of an institution for “defective” agents known as the Control Corps. Now friends with a mysterious figure known as Akemi during those trying times, she is now offered a chance at embracing a new life, one that is free from the burden of her horrible past, if only she is able to look past the scars left upon her. As she learns to let go, she discovers a new mask in the form of stories, while also meeting two new faces within the Akemi network, prompting her forward towards her own transformation.

Despite being the final Kabuki story to be published, the story within this omnibus is chronologically set after the events that transpired in the previous omnibus reprint and continue to explore Kabuki’s identity and her transformation. Creator David Mack focuses heavily on themes of identity once again but looks to narratively deviate a bit more to channel some of his own love and passion for story-telling through metaphysical events. In fact, this story-arc is a reminder to stay true to yourself, to find your purpose through your internal motivations without the external influences of life through pressures formed in society, by people or media. It also serves as a eulogy to art, especially literature, by showcasing creator David Mack’s own creative journey and experience within Kabuki’s adventure. From stories within stories to an autobiographical self-insertion (author surrogate), the story ultimately feels like a stream of consciousness rather than a traditional narrative structure.

Of course, how can one even expect anything set within the confines of conventionality when it comes to creator David Mack. His Kabuki stories have always been his ultimate creative license, his own magical playground where he can unleash his inner creative beast as he experiments with styles of visual and narrative storytelling. Once again, this volume is another exclamation mark on his incredible artwork, displaying a mind-boggling and surreal artistic mosaic for readers to scrutinize and discover for themselves. Mastering watercolour while blending it with various other media, from photography to collage, his style is unforgivingly astonishing and exquisite, unquestionably sending readers on a trance that they never knew they needed as they share Kabuki’s evolution. Although saddening to know, the final omnibus, containing Masks of Noh (Volume 3) and Scarab, Lost in Translation (Volume 6), is planned for release on December 28th, 2021, but the wait will no doubt be rewarding.

Kabuki Omnibus Vol. 3 is an exquisite, monumental, experimental, and hypnagogic tale of rebirth through self-discovery and acceptance.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of David Mack since a very intuitive comic book pusher (I say this with love, but frankly, this guy had me figured out and knew exactly what he could get me to buy) suggested I read Circle of Blood, the story of a government assassin in a future noir-Japan, escaping the bonds and corruption of her masters. Kabuki's story is one of constant transformation and self exploration that is now being collected into four gorgeous hardcover volumes by Dark Horse comics. As much as I love the stories themselves, these volumes are a literal treasure trove that allows the reader into Mack's mind. I've always been curious about his artistic process, so poring over the letters, notes, sketches, and other additional tidbits is such an amazing opportunity--as was the opportunity to chat with Mack himself to pick his brain.

Volume 3 of this series collects The Alchemy. Kabuki has escaped the asylum with the help of a not-so-imaginary friend, Akemi. As she seeks to reinvent herself, following the path laid out by Akemi, Kabuki discovers that she is not alone. Akemi has helped many people on their journeys of self-discovery and the result is a network that connects across the world. Akemi seems to have some sort of revolution in mind, and Kabuki is meant to play a major part in it.

The intrigue of Akemi's plans hover over the story, but the focus remains on Kabuki's exploration of self. When Mack appears within the pages of his own book, it becomes evident that Kabuki's story of becoming is also the very personal story of Mack himself.

I love comic artists that take the medium far outside the panel. David Mack is at the top of my list. Every single page in this library is a work of art. Sadly, I do not have room on my walls for every single page...

www.bibliosanctum.com

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different from the other volumes, both in artwork style and in story. This may be an ending of sorts of the tale, at least of this part of the story, though I’d certainly look forward to more. Granted, there is still the 4th Library edition to read, but that collects some older stories. This volume, containing The Alchemy, didn’t have the action and violence of previous parts of the story, but was more cerebral, more metaphysical. We see a different side of Kabuki as she tries to find a way in the world outside of the Noh and Control Corps, while maintaining contact with Akemi. We’re introduced to some interesting new characters and learn more about some we’ve already met. It has an interesting way of mixing in the “real” world with that of the comic, in more ways than one. I can see how this might not appeal as much to some readers of Kabuki, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was fascinated by the potentially autobiographical aspects, many of which were more front and center than in previous volumes. This one also included a large amount of extra material at the end, including letters from readers, artwork, more story, and some interesting written pieces. I’m very happy having this volume (and series) in my David Mack / Kabuki collection.

[Pop Bop · Rating 3 out of 5]

The War of Art

I very much enjoyed the second volume in this series, which I guess suggests I need a fairly linear, defined plot to keep my interest. This volume wanders all over, which I understand, and does ultimately go somewhere, which I expected, but it takes its sweet time. As a consequence I took my sweet time too, and pulled out little bits, phrases, ideas, and notions to help me on my way. The fine, varied, and wildly original art helps keep the reader engaged, but even with all of that my attention sometimes wandered. Maybe, to some extent, that's the point. After all, this is Kabuki's journey of self discovery, and I'm just an observer.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Diana]

“All I did was give you an outside source of validation of your own natural creative instincts. As if believing in your ideas & endeavors, or showing theirs as example . . . gives you the “permission” to follow your own creative instincts in a way you feel the world does not.”

Relentlessly innovative, idiosyncratic, and dazzling. A beautiful reminder for me - just like Barry and Lincoln in the Bardo before it - that the only limitations to my own creativity are the entirely superficial ones I impose upon myself.

(Apparently this is something I need to be reminded of regularly, but fingers crossed it’ll sink in one of these days.)

Thanks, David. I’m coming to this series over two decades after you first introduced it to the world, but - for me - the timing couldn’t possibly be better. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Jake Nap · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third volume of the Kabuki library edition blues the line between reality and fiction. It is a perfect amalgamation of philosophy, fiction, comics and self help. I would usually write an essay length review of something this good but it really is something words cannot describe. A true masterpiece.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weird collection that I would argue is for superfans and completionists only. Ultimately I would have been fine to have stopped at volume 2. This volume still has stunning art and really interesting use of frames (or non-use) but there isn't much story to hang on to.

[McNevin Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant visually, and beautifully written, though still at times overwritten. It's amazing to watch Mack's genius evolve. I kind of hate the thought that this is being turned into a series; so much of its beauty and genius is specific to its being a graphic novel.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many notes.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal.

[M.Marie.S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art, kickass heroine. But a little creepy with the sexualization of her postures in traumatic situations.