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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse #1
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse, Volume 1: Animator
What would you do for a million dollars? Would you resurrect a two-and-one-half-century old corpse? Harold Gaynor poses just that question to Animator and part-time vampire hunter, Anita Blake... Plus, some crime scenes are even too horrible for a vampire slayer, and the worse they are, the more questions they raise.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
1632 people want to read
About the author
Laurell K. Hamilton
427 books25.8k followersLaurell K. Hamilton is one of the leading writers of paranormal fiction. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Hamilton writes the popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and the Meredith Gentry series. She is also the creator of a bestselling comic book series based on her Anita Blake novels and published by Marvel Comics. Hamilton is a full-time writer and lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 2, 2018
This graphic novel is on one of my favorite Anita Blake novels. The art is excellent! That is exactly what I thought Anita looked like and most of the other characters were spot on also. Until Jean Claude shows up. He is too blue.
June 2, 2009
My memories of reading the early Anita Blake novels include a lot of intriguing world building and a lot of gore. A lot of gore. The graphic novel may not be exactly clinically detailed, however the chunks of mangled body parts are not alluded to but in full view. As for how the art translates the atmosphere: Dominga Salvador is a creepy old scary lady who looks rather normal, which just makes her more creepy; the zombies are nasty looking, especially the ones mistaken for regular humans; Jean Claude's brief appearance is sexy and wiggy and sexy some more; Evans is portrayed in all his freaking out clairvoyant misery; Anita's scars are on display, as are her wicked curves and shiny guns; and the worst horror: the bridesmaid dress is totally terrifying and totally pink and poofy.
A lovely distillation of the first half of Laughing Corpse, like revisiting a dear aunt, albeit one with zombie slaves that she sets upon you, forcing you to unleash a plentitude of bulleted body part cleaving. Fingers crawling after you of their own volition just sucks, let me tell you.
A lovely distillation of the first half of Laughing Corpse, like revisiting a dear aunt, albeit one with zombie slaves that she sets upon you, forcing you to unleash a plentitude of bulleted body part cleaving. Fingers crawling after you of their own volition just sucks, let me tell you.
October 16, 2011
I really enjoyed the early Anita Blake novels so I'm reliving them through the graphic novels. The story is the same as the book for The Laughing Corpse but the artwork makes the characters come to live in a new way for me.
While reading the books I never really pictured the gory scenes in great detail so the way the artists bring to scenes to life in the graphic novel is really glory and I feel as though I'm watching a horror movie.
By Hamilton's description of Jean Claude in books, I never thought of him as sexy looking but seeing him drawn.....S E X Y. In the books I always thought of a French drag queen with all the leather and lace. But it works in this media.
I love revisiting the kiss ass Anita of the early books through the graphic novels. Here's hoping that we get to see more of her in the future books.
I recommend The Laughing Corpse to all Anita fans and fans of graphic novels that has a little gore in it. With Halloween around the corner it's perfect quick read.
While reading the books I never really pictured the gory scenes in great detail so the way the artists bring to scenes to life in the graphic novel is really glory and I feel as though I'm watching a horror movie.
By Hamilton's description of Jean Claude in books, I never thought of him as sexy looking but seeing him drawn.....S E X Y. In the books I always thought of a French drag queen with all the leather and lace. But it works in this media.
I love revisiting the kiss ass Anita of the early books through the graphic novels. Here's hoping that we get to see more of her in the future books.
I recommend The Laughing Corpse to all Anita fans and fans of graphic novels that has a little gore in it. With Halloween around the corner it's perfect quick read.
May 7, 2025
I've never read any of these books growing up, so I might be the odd man out here. But this was enjoyable for what it was, but it reminded me of like cheap supernatural tales, almost like Supernatural the show, but not as captivating for me. But I don't believe I'm the right audience. Still the dialogue is well written, and the lore is cool, but it seems like just throw every zombie, werewolf, ect monster out there and do a criminal investigation episode on it. A 3 out of 5.
July 20, 2021
Bookopoly 2021. – Shiny Cover
Olympic Games Readathon – Poseidon – a book with a non-human main character
U početku pomalo spora priča, malčice dosadna, ali brzo krenu događanja. Anita ovaj put mora otkriti tko je ubio (i napola pojeo) tročlanu obitelj. Usput se upetlja u problem s opasnom voodoo svećenicom i poremećenim bogatašem. Nije bilo loše.
Olympic Games Readathon – Poseidon – a book with a non-human main character
U početku pomalo spora priča, malčice dosadna, ali brzo krenu događanja. Anita ovaj put mora otkriti tko je ubio (i napola pojeo) tročlanu obitelj. Usput se upetlja u problem s opasnom voodoo svećenicom i poremećenim bogatašem. Nije bilo loše.
September 19, 2010
This brings back memories of Classic Anita. Almost makes me want to read the first books again.
December 31, 2009
Anita looks awesome, Jean Claude looks like some weird porno marble statue. But this takes us back to the best of Anita in graphic form. It follows the book so readers wouldn't need to read the original book to understand what is going on. Very well done.
June 13, 2019
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I still read this pretty quick as it did capture my attention but I just didn't enjoy it as much as the graphic novel from the guilty pleasures series. The art style was also slightly different which I didn't like as much. Still enjoyable though!
I still read this pretty quick as it did capture my attention but I just didn't enjoy it as much as the graphic novel from the guilty pleasures series. The art style was also slightly different which I didn't like as much. Still enjoyable though!
December 14, 2016
A good graphic novel for the second novel of the Anita Blake series. This novel starts with a high power billionaire trying to pay Anita to wake up a 300 year old zombie...except she says no, but the billionaire does not like that answer. At the same time Dolph calls Anita for help with a really grisly murder...and it's not the first one that is this grisly, but then Anita has to get help from a powerful voodoo priestess and that's never a good thing....
The one downside is this novel ended on such a cliff hanger! But I already have the next graphic novel so no horrible cliff hanger for me!
The one downside is this novel ended on such a cliff hanger! But I already have the next graphic novel so no horrible cliff hanger for me!
February 10, 2020
Overall I enjoyed the graphic novel but one drawback is it did feel like too many characters were crammed into it. You’d be introduced to a character, get invested in them, and then the story moves on. With that being said as a series I can see how this works as each of these characters were fascinating, well written, and had the readers engaged. I just felt this first book felt like it had a little too much information dump going on.
May 19, 2025
This is book 1 - animator I do not have book 2 necromancer and I do not have books 3 executioner. The books didn’t go digital so I’ll never own. The rest of the set, not gonna pay that the graphics in the story of the book are good and I can tell you the laughing corpse is a nightclub owned by the master vampire of the city.
August 10, 2025
3.9 stars
I prefer the art of the first trilogy, but still enjoyed this graphic novel, and it successfully left it hanging for me to get the next two. Even so, strongly suggest you read the actual novel first..
I prefer the art of the first trilogy, but still enjoyed this graphic novel, and it successfully left it hanging for me to get the next two. Even so, strongly suggest you read the actual novel first..
August 8, 2017
I love the art and how it is almost looks like I image the people to look. Love how it all was placed together just like the "real" book. I am looking forward to reading all of the other books.
September 22, 2022
I really like the art style of these adaptations, though some characters don't look how I pictured them or how they're described in the novel. Solid adaptation
August 13, 2023
Its nice seeing the story I have so often read in the form of a comic book.
August 24, 2024
I love the books and the art on this was amazing
November 22, 2011
review by Meesh
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
Continuing the saga, the book opens with Anita Blake being asked to raise a long dead ancestor of a very shady character, to the tune of a million dollars. So long dead is this ancestor, though, that Anita would need to do a human sacrifice to raise it. She doesn't do human sacrifice, so she won't agree to take the job. The customer is unhappy and Anita knows her answer will not be accepted easily, but she soon has other things to worry about.
There have been a couple of gruesome murders and RPIT (kind of a spook squad, cops assigned to the paranormal crimes) calls Anita in to help them figure out who or what is committing these crimes. Two families, both living in ranch homes near one another, are found massacred. She walks into the second murder scene - the first she was invited to - and there is almost not enough human remains for her to identify them as human. Whatever is killing is an anomaly, not a typical zombie, and Anita knows a few people who could be involved in raising something that evil, that wrong.
Anita tracks down a very powerful vaudin priestess, Dominga Salvadora, a woman who had tried to entice Anita to be part of her practice in very dark magic. The stuff this woman is into is scary and far beyond any kind of magic Anita ever would want to play with. The trip to Dominga's home reveals that she isn't just raising zombies. She's making monsters, monsters that she then sends to Anita's door after she threatens the old woman.
And then there is the complication of Jean Claude, who has risen in power to be master of the city. In book one, Jean Claude began the process of turning Anita into his human servant by giving her two of four of his marks. In this book, he wants her to behave as a human servant should, because the way she ignores and avoids him has caused some to question his power. So Anita has to contend with Jean Claude trying to woo her into submission.
Book two of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series gives us a more in depth look into the different powers that Anita has. In book one, we learned of her ability as an animator, one who can raise zombies. In The Laughing Corpse, we find she is also a necromancer. She speaks to the dead and they respond.
There is a lesson that one can take from one of the closing scenes of the book. If you're going to cast a spell on someone to make them do your bidding, make sure you are very careful about what you bid them to do. Dominga found out the hard way that trying to control someone like Anita has a nasty way of coming back to haunt.
This book was excellent, as was the first. Some scenes are very disturbing, hard to read. I had to put the book down and walk off the jitters it gave me in a few places. Read this book. Really worth it.
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
Continuing the saga, the book opens with Anita Blake being asked to raise a long dead ancestor of a very shady character, to the tune of a million dollars. So long dead is this ancestor, though, that Anita would need to do a human sacrifice to raise it. She doesn't do human sacrifice, so she won't agree to take the job. The customer is unhappy and Anita knows her answer will not be accepted easily, but she soon has other things to worry about.
There have been a couple of gruesome murders and RPIT (kind of a spook squad, cops assigned to the paranormal crimes) calls Anita in to help them figure out who or what is committing these crimes. Two families, both living in ranch homes near one another, are found massacred. She walks into the second murder scene - the first she was invited to - and there is almost not enough human remains for her to identify them as human. Whatever is killing is an anomaly, not a typical zombie, and Anita knows a few people who could be involved in raising something that evil, that wrong.
Anita tracks down a very powerful vaudin priestess, Dominga Salvadora, a woman who had tried to entice Anita to be part of her practice in very dark magic. The stuff this woman is into is scary and far beyond any kind of magic Anita ever would want to play with. The trip to Dominga's home reveals that she isn't just raising zombies. She's making monsters, monsters that she then sends to Anita's door after she threatens the old woman.
And then there is the complication of Jean Claude, who has risen in power to be master of the city. In book one, Jean Claude began the process of turning Anita into his human servant by giving her two of four of his marks. In this book, he wants her to behave as a human servant should, because the way she ignores and avoids him has caused some to question his power. So Anita has to contend with Jean Claude trying to woo her into submission.
Book two of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series gives us a more in depth look into the different powers that Anita has. In book one, we learned of her ability as an animator, one who can raise zombies. In The Laughing Corpse, we find she is also a necromancer. She speaks to the dead and they respond.
There is a lesson that one can take from one of the closing scenes of the book. If you're going to cast a spell on someone to make them do your bidding, make sure you are very careful about what you bid them to do. Dominga found out the hard way that trying to control someone like Anita has a nasty way of coming back to haunt.
This book was excellent, as was the first. Some scenes are very disturbing, hard to read. I had to put the book down and walk off the jitters it gave me in a few places. Read this book. Really worth it.
September 17, 2010
I am doing two graphic novels together here in this post. I have been trying to vary the stuff I am reading and always looking for new stuff to throw at you and this was just something I couldn’t pass up. I am going to admit from the get go that I had not run into Laurell K. Hamilton’s work before this, but am glad I did. I think it gave me a firm base to start from if I grab any of her full length novels. For those like myself that haven’t come across her New York Times Bestselling full length novels she is the author of Anita Blake : Vampire Hunter and also the Merry Gentry novels. She has more than twenty novels in print and continues to more. She has millions of fans all over the world that enjoy her creative blend of fantasy, mythology and horror.
Anita Blake is a great character. I really enjoy it when a big time author crosses over into the graphic novel arena and does a different take on their characters. I feel it gives us the fans a new perspective and appreciation for the authors skills as we finally see what their written world looks like and how it flows. I have to say for me the entire plotline was very original and was not your usual run of the mill vampire, paranormal storyline. The main character herself is a breath of fresh air amongst many soon to be animated corpses.
Both graphic novels were well paced and chock full of action and interesting characters. There are plenty of villain’s, or are they good guys, I am not sure, read at your pearl. Hamilton has the goods to hang with the best with these stories; I can say that having read a few of them. The artwork is excellent the colors are vivid, the plotlines are fun .If you are into this sort of stuff, the vampire, paranormal funfest, these are excellent graphic novels, give them a try.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Anita Blake is a great character. I really enjoy it when a big time author crosses over into the graphic novel arena and does a different take on their characters. I feel it gives us the fans a new perspective and appreciation for the authors skills as we finally see what their written world looks like and how it flows. I have to say for me the entire plotline was very original and was not your usual run of the mill vampire, paranormal storyline. The main character herself is a breath of fresh air amongst many soon to be animated corpses.
Both graphic novels were well paced and chock full of action and interesting characters. There are plenty of villain’s, or are they good guys, I am not sure, read at your pearl. Hamilton has the goods to hang with the best with these stories; I can say that having read a few of them. The artwork is excellent the colors are vivid, the plotlines are fun .If you are into this sort of stuff, the vampire, paranormal funfest, these are excellent graphic novels, give them a try.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
May 10, 2012
This book is very short and I wrote a long review of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures combined collection, so I'll just make a few points. Again, the plot is very consistent with the print book, so if you're a fan of the series, you're sure to like this. And I still really like how the graphic novel format emphasizes how petite and feminine Anita is, you really don't get as good a feel for it in the books, no matter how many times she says it. Seeing a small, curvy woman in a skirt and heels creates the image much more strongly of who this character is, female but still tough. It really is an enjoyable supplement to the books.
There are a few negatives. Anita is so much more in her head than an action character, at least in this one, that the graphic novel format is a bit awkward at times; it's more thought bubbles than action. And why is her nose red in almost every frame? She looks like she's sick, drunk or has been crying. And I still think Jean Claude looks kind of ridiculous, way too black and white and chiseled. I know he's a vampire and is supposed to be pale and that they want to show a contrast with Anita, but he looks like they forgot to color him in. Still, it's mostly minor stuff in an enjoyable book.
There are a few negatives. Anita is so much more in her head than an action character, at least in this one, that the graphic novel format is a bit awkward at times; it's more thought bubbles than action. And why is her nose red in almost every frame? She looks like she's sick, drunk or has been crying. And I still think Jean Claude looks kind of ridiculous, way too black and white and chiseled. I know he's a vampire and is supposed to be pale and that they want to show a contrast with Anita, but he looks like they forgot to color him in. Still, it's mostly minor stuff in an enjoyable book.
November 8, 2011
Mon avis complet
My english review
This time I start with the first volume, and I can tell it was better! One more time, we get into the story very quickly. The meeting with the voodoo priestess is very impressive and we feel all the horror and the feelings that inspire the machinations about the zombies. The dead are very well realized, but I confess the last ones are a little too much green. Shouldn't they be gray instead?
Otherwise I think the story follows the book very well, and we find Anita in an investigation about some horrific murders. But we can also add Jean Claude, a billionaire man determined to hire Anita even if she doesn't want it. The end of the comic concludes with the gift of the priestess, and I'm curious to assist to the first meeting between Anita and Jean Claude, I think it will be epic!
This first volume is as good as the others I've read. Anita is always the same and I really liked to see her penguins collection.
My english review
This time I start with the first volume, and I can tell it was better! One more time, we get into the story very quickly. The meeting with the voodoo priestess is very impressive and we feel all the horror and the feelings that inspire the machinations about the zombies. The dead are very well realized, but I confess the last ones are a little too much green. Shouldn't they be gray instead?
Otherwise I think the story follows the book very well, and we find Anita in an investigation about some horrific murders. But we can also add Jean Claude, a billionaire man determined to hire Anita even if she doesn't want it. The end of the comic concludes with the gift of the priestess, and I'm curious to assist to the first meeting between Anita and Jean Claude, I think it will be epic!
This first volume is as good as the others I've read. Anita is always the same and I really liked to see her penguins collection.
February 10, 2011
This graphic novel is amazing! I didn't think they would be able to fit the whole novel; which they didn't only about the first half, but they did a wonderful job. What I liked most is actually having a visual of the characters that i am so fond of reading about. Dolph as well as Jean-Claude exceeded my expectations in looks and I was really disappointed in the visualization of Detective Zebrowski and Dominga Salvador neither look like what I envisioned but still i enjoyed it nevertheless. Laughing Corpse i one of my favorite out of the Anita Blake series so reading this i was having a full blown fan girl moment. It only took me a day and a half to finish the whole thing which is about 56 pages so its very easy to read I read it commuting to and from school which is about an hour to a from. I would reccomend anyone who is either; a fan of the Anita Blake series, zombies, the supernatural, horror and a good ol' muder mystery.
June 6, 2011
I stopped reading the 'Anita Blake' books as I found them to be erotica very loosely connected by a plot. Had to select some graphic books for a challenge so picked this off the library shelf to see if 'comic' form might have been not so rude.
The character of Anita was drawn with huge boobs, long black curly hair, almost permanent sneers and a wide array of guns and knives. The bodies are dripping in gore, the zombies yucky, yucky, yucky. A teenage boy's idea of heaven!
The story not complete in the graphic book - was left on a cliff hanger - I so hate that. Was an average read and very bleak. Are there 'happy' graphic books with cute things?
Don't think I'd be tempted to continue reading the series.
Have two more graphic books to go - hope they are better than this!
The character of Anita was drawn with huge boobs, long black curly hair, almost permanent sneers and a wide array of guns and knives. The bodies are dripping in gore, the zombies yucky, yucky, yucky. A teenage boy's idea of heaven!
The story not complete in the graphic book - was left on a cliff hanger - I so hate that. Was an average read and very bleak. Are there 'happy' graphic books with cute things?
Don't think I'd be tempted to continue reading the series.
Have two more graphic books to go - hope they are better than this!
October 14, 2016
This is my first look into the world of Anita Blake and I'm impressed. Anita is a really strong character, she's an ass kicking vampire slayer (only when it's legal to do so), she can raise the dead and helps the police on the side. She is a very busy girl.
We don't actually get to see her bring the dead back in this one but I have a feeling we will see it fairly soon in later volumes. The zombies we do see in this book, look really good. All the artwork in this book is fantastic.
I also really loved the story about the souls being put back in the zombies, I'm interested to see where that is going. Great graphic novel and I will put the next volumes on my wishlist.
We don't actually get to see her bring the dead back in this one but I have a feeling we will see it fairly soon in later volumes. The zombies we do see in this book, look really good. All the artwork in this book is fantastic.
I also really loved the story about the souls being put back in the zombies, I'm interested to see where that is going. Great graphic novel and I will put the next volumes on my wishlist.
January 31, 2011
I really enjoyed the first few novels in the Anita Blake series, before everything became a love triangle and boring sameness. So having the graphic novels of the first few books is exciting. The graphic novel so far is pretty much just an illustrated version of the novel and that is fantastic. It would be have been annoying if they changed it around. It's fun to have faces to add to the ideas you have in your head of what characters in the book should look like. The illustrations are brilliant & translation from novel to graphic novel is seamless.
July 18, 2012
recently picked up a copy for £2.99 at a local comic book fair, and having vaguely remembered the book (the only one I ever brought... and got my ex hooked on it) I thought i would give it a go. I felt the artwork was pretty clean and sharp, if anything they could have gone more graphic in their detail, and the comic itself was pretty close to my memory of the novel itself. definitely one for fans of the earlier stories in the book series!
May 18, 2010
I loves me my Anita Blake. Now she's back trying to figure out what is killing innocent people and eating them: a ghoul, a super-zombie. She has to get involved with scary voodoo heavies to find out info. Meanwhile, the hot new vampire leader is hunting her down to claim her as his human slave. To be continued...
August 23, 2014
This is a graphic novel off of the Anita Blake vampire hunter book series. This is right near the beginning and I loved seeing everything drawn out in art. I have no idea how they'll do this later on in the series when the entire plot turns into a giant orgy, but this early along it works well. This is very short, I read it in a day.
April 25, 2015
I'm finding the graphic novel is far more interesting and less corny than the actual novels. It was a little annoying how every page in the first chapter rehashed she is "Anita Blake vampire hunter/killer or animator et etc" I mean seriously, we get it! Otherwise the story is good and pulled me in. Kicking myself for not grabbing volume 2!
October 19, 2009
Once again thanks to Brett Booth for giving a version of Anita that really looks like her. I don't hink he even still draws these, but whoever didi paid attention to what he did to visualize Anita. I love these gn's . . .
March 13, 2011
Ok, so I couldn't wait to start the Laughing Corpse, and who could blame me? Just like the books themselves, these gorgeously drawn comics are addictive! The gore, the mystery, the Zombies, the fantastic banter between Anita and Jean-Claude... Classic Anita!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews