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Journey Into Darkness: The Unauthorized History of Kane
A novel based on the life of Kane, one of the most enigmatic characters in WWE history, describes the shocking past of the reclusive superstar, including his troubled youth, including the tragedy that claimed his mother's life and the accident that killed one of his few friends, as well his relationship with his half-brother, Undertaker. Original.
- GenresHorrorSportsNonfiction
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 30, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 2, 2025
The ‘Unauthorized’—read; made up—history of Kane is one of the more bizarre branding ventures of the WWE, (not as disastrous as trying to create their own football league to rival the NFL), but kudos for assuming their fans can even read.
I kid. I watched WraASslin’ as a kid and The Big Red Machine was my guy. When those turnbuckles exploded in flames and that masked seven-foot monster lumbered down to the ring to that ominous metal entrance score, I was ecstatic. (Kane has also appeared as the villain of a slasher duology; See No Evil. Again, didn’t pan out to one day fight Freddy or Jason).
Several WWE (formerly WWF) stars have released memoirs, but I don’t recall any fictionalized novels about Hulk Hogan or The Rock being published. There have been comic books and team-ups with the Scooby-Doo gang, but perhaps they knew that the Kane-enites were the brooding literary types.
Invented in this melodrama is the backstory of Kane’s rivalry with his half-brother, The Undertaker. It has the underpinnings of Greek myth and tragedy. Kane loses his family in a fire, becomes disfigured, and somehow this leads to him settling these scores in front of thousands of people.
Yes, it is not just a novel about Kane, but about how his tormented past precipitated to him choke-slamming motherfuckers in the ring. It presents the storyline within the weekly programming matches as authentic and true. It’s an admirable effort of lunacy and there’s really never been anything else like it, just like the character at its center.
I kid. I watched WraASslin’ as a kid and The Big Red Machine was my guy. When those turnbuckles exploded in flames and that masked seven-foot monster lumbered down to the ring to that ominous metal entrance score, I was ecstatic. (Kane has also appeared as the villain of a slasher duology; See No Evil. Again, didn’t pan out to one day fight Freddy or Jason).
Several WWE (formerly WWF) stars have released memoirs, but I don’t recall any fictionalized novels about Hulk Hogan or The Rock being published. There have been comic books and team-ups with the Scooby-Doo gang, but perhaps they knew that the Kane-enites were the brooding literary types.
Invented in this melodrama is the backstory of Kane’s rivalry with his half-brother, The Undertaker. It has the underpinnings of Greek myth and tragedy. Kane loses his family in a fire, becomes disfigured, and somehow this leads to him settling these scores in front of thousands of people.
Yes, it is not just a novel about Kane, but about how his tormented past precipitated to him choke-slamming motherfuckers in the ring. It presents the storyline within the weekly programming matches as authentic and true. It’s an admirable effort of lunacy and there’s really never been anything else like it, just like the character at its center.
May 20, 2024
This is a unconventional idea which I'm not sure what to really feel about. A novel based on the character backstory of Wwe wrestler Kane. If you are not a wrestling fan I can't imagine you would get much out of this as the story is quite generic and uneventful. If your are a fan then you might enjoy this just for the mention of others wrestlers and the way the author blends real life wrestling events in to his story.
May 7, 2024
Good but the profanity wasn't necessary.
July 11, 2019
I loved this book. I carried it around with me during school and read it whenever I could. What an awesome tale. I love this book and I'm happy I bought it. It's obvious that it's fictional, but I love how this story was created and made to seem like it was someone's actual life. It felt like a more gruesome version of Beauty and the Beast except it follows the "beast" more so in this tale and the "beauty" dies. This story could actually be believable if Kane's true nature was the character he portrays behind the camera. Anyways, I loved this tale. Very unique and creative.
December 5, 2018
I'd rate this book a 3.5/5
This wasn't a "good" book. It was predictable and cliche and unbelievable. The writing itself wasn't particularly bad but I wouldn't call it good. But this book was fun to read, and that's why I gave it a higher rating.
Seeing the way they tied everything together and following along was amusing. Part of what I loved so much was all the wrestling references and Easter eggs (like mentioning that his brother Mark would never take over the family business because he just couldn't picture him as an undertaker). This definitely wasn't a funny book, but I was still chuckling throughout.
That being said, I would definitely not recommend this if you're not a wrestling fan. The enjoyable part was mostly finding all the hidden references and knowing what I already know about the characters and seeing it tie together with the "canon" story that WWF/E has told over the years. But if you're a wrestling fan and don't take it too seriously, I think this is a fun book.
This wasn't a "good" book. It was predictable and cliche and unbelievable. The writing itself wasn't particularly bad but I wouldn't call it good. But this book was fun to read, and that's why I gave it a higher rating.
Seeing the way they tied everything together and following along was amusing. Part of what I loved so much was all the wrestling references and Easter eggs (like mentioning that his brother Mark would never take over the family business because he just couldn't picture him as an undertaker). This definitely wasn't a funny book, but I was still chuckling throughout.
That being said, I would definitely not recommend this if you're not a wrestling fan. The enjoyable part was mostly finding all the hidden references and knowing what I already know about the characters and seeing it tie together with the "canon" story that WWF/E has told over the years. But if you're a wrestling fan and don't take it too seriously, I think this is a fun book.
March 6, 2018
A very fascinating take on Kane's life. Although it certainly has its plot holes, its a solid horror/action tale which I'd like to see a sequel of that chronicles Kane's in-ring career from a similar kayfabe perspective.
August 30, 2022
Would've added another star if they included chapters on Fake Diesel and Isaac Yankem, DDS.
October 27, 2022
This is a great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 16, 2024
I love tie-ins! Reading about the history of WWE's Kane, in character, is definitely unique and something I wish companies did a little bit more of.
January 5, 2025
Not a good book. However, being a wrestling fan and enjoying the medium I found it a funny and silly read.
October 14, 2011
"Journey Into Darkness is exactly as it sounds as it is based on the fictitious life story of Kane. This even goes deeper into many aspects of both men who are The Undertaker and Kane using their real names in the book as well along with the storylines used in the novel as well.
Pretty much, the entire novel is based on the life of Kane using many of the story arcs and angles the WWE has used as well including the Katie Vick storyline, the parents passing in the morgue, the hatred Kane has for his brother The Undertaker, and other storylines as well. The one that I did like the most is how they also meshed in some facts about both wrestlers into the novel including the real names of both Undertaker and Kane, being the Undertaker's real name is Mark Calaway, and Kane's real name is Glenn Jacobs. It made the entire a cross-over into what is believable because certain parts were true even though the story is fiction.
All in all, a very good read for what it is and it kept me going but as for a dark novel compared to other dark novels out there, it is may I say a little tame compared to stuff like Chuck Palahniuk or even novels like ""Kiss Me, Judas"" and ""American Psycho"". A very entertaining read and worth picking up for the price given. The autobiographies of wrestlers can be more entertaining to read though especially those of Mick Foley and Dwayne Johnson."
Pretty much, the entire novel is based on the life of Kane using many of the story arcs and angles the WWE has used as well including the Katie Vick storyline, the parents passing in the morgue, the hatred Kane has for his brother The Undertaker, and other storylines as well. The one that I did like the most is how they also meshed in some facts about both wrestlers into the novel including the real names of both Undertaker and Kane, being the Undertaker's real name is Mark Calaway, and Kane's real name is Glenn Jacobs. It made the entire a cross-over into what is believable because certain parts were true even though the story is fiction.
All in all, a very good read for what it is and it kept me going but as for a dark novel compared to other dark novels out there, it is may I say a little tame compared to stuff like Chuck Palahniuk or even novels like ""Kiss Me, Judas"" and ""American Psycho"". A very entertaining read and worth picking up for the price given. The autobiographies of wrestlers can be more entertaining to read though especially those of Mick Foley and Dwayne Johnson."
April 18, 2016
Fleshing out the backstories of fantastic characters into serious, dramatic novels (such as what Serena Valentino has been doing over the past few years with Disney villains) has long been a lucrative source of fun, engrossing fiction. "Journey Into Darkness" was the first novel I read in this vein, and it remains my favorite. Even those who are not fans of pro wrestling, upon which Kane's story is based, could really enjoy it. At times, it is genuinely heartbreaking, but in a page-turning way. And certainly any fan of Kane and The Undertaker will eat this one up! The only caution I have to offer is to anyone who is the parent of a young fan of the current PG-era WWE. This novel was written back in the days when WWE's product was edgier and more prone to vulgarity and adult content. The F-bomb and its crass colleagues are used liberally throughout, so don't assume that this novel reflects the family-friendly content currently produced by WWE. But to a mature-minded audience, this is a must-read for Kane fans, and for lovers of horror-drama.
July 10, 2014
I was expecting some supernatural tomfoolery, but instead I got what was mostly a YA teen romance. Could've been written by Paul Zindel.
Reading matches I remember from the 1990s dramatized as fiction was a trip, although trying to cram a year's worth of matches into a dozen pages hurt the end of the book a bit.
Still, it was mostly a hoot, and the writing was more than adequate.
Reading matches I remember from the 1990s dramatized as fiction was a trip, although trying to cram a year's worth of matches into a dozen pages hurt the end of the book a bit.
Still, it was mostly a hoot, and the writing was more than adequate.
September 8, 2008
This book gave me a better understanding on the WWE Superstar Glen Jackobs And his WWE Role Character as KANE.
January 9, 2011
A genuinely enjoyable book which seems a lot more Fiction than Fact ... But it is believable with the guy it is about.
February 19, 2019
A believable story about the fictional character Kane.
January 16, 2016
A difficult challenge well managed. Turning the often inconsistent WWE storylines into a logical story. A must read for any Kane / Undertaker fan.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews