Tori Amos is no stranger to comic books, as her name-checking of Sandman author Neil Gaiman in the song Space Dog proves. In turn, Gaiman is here to provide an introduction to this volume of comic strip interpretations of Amos’ songs.
The first thing that strikes is its sheer size and weight; it’s massive. The second is the loving care with which it has been constructed, and the quality of writers and artists gathered. They range from current DC and Marvel Comics stars, through a whole gamut of mainstream and independent creators.
This collection doesn’t just retell songs through sequential art. Most creators have taken a title or a lyrical moment and produced something complete within itself; for example, the tightly-compressed tension of Little Earthquakes. Some of the most striking pieces are rendered “silent”: freelance illustrator Kako’s take on Marianne is a thing of beauty with its dense greens and deep reds, and Amber Stone’s use of selective colour on Jackie’s Strength are highly successful visual impressions. There are also some very special coming of age pieces, notably the lesbian love affair in Teenage Hustling and the life-changing Here In My Head. It’s a powerful assemblage of stories that greatly add to the source material.
