On a dark, haunted night, a Russian oligarch dares a circle of international chefs to play the samurai game of 100 Candles-where each storyteller spins a terrifying tale of ghosts, demons and unspeakable beings-and prays to survive the challenge. Inspired by the Japanese Edo period game of Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, Hungry Ghosts reimagines the classic stories of yokai, yorei, and obake, all tainted with the common thread of food. First course: With bad consequence, a ramen chef refuses to help a beggar, and a band of pirates get more (and less) than they were bargaining for after their encounter with a drowning woman turns ghastly. Hungry Gh more
Anthony Bourdain proves yet again he can do no wrong. A modern day King Midas, it seems like everything he gets his hands on takes off in a major way! Read Full Review
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Hungry Ghosts, finding it to be an enjoyable introduction. I love the concept, finding it to be a clever take on 100 candles and I'm looking forward to discovering what delectable treats they have in store for us next. If you're a fan of something a little different but no less compelling, then do yourself a favour and grab a copy ASAP! Read Full Review
Final Verdict: 9.2 " A tonally brilliant horror anthology that combines atmosphere with socially relevant storytelling, "Hungry Ghosts" is a great launcher for the Berger Books line. Read Full Review
The supernatural side of Hungry Ghosts allows the creative team to flex some subtle, crafty muscles. Ghosts are seated with guests for a panel, the dark room on the far side of a mirror becomes the dining hall in the moment a tale of terror climaxes. It's small moments like these that give Ghosts an air of sophistication despite the bawdy, penny dreadful stories being told. The idea that the stories will get better and scarier with time is also a genius move for a serial book. Expect greatness. Read Full Review
The comic does exactly what it promises: tells ghost stories with a focus on the food that gets the people in the horrific situations. Read Full Review
While there is a lot of familiar here for me as I've watched full series and read full manga works that basically tell this tale, I'm enjoying this opening take on it from a Western perspective. The first story is a little too familiar for my tastes but Ponticelli's artwork and the framing of the larger setting is spot on and engaging. The second story with Vanessa Del Rey's artwork is the highlight for me as it serves up the cruelty all around and the blindness of many. With this being just four issues it should be a solid little anthology style series with some good stories and great artwork based on the lineup so far. I'm eager to see more even if there is that air of familiarity about a lot of it. Read Full Review
Hungry Ghosts is off to a great start. If this is the caliber of story we get from the first issue, I'm excited to see what the rest of the series will bring. I imagine that each chef will try to one-up the previous one with scarier tales. Read Full Review
If youre looking for the kind of rich, character driven horror delivered by books like Hellblazer or Swamp Thing, look elsewhere. If you want a comic that approximates sitting around the campfire on a dark summer night with a bag of marshmallows and a few good friends, trying to scare each other stupid, then I recommend giving Hungry Ghosts a taste. Read Full Review
Hungry Ghosts #1 won't leave you with nightmares, but there's enough potential to deliver some in the future. Read Full Review
Karen Berger is widely and correctly soby the way, recognised asan industry great. Her work on Vertigo speaks for itself and herabsence is surely felt at DC, mainly as DC try to "superhero" some of their Vertigostalwarts.Berger Books has given her anopportunity tohelpher thumb her nose to her past employers. As a first issue, this bookfeels rather safe, which is a taddisappointing, yet it does allow for growth infuture issues. Read Full Review
A solid, if not entirely overwhelming, debut, Hungry Ghosts #1 is a worthy offering from the nascent Berger Books imprint from Dark Horse Comics, but I'm hoping for deeper material as the imprint grows, and this series continues. Read Full Review
As a concept, Hungry Ghosts retains power, some of which may be fulfilled in future, less crowded installments. Yet as an individual issue of a comic, it is difficult to recommend. Ponticelli and Del Rey are faultless, but the stories they are telling lack life. There's very little frightening about these ghost stories beyond a few horrifying images. These are the sorts of tales you quickly skip past at summer camp, primarily because the storyteller doesn't know how to shape them. There's plenty of talent within these pages, but very little of it is being displayed well. Read Full Review
The unlikely combination of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and novelist Joel Rose brought us Get Jiro a few years back. Their latest collaboration is just as esoteric, and once against draws upon a Japanese tradition of storytelling. The start of an anthology series based around a series of kitchen nightmares, the creators eyes may have been bigger than their stomachs in this less-than-satisfying degustation of tales. Read Full Review
Hungry Ghosts #1 art by Alberto Ponticelli and Jose VillarrubiaHungry Ghosts gives a very underwhelming first showing. While its framing does have a lot of potential, the first two tales of horror it gives miss the mark by far. I cant recommend this one, even with the art being as good as it is. It may take some good turns down the line, so maybe check back in next issue. This first one, however, is not recommended. Give it a pass. Read Full Review
Hungry Ghosts #1 is a flawed first issue. Does that kill the series? No. At least, not yet. And, perhaps Bourdain and Rose will find better footing with subsequent issues. As it stands, it's difficult to recommend Hungry Ghosts, but the premise is still ripe with potential, so I'll at least give it another issue. Read Full Review
Instead of enticing me to read the next issue, Hungry Ghosts #1 makes me pine for Alex de Campi's Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight. The pirate story in particular sounds like it's right in her wheelhouse, and she would have done a better job with it. Still, first issues are difficult to pull off, and I hold out hope that this series will improve. I just hope that the other titles under the "Berger Books" imprint will fair better. Dr. J gives this a". Read Full Review
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