Shhhh.

So...some time ago...at least a year, maybe two...maybe even more...I saw an omnibus of Steven T. Seagle and Teddy H. Kristiansen's House of Secrets. A 752 page tome which included all 25 issues of the Vertigo series. I think it was $25. And I wanted it. I had it in my hands. But money was tight, so I put it back on the shelf. Thought about it for a couple of days. Decided that I really wanted it. Went back...it was gone.

I've looked for it every time I've gone to Half-Price Books since then. It's never returned.

I've looked for it on ComiXology, too, but even though the single issues were discounted to $1.99, that still made the whole series $50, which was more than hefty por moi. And no collection at a discount, as is usual. So...alas, no.

But tonight the thought of it crossed my mind again, and, since hope springs eternal within the human breast, I checked the price on Amazon...11 Used from $83.41, 8 New from $99.99. Nope. So I went to look at ComiXology and...oh. What? OH! It's FREE if you are a member of ComiXology unlimited? All 25 issues?

Did I mention that I have recently joined ComiXology Unlimited once again?

Just finished reading the first issue. Ahhh. The art reminds me a little bit of Dave McKean. If you know Dave McKean, then you know that that's just about as high as praise can be when it comes to comic book art. And the story is...well, it's rough at times. Discomfiting rough.  But it's also subtle. And clever. Clever in the smart sense, not in the "clever" sense. Even kind of funny at times. Like this:

Sorry about that, Portland. I know it's very mean and politically incorrect...but...well...snicker snicker.

But most of all, it's just thought provoking.

So, yeah, ComiXology. 30 day free trial.  $5.99 plus tax per month after that...and membership also gets you 10 - 15% off on purchases from a bunch of the big comic book companies.

Hell of a deal.

Okay. I have to go read issue #2 now.