Hokum & Hex
Encyclopedia
Hokum & Hex is a superhero
comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
' Razorline
imprint
. It was created by filmmaker and horror
/fantasy
novelist Clive Barker
, written by Frank Lovece
and penciled by Anthony Williams
.
Unleashed, featuring the Razorline's superhero team, included a "Hokum & Hex" prose short story
by Lovece.
As Barker described, "I wanted to do something that was magical and mystical in the way that Doctor Strange
was and still is. Doctor Strange was one of my favourite comics from when I was a kid. So I suppose Hokum & Hex is my take on that".
apartment in Times Square
, New York City
, becomes, through apparently random circumstances, Earth's protector against the fundamentalist
warriors of an extradimensional god who is attempting to convert the planet. Monroe is imbued with the ability to change physical items from one thing to another, although the process, which depends on exactness of mind, does not always work as envisioned. Once, trying to change something into a club
for defense, he found himself holding a large playing-card club symbol (fortunately, though inadvertently, sharp-edged and ax-like).
Supporting characters included Gorkill Corpus, one of the extradimensional warriors, who are of the Corpii race; and Mona Lisa McDonagh, Trip's platonic best friend. Antagonists included the costumed but non-superpowered female bounty hunter
Wrath; In Extremis, one of the time-manipulating Tempus Magii; Z-Man, an aged, 1950s superhero who had been a 1940s sidekick; and Bloodshed, the champion of Felon Bale, the god opposing Trips benefactor, Godkin Straith.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Razorline
Razorline
Razorline was an imprint of American comic book company Marvel Comics that ran from 1993-1995. It was created by filmmaker and horror/fantasy novelist Clive Barker, with its characters existing in one of the many alternate universes outside the mainstream continuity known as the Marvel...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. It was created by filmmaker and horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novelist Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
, written by Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece
Frank Lovece is an American journalist, author, comedy performer and comic book writer. He was additionally one of the first professional Web journalists, becoming an editor of a Silicon Alley start-up in 1996....
and penciled by Anthony Williams
Anthony Williams (comics)
Anthony Williams is a Welsh comic book artist.-Biography:He broke into comics at Marvel UK, drawing for the series Action Force, The Real Ghostbusters and Transformers, among others...
.
Publication history
Hokum & Hex ran nine issues (cover-dated Sept. 1993 - May 1994) before being discontinued with the rest of the Razorline titles. A subsequent one-shot, HyperkindHyperkind
Hyperkind is a comic book series from Marvel Comics' 1993-1995 Razorline imprint, created by Clive Barker, written by Fred Burke penciled by Paris Cullins and inked by Bob Petrecca....
Unleashed, featuring the Razorline's superhero team, included a "Hokum & Hex" prose short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Lovece.
As Barker described, "I wanted to do something that was magical and mystical in the way that Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
was and still is. Doctor Strange was one of my favourite comics from when I was a kid. So I suppose Hokum & Hex is my take on that".
Fictional character biography
Trip Monroe, a failing stand-up comic who lives in his late grandfather's rent-controlledRent control
Rent control refers to laws or ordinances that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling.Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world...
apartment in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, becomes, through apparently random circumstances, Earth's protector against the fundamentalist
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
warriors of an extradimensional god who is attempting to convert the planet. Monroe is imbued with the ability to change physical items from one thing to another, although the process, which depends on exactness of mind, does not always work as envisioned. Once, trying to change something into a club
Club (weapon)
A club is among the simplest of all weapons. A club is essentially a short staff, or stick, usually made of wood, and wielded as a weapon since prehistoric times....
for defense, he found himself holding a large playing-card club symbol (fortunately, though inadvertently, sharp-edged and ax-like).
Supporting characters included Gorkill Corpus, one of the extradimensional warriors, who are of the Corpii race; and Mona Lisa McDonagh, Trip's platonic best friend. Antagonists included the costumed but non-superpowered female bounty hunter
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
Wrath; In Extremis, one of the time-manipulating Tempus Magii; Z-Man, an aged, 1950s superhero who had been a 1940s sidekick; and Bloodshed, the champion of Felon Bale, the god opposing Trips benefactor, Godkin Straith.