Comic Book Tattoo is an Eisner award and Harvey Award–winning anthologygraphic novel made up of fifty-one stories, each based on or inspired by a song by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, published by Image Comics in 2008. Rantz Hoseley, longtime friend of Amos, served as the book's editor. Together, Hoseley and Amos gathered eighty different artists to collaborate on the book. Comic Book Tattoo includes an introduction by another longtime friend of Amos, Neil Gaiman, creator of The Sandman series.
Background
From the start, it was decided that Comic Book Tattoo would not contain comic book versions of music videos for Amos's songs, nor illustrations created from literal interpretations of Amos's lyrics. Of her role in the project, editor Hoseley said, "It was very important to [Amos] that she see how the different creators were treating 'her girls' (the songs), but at the same time, not tying the creator's hands or make them feel restricted in any way and making sure that they felt the freedom to tell the kind of story that they felt strongly about."[1] When approached to contribute to the project, the graphic artists were asked to create a story that reflects that which the songs make them feel.
About the finished collection, Amos said, "I have been surprised, excited and pleasantly shocked by these comics that are extensions of the songs that I have loved and therefore welcome these amazing stories of pictures and words because they are uncompromisingly inspiring. It shows you thought is a powerful, formidable essence and can have a breathtaking domino effect."[2]
The title of the book comes from a lyric in Amos' song "Flying Dutchman".
* – Song is a B-side from aforementioned album
(C) – Artist served as a colorist
(L) – Artist served as a letterer
Editions
Comic Book Tattoo was initially made available in three formats, with the addition of another special edition released in November 2008. The available versions are;
