Pinhead, a priest of Hell who takes great pleasure in inflicting pain and torture, found a prominent place in the Hellraiser series of movies. With pale white skin, red gridlines on his face, and numerous pins sticking out of his body, the movie depiction of this famous monster from “ The Hellbound Heart” (featured in Clive Barker’s Books of Blood 1-3) is what cemented his place among the truly timeless horror monsters the world has ever seen. From JC Bratton to Lady Gaga, many important creators have referenced or adapted the legend but Barker makes it count, creating a monster that makes a lasting impression.Īrguably the most well-known among all Clive Barker monsters, the image of Pinhead in all his glory, with his chilling blank stare and the most rudimentary of sadistic smiles in place, is familiar to most horror aficionados. While the movie adaptation features a different take on the character, it is still an apt representation of this monstrous being that adds to the many myths and legends connecting mirrors and evil. In Clive Barker’s “The Forbidden,” the Candyman comes to life as an unsettling reality, something that can put fear into the hearts of anyone looking into a mirror. Barker’s chilling takes on this legend is the Candyman, a man made of bees with a hook hand who wears a candy-colored coat and loves to tear people into pieces. Mary is a phantom, a spirit who appears inside a mirror when someone chants her name repeatedly. Many horror fans are familiar with the legend of Bloody Mary as it lives on in folklore. This twisted, sadistic take on God certainly qualifies to be one of the most spine-chilling Clive Barker monsters. Disappointed and disillusioned at the failure of mankind to live up to its potential, Wick unleashes hell on earth, killing and slaughtering people while imbibing in all the depraved, horrific sins he can find. In Barker’s The Next Testament, Wick or the Lord of Colors is God Almighty who wakes after an eternity of imprisonment and comes to look at how the modern world, the endgame of his creation, is shaping up.

Wick manifests as a swirling rainbow of violent colors and is cruel, violent, and laden with every sin known to man. Yes, Wick is literally THE God as outlined in Christian canon, with a sadistic, horrific Barker twist. Wick is what you get when a creator like Barker, obsessed with the concept of Hell, decides to put his own spin on God. These scary happenings, along with the stony face and tools of a killer who stops at nothing, are truly ingredients for a great Clive Barker monster. Mahogany is in service to these monsters and must kill to supply food for them. Eventually, readers find out about a race of monster lizards that populate the subterranean regions of New York, truly in control of the city and its elements. However, as the story progresses, deeper motives come to surface.

The Forbidden by Clive Barker