Den (comics) - Critical Response

Critical Response

Most critics have commented on the rather uneven and cliched plot of the story and its visual power. Scholar Maurice Horn remarked that Den 1 "sounds like a lot of hokum ... but it is saved by Corben's astonishing graphic mastery and the sweep of his composition." Román Gubern considers that, "Den's brilliant experimentalism appeared tinted by a Neo-expressionist influence." Tim Pilcher calls Den "Conan on Viagra". Historian Paul Gravett thinks that "Corben's plotting may be erratic and prone to charges of sexism and cliché, but his total conviction and self-absorption in imagining this sensual dreamscape captivate and transport us there."

After analyzing all of Corben's major works, Alberto García Marcos wrote, "Den's stories seem to wander aimlessly, with a minimal plot that weaves scenes of heroism, sex and action while giving unlimited power to the imagination of the author in the design of scenes and characters and the graphic experimentation. And graphically they do have great impact, but taken as a whole ... they are more or less ... mental masturbation." Author Samuel R. Delany agrees with the importance of the visuals in Den and its basic lack of plot.

D. Aviva Rothschild wrote about the first volume, "Although coherent and interesting, the story takes second place to Corben's lush, magnificent, fully painted, animation-quality art." Rothschild believes that the only problem with the book is "the ludicrously large breasts of the two women..." but considers that Neverwhere "belongs in all adult collections...." Artist Bob Fingerman writes that, "Neverwhere is a timeless adult fantasy epic." According to the Lambiek online comiclopedia, "With 'Den', Corben had found his ideal fantasy world. Corben returned again and again to it, and an end of 'Den' is not to be foreseen."