The Pendulum EP
Encyclopedia
The Pendulum is a 12-issue miniseries of comic book
s based upon the Dark Carnival universe
, a mythology detailed in the music of the Insane Clown Posse
. Distributed by Chaos! Comics
, the series was published from January 2000 until December 2001. A graphic novel
containing all 12 issues was released on August 20, 2002 along with an album featuring most of the Pendulum singles.
signed on to publish a 12 part comic book series about Insane Clown Posse. After choosing Jumpsteady
as the writer for the series, the group decided to release new singles with each issue. However, due to other responsibilities, the duo was unable to record new material for several issues. Each 32 page issue of the comic was polybagged with a CD single in a cardboard sleeve; the reverse of all 12 sleeves could be combined to form a poster.
The first issue was released with a variant cover featuring art from The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
, advertised as 1 in every 4 issues. On August 20, 2002, a graphic novel of all 12 issues entitled The Pendulum Tome was released. A prologue, special Halloween comic issue, and full length album was released with the novel. The album featured all of the singles released with the comic book issues, with the exception of the three singles from The Pendulum #7 which was replaced with a spoken word intro.
, a crazed police SWAT
team, and a host of demonic minions to stop the clowns. Insane Clown Posse call upon the assistance of the Joker's Cards to overcome the minions. An all-out showdown takes place at the demon's earthly headquarters with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance of the Pendulum.
Psychopathics from Outer Space. Run!, Superstar, Confessions, and Nuttin' But A Bitch Thang were later featured on Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
. The song "Toxic Love" was also the 2000 Hallowicked single. An alternate, cleaner version of "The Greatest Show" was used as the entrance music for the professional wrestling
stable Oddities in the World Wrestling Federation. The song was featured on the album WWF The Music, Vol. 3
.
The song "I Don't Care" was originally slated for Dark Lotus
' debut album Tales from the Lotus Pod
, but instead appeared on Twiztid
's Cryptic Collection Vol. 2
. The song was later used in Juggalo Championship Wrestling's highlights video on JCW, Volume 2. The song "Ain't Nuttin' But a Bitch Thang," originally released on Insane Clown Posse's website, is a diss track
directed toward rapper Eminem
. The songs "What Rydas Do Fo Money," "Who Wanna Flex?," "I Don't Wanna Die" were originally intended for solo albums by each member of the group Psychopathic Rydas
, but the idea was scrapped.
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...
s based upon the Dark Carnival universe
Dark Carnival (Insane Clown Posse)
The Dark Carnival is the mythology of the concept album series used in much of Insane Clown Posse's discography. It is a concept of the afterlife in which souls are sent to a form of limbo while waiting to be sent to Heaven or Hell based on their individual actions. These concepts are related by...
, a mythology detailed in the music of the Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
. Distributed by Chaos! Comics
Chaos! Comics
Chaos! Comics was a comic book publisher that operated from 1994 until 2002.-Overview:Their titles included Lady Death, Purgatori, Evil Ernie, Chastity, Jade, Omen, Bad Kitty, Cremator, Lady Demon, and Smiley The Psychotic Button.They also published licensed comics for the World Wrestling...
, the series was published from January 2000 until December 2001. A graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
containing all 12 issues was released on August 20, 2002 along with an album featuring most of the Pendulum singles.
Creation
In 1999, Chaos! ComicsChaos! Comics
Chaos! Comics was a comic book publisher that operated from 1994 until 2002.-Overview:Their titles included Lady Death, Purgatori, Evil Ernie, Chastity, Jade, Omen, Bad Kitty, Cremator, Lady Demon, and Smiley The Psychotic Button.They also published licensed comics for the World Wrestling...
signed on to publish a 12 part comic book series about Insane Clown Posse. After choosing Jumpsteady
Robert Bruce (rapper)
Robert Bruce is a former American rapper, Psychopathic Records don, and professional wrestler, and currently works as a paramedic in Detroit, Michigan.Bruce is most commonly known by his stage name Jumpsteady...
as the writer for the series, the group decided to release new singles with each issue. However, due to other responsibilities, the duo was unable to record new material for several issues. Each 32 page issue of the comic was polybagged with a CD single in a cardboard sleeve; the reverse of all 12 sleeves could be combined to form a poster.
The first issue was released with a variant cover featuring art from The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
The Amazing Jeckel Brothers is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on May 25, 1999, by Island Records, in association with Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 1998 to 1999. The album is the fifth Joker's Card in the...
, advertised as 1 in every 4 issues. On August 20, 2002, a graphic novel of all 12 issues entitled The Pendulum Tome was released. A prologue, special Halloween comic issue, and full length album was released with the novel. The album featured all of the singles released with the comic book issues, with the exception of the three singles from The Pendulum #7 which was replaced with a spoken word intro.
Plot summary
The miniseries details Insane Clown Posse's attempts to stop a demon named Killnor from destroying a priest named Father Jesus, who possesses miraculous healing powers. Killnor summons the undead duo TwiztidTwiztid
Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Warren, Michigan. The group is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child...
, a crazed police SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team, and a host of demonic minions to stop the clowns. Insane Clown Posse call upon the assistance of the Joker's Cards to overcome the minions. An all-out showdown takes place at the demon's earthly headquarters with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance of the Pendulum.
Music and lyrics
Several songs were also featured on several other albums. The songs "The Amazing Maze" and "$50 Bucks" appeared on the 2000 compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Psychopathics from Outer Space. Run!, Superstar, Confessions, and Nuttin' But A Bitch Thang were later featured on Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
-Chart positions:...
. The song "Toxic Love" was also the 2000 Hallowicked single. An alternate, cleaner version of "The Greatest Show" was used as the entrance music for the professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable Oddities in the World Wrestling Federation. The song was featured on the album WWF The Music, Vol. 3
WWF The Music, Vol. 3
WWF The Music, Vol. 3 is a compilation album released by the World Wrestling Federation in 1998. It features mostly recent theme tunes of wrestlers on the roster at the time. All of the songs were produced by Jim Johnston; although, a few themes were performed by other bands. This is also the first...
.
The song "I Don't Care" was originally slated for Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau.-History:Dark Lotus made its...
' debut album Tales from the Lotus Pod
Tales From The Lotus Pod
Tales from the Lotus Pod is the first album by American hip hop group Dark Lotus. Released in 2001, the album featured the first and only appearance of former member Marz, who was soon dismissed from the group. Mike E. Clark was brought in to produce the album, but left the project after producing...
, but instead appeared on Twiztid
Twiztid
Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Warren, Michigan. The group is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child...
's Cryptic Collection Vol. 2
Cryptic Collection Vol. 2
Cryptic Collection 2 is a compilation album by Twiztid. Released on October 22, 2001, it is the second in the Cryptic Collection series, followed by Cryptic Collection Vol. 3, each containing rare tracks not available on regular releases....
. The song was later used in Juggalo Championship Wrestling's highlights video on JCW, Volume 2. The song "Ain't Nuttin' But a Bitch Thang," originally released on Insane Clown Posse's website, is a diss track
Diss track
A diss track or diss song is a song primarily intended to disparage or insult another person or group. While musical parodies and attacks have always existed, the trend became increasingly common in the hip hop genre as part of the hip hop rivalry phenomenon...
directed toward rapper Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
. The songs "What Rydas Do Fo Money," "Who Wanna Flex?," "I Don't Wanna Die" were originally intended for solo albums by each member of the group Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas is an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1999, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of mainstream gangsta rap...
, but the idea was scrapped.