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Electric Jesus Corpse
By the age of 18, Carlton Mellick III had already written over a dozen novels. The only of these books to make it to print was Electric Jesus Corpse , an ambitious (though incredibly rough) epic novel that showcased a young writer's gift for imaginative weirdness. This book is recommended for Mellick fans who want to experience his early amateur work. The twisted and surreal version of the story of Jesus Christ set in a bizarre version of modern day Earth that has been ravaged by war and cannibal zombie plagues, where the landscape is slowly mutating into meat and human flesh is transforming into machine. The novel follows Christ's twelve apostles. However, in this world the apostles are pimps, necrophiliacs, skinheads, and other assorted freaks. And they have no desire to follow Jesus Christ on his crusade to save humanity whatsoever. So this novel follows the lives of these never-been apostles on their separate epic journeys into the bizarre. An awkward and chaotic work of art that is like nothing you've ever seen.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2002
7 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Carlton Mellick III
118 books2,134 followersCarlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2008
The apparent inability to rate this book as a -5 is frustrating.
April 16, 2011
Electric Jesus Corpse felt like it was written "off the cuff"... you know, with spontaneity and without much thought.
April 21, 2016
Perhaps a little too wanna-shock-u and vague-of-plot to come of as genuine but still a solid piece for interesting characters and universe.
July 15, 2025
Just finished Electric Jesus Corpse—and wow, what a ride.
If I’m rating the joy of owning it: 5/5. That wild, chaotic, death-drenched cover and signature page? Absolute shelf candy. CM3 is such a great dude, and I’ll continue subscribing to the Carlton Mellick III Signature Library—I love that I get 2–3 beautifully unhinged surprises throughout the year.
Carlton Mellick III, a pioneer of the bizarro fiction movement, has built an entire empire of strange with his surreal, grotesque, and often emotionally resonant fever dreams. He’s the kind of author who’s not afraid to smear guts across the page while whispering something profound beneath the pulp.
Electric Jesus Corpse is one of his earliest works—written in his teenage years—and yes, it shows. It’s raw, jagged, and sometimes a mess. But that’s what makes it fascinating: a glimpse into the larval stage of a writer who would go on to pen some of the most imaginative weird fiction out there.
Synopsis (Spoiler-Free):
This collection is more like a chaotic mixtape of Mellick’s earliest experimental leanings—think cyberpunk angels, rotting theology, and body horror held together with electric tape. There’s less polish, more nerve. It’s not about plot—it’s about vibe. Pure, uncut bizarro nerve juice.
“She took a bite out of my arm and whispered scripture through the blood.”
(Yes. That’s the kind of communion we’re talking about here.)
What I Learned From Electric Jesus Corpse:
• Art can be sacred and sacrilegious at once. Even crude creations can pulse with spiritual madness.
• Every master starts somewhere. Watching Mellick evolve from this book to masterpieces like Neverday is deeply rewarding.
• Books are more than stories—they’re artifacts. Especially in the world of indie horror and bizarro, a signed copy with a killer cover becomes a treasured relic.
Final Thoughts
As a reading experience? A generous 2/5. It’s wild, but it’s rough—and unless you’re already a CM3 fan, I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point.
But as a collector’s piece, a glimpse into the early spasms of genius? 5/5, no hesitation.
So we’ll split the difference: 3.5/5.
If you’re new to Carlton Mellick III, do yourself a favor and start with something later in his career. The Menstruating Mall, Neverday, or the poetic absurdity of Every Time We Meet at the Dairy Queen Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes. Those are the books that put him in my personal top 5 writers of all time.
But if you’re a fan already? This one’s a haunting little time capsule. Cracked, bleeding, and oddly beautiful.
If I’m rating the joy of owning it: 5/5. That wild, chaotic, death-drenched cover and signature page? Absolute shelf candy. CM3 is such a great dude, and I’ll continue subscribing to the Carlton Mellick III Signature Library—I love that I get 2–3 beautifully unhinged surprises throughout the year.
Carlton Mellick III, a pioneer of the bizarro fiction movement, has built an entire empire of strange with his surreal, grotesque, and often emotionally resonant fever dreams. He’s the kind of author who’s not afraid to smear guts across the page while whispering something profound beneath the pulp.
Electric Jesus Corpse is one of his earliest works—written in his teenage years—and yes, it shows. It’s raw, jagged, and sometimes a mess. But that’s what makes it fascinating: a glimpse into the larval stage of a writer who would go on to pen some of the most imaginative weird fiction out there.
Synopsis (Spoiler-Free):
This collection is more like a chaotic mixtape of Mellick’s earliest experimental leanings—think cyberpunk angels, rotting theology, and body horror held together with electric tape. There’s less polish, more nerve. It’s not about plot—it’s about vibe. Pure, uncut bizarro nerve juice.
“She took a bite out of my arm and whispered scripture through the blood.”
(Yes. That’s the kind of communion we’re talking about here.)
What I Learned From Electric Jesus Corpse:
• Art can be sacred and sacrilegious at once. Even crude creations can pulse with spiritual madness.
• Every master starts somewhere. Watching Mellick evolve from this book to masterpieces like Neverday is deeply rewarding.
• Books are more than stories—they’re artifacts. Especially in the world of indie horror and bizarro, a signed copy with a killer cover becomes a treasured relic.
Final Thoughts
As a reading experience? A generous 2/5. It’s wild, but it’s rough—and unless you’re already a CM3 fan, I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point.
But as a collector’s piece, a glimpse into the early spasms of genius? 5/5, no hesitation.
So we’ll split the difference: 3.5/5.
If you’re new to Carlton Mellick III, do yourself a favor and start with something later in his career. The Menstruating Mall, Neverday, or the poetic absurdity of Every Time We Meet at the Dairy Queen Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes. Those are the books that put him in my personal top 5 writers of all time.
But if you’re a fan already? This one’s a haunting little time capsule. Cracked, bleeding, and oddly beautiful.
December 30, 2024
CM3 tried to warn me……let me start with I’m a huge fan of his. I’ve read and own most of his books and subscribe to his collectors library. When he announced he was going to release Electric Jesus Corpse one last time for a very limited number of copies I was pumped because he had taken it out of print for years and I didn’t have a copy. When I got my copy I was surprised at how long it is (just shy of 600 pages) which is his longest book by a mile. The letter he included he talks about how he wrote it at 17 for himself and just did a reprint for completionists and apologizes if you read it. So he tried to warn me but I needed to know. The idea is a bizarro take on the gospel story follow 12 chapters for the apostles but it is just…..not great. It’s hard to follow and jumbled, not very interesting and I just found myself racing to the end so I didn’t put it down and never pick it back up. This is for hardcore completionist fans for sure. Like CM3 says read it after you’ve read every other book he has written haha. It is interested to see the things he mined for later works (especially Satan Burger) but other than that I can’t recommend. Read literally anything else he has written.
February 19, 2019
I don't know if I can properly review this, aside from saying I couldn't actually finish it. I had gone in expecting a satire on religion and society, and instead ended up with a jumble of a story that I couldn't really follow. It dealt highly with a lot of sexual violence that was brushed off as no one would care, which I didn't see the point of in the story.
I may have just been in the wrong headspace for this. It may get better, become the black humour and satire I was hoping for. One day, I will try again, but for now - this book was not for me. I've heard many great things about Carlton Mellick III though, and I'm absolutely willing to try some of his other work just in case.
I may have just been in the wrong headspace for this. It may get better, become the black humour and satire I was hoping for. One day, I will try again, but for now - this book was not for me. I've heard many great things about Carlton Mellick III though, and I'm absolutely willing to try some of his other work just in case.
March 21, 2025
Too many characters. Too many plot threads. It’s a jumbled, trying to be edgy, mess. Follow Mellick’s advice and read everything he has ever written before this. I loved it in my early 20s, but reading it again at 40 after getting the collector’s edition from the CMIII library was eye opening on how much better of a writer he is now. Try Sweet Story, or Warrior Wolf Women.
One bottle of vodka out of a masturbating elephant.
One bottle of vodka out of a masturbating elephant.
October 9, 2009
This book isn't quite as good as Satan Burger but I liked it a lot.
The story never falters from beginning to end. That said, the implementation seems to wonder more towards the end, and I think the first two-thirds of the book or so far outshine the latter third, but that doesn't make finishing the anti-novel any less satisfying.
Just don't lose your bookmark, there's no page numbers.
The story never falters from beginning to end. That said, the implementation seems to wonder more towards the end, and I think the first two-thirds of the book or so far outshine the latter third, but that doesn't make finishing the anti-novel any less satisfying.
Just don't lose your bookmark, there's no page numbers.
March 27, 2008
It took me a minute to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. It's a totally twististed and chaotic story of Christ with a rather peaceful ending that left me satisfied. I reccomend this book, especially a bizzaro virgin.
December 24, 2008
By far one of the worse books I started to read.
January 23, 2009
Worst book ever.
August 17, 2009
Read Mellick's later books. He's awesome. This is an early work. Read it because I am a completist/saw it in the library.
January 16, 2012
Unreadable.
January 24, 2013
It has Jesus with vodka in it. At least that's worth something.
May 23, 2022
Full Review
2.5 Stars
Interesting for seeing Carlton Mellick's roots as a writer but not much else.
2.5 Stars
Interesting for seeing Carlton Mellick's roots as a writer but not much else.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews