In the mean time enjoy a review of DC Comics I,Vampire by BOOM Page writer Kenneth Alexander Wright Vazquez
DC Comics: I, Vampire Review
By Kenneth Alexander Wright Vazquez
Gothic horror is one of the genres that I gravitate to as much as sci fi and fantasy if not more. That's why of all the non super hero books released within DC Comics company wide relaunch "The New 52" the one that I personally enjoy most is the modern day retelling of 'I, VAMPIRE'.
Originally introduced in the pages of DC's 'The House of Mystery' #290 in March 1981, 'I, Vampire' told the tale of noble man turned vampire/vampire hunter Andrew Bennett and his lifetime pursuit of his fomer lover and renegade vampire Mary Seward. After a succesful run in the anthology format of the book Lord Bennett died defeating Mary Seward only to be restored to his undead self and placed back to sleep by Doctor Fate himself. No one knew if he would ever rise and walk the Earth again.
While the 80s version of Andrew Bennett looked like something out of a Hammer Films reel or a cross between Christopher Lee and Ra's Al Ghul, the new and improved take found in 'I,Vampire' is regal, young and more akin to something out of 'True Blood'. Don't worry vampire fans, the New 52 version does not feature "sparkly diamond studded" vamps. These vampires are portrayed as what they truly are and always were meant to be, monsters.
Written with scale and grand operatic scope by Joshua Hale Fialkov and gorgeously penciled by Italian artist Andrea Sorrentino, I, Vampire #1 starts with a bloody bang in the streets of Boston where Andrew Bennett is slaying an army of vampire newborns spawned by his lover Mary "The Queen of Blood". While Andrew refuses to give in to the curse and has vowed to protect the planet from vampires, Mary has embraced her blood lust and is planning to lead her army of the undead and feast on humanity. The full range of vampiric powers are beautifully depicted in this book with Andrew turning into mist, a beast like monster and a wolf. Mary's followers are a scary bunch of flesh eating and blood drinking voracious creeps.
Told from Mary Seward's point of view, issue #2 explores how she sees the world and her 400 year quest to destroy humans and Andrew's crusade to stop her at all costs. Issue #3 introduces one of Andrew's human allies, college professor turned slayer John Troughton. By the issue's end they are joined by Tig Rafelson a teenage girl and vampire hunter with borderline psychotic tendencies.
The Hellblazer himself, John Constantine, makes a guest appearance in issue #4 where after an encounter with Andrew Bennett he comes to the realization that he hates "sissy-boy vampires". Issue #5 follows Andrew into the streets of Gotham City where he comes face to face with Batman. The Dark Knight joins Andrew and the rest of the hunters in issue #6 for a battle royale between them and an army of new borns led by Mary. With the members of Justice League Dark in tow and after a tragic turn of event at the end of the previous chapter, issue #7 kicks off The Rise of The Vampire arc with the resurrection of the first immortal, Cain.
I cannot stress enough how amazing and realistic the art by Andrea Sorrentino looks. It mirrors the style of Jae Lee (Inhumans) and Alex Maleev (Daredevil) and yet it remains bold and unique. And while Justice League Dark appears in the 7th issue without proper introduction (they're introduced in Justice League Dark #7) the pace continues to move at break a neck fashion.
I, Vampire is without a doubt a solid and strong book which seeks to breed new life into the vampire horror sub genre with its epic, romantic and noirish storytelling and surrealistic visuals. This book is worth the bite.
This arc gets 5 stakes from me
No comments:
Post a Comment