Scott Snyder curates a caveful of flying critters in Batman, but I’ve missed his take on the vampire kind of bat since his collaboration with Rafael Albuquerque went on hiatus. So it’s good to see volume two of American Vampire, their 20th century-spanning horror serial, kick off.
The narrative has moved up in time to the 1960s, where a young woman called Henrietta Jones opens her Kansas farm to runaways. Very special runaways.
You won’t be surprised to hear that the kids in question are little vampires. Henrietta, who says she’s the daughter of Pearl Jones – heroine of the first volume – aims to give them succour, until such time as she can find them a safe, permanent home. While they’re with her, she uses the opportunity to chart the various types of vampires around the world.
I’m especially intrigued by a map of vampire types, and how they intersect with such other ‘fantasy’ beings as trolls and gargoyles – I wonder if we’re going to get a wee tie-in to the creature mythos in Snyder’s differently excellent The Wake series, which also has an interest in charts and xenomorphology.
Snyder and Albuquerque aren’t the only original creatives back for more – Dave McCaig’s colours evoke the physical and emotional landscape of the West with skill, while Steve Wands’ subtle lettering helps draw the reader into the story.
This comment has been removed by the author.
LikeLike
Hello Peter. Check out my phrasing: 'Henrietta, who says she's the daughter of Pearl Jones…' That's me not spoiling ten seconds after the book came out. Appreciate you commenting, though, thanks.
LikeLike
Hey mart what do you think of the character skinner sweet also i thought you didn't like such gory bloody comics
LikeLike
Oh dang it. Sorry Martin. I wasn't thinking. I just thought you might've misread something and here I am not reading between the lines.
LikeLike
Oh Peter, you deleted a perfectly understandable comment – look at the boners I make!
LikeLike
Skinner Sweet? Interesting, not someone I'd wish to spend time with, awful hair.
And I don't mind violence that has some narrative point, and isn't in a superhero book.
LikeLike
“aims to give them succour”
Giving young vampires…succour. Oh Mart you rascal you, clever there.
LikeLike
Aw, glad you noticed!
LikeLike