Tag Archives: Vampires

BOOKS: “American Vampire, Vol. 5” by Scott Snyder

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American Vampire, Vol. 5American Vampire, Vol. 5 by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher Site — DC Comics

This collection contains two separate story arcs. The first, entitled “Lord of Nightmares,” takes place in Europe and features Felicia Book reluctantly being drawn back into Vampire fighting to protect her son, Gus, from a threat created by an ominous rising force. The second, entitled “The Blacklist,” takes place in California and also centers on a woman being drawn into Vampire hunting. In this case that woman is Pearl Jones — whose husband, Henry, is in a coma, and Pearl concludes they can never be safe until the coven that is after them has been eliminated. Despite the commonalities of the two arcs, they both feel quite distinct. The first being more a slick tale of intrigue and the second one being more Hollywood noir.

There is a single-issue at the end that sets up the continuing story.

I continue to like this series. The story arcs are satisfying and action-packed. I would recommend it for comic book readers who aren’t averse to a bit of horror.

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BOOKS: “American Vampire, Vol. 2” by Scott Snyder

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American Vampire, Vol. 2American Vampire, Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher site

This six-issue volume, just like the first, intersperses the story of two American vampires, Skinner Sweet and Pearl Jones. For those who haven’t read Vol. 1, the American Vampire is mutated to have advantages of strength, speed, and UV resistance, but in vampire mode they are much more monstrous. The first four issues focus on a detective noir story set in 1930’s Las Vegas. Skinner Sweet could be said to be central to events in that arc, though not to be the lead character. (That would be the police detective trying to solve a string of gruesome murders.) The last two issues put the Pearl Jones story front and center. That arc is set during the same timeframe, but in Northern California. The first arc is tied up more successfully, but I suspect this has to do with the challenges of interspersing stories (the first arc also has twice as much space with which to work.)

There’s an interesting contrast between the stories. Skinner Sweet is villainous, was villainous before he became a vampire, and is even more so afterwards. The Pearl Jones story is more of a love story between Pearl and her human husband, Henry Preston — albeit a love story in which the couple is being hunted by nefarious forces and must fight to survive. She is trying to be free of the monster life as best she can.

I am enjoying this series. The journey through time and landscapes of America makes this not just another vampire story. If you enjoy comics that mix genres, I’d highly recommend this volume.

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BOOK REVIEW: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Grahame-Smith

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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this alternative-history / paranormal novel, Abraham Lincoln is re-invented as a man who experiences great tragedy at the hands of vampires and then devotes his life to hunting them- a battle which culminates in the Civil War. In the Civil War of this book, slaves are not just valued as plantation labor but also as vampire food.

Grahame-Smith’s book is written in the mold of Bram Stoker’s, as a series of journal entries, letters, and missives.This helps to give it a feel of authenticity as that seemed to be a common device in the late 19th century.

Lincoln comes into contact with a number of contemporaries, some vampire but most humans knowledgeable about vampires– such as Edgar Allen Poe.

The perspective jumps can be a bit confusion, but all-in-all it is entertaining.

A movie was made about this book, which I haven’t seen.

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