Vampire Dog Humour… (Who knew?)

What started out as a rather distressing page in DC’s New 52 I, Vampire grew into something rather amusing. [Warning, there are some spoilers for the series, so don’t read ahead if you don’t want anything ruined…]

First, Andrew Bennett (who at this point is a badass, evil-as-hell uber-vampire) had a snack…

Poor Mishkin.

Luckily, we learn later that the dog has been turned! (Vampire dogs – something I’ve been seeing a bit more, lately… Amusing memories of Blade: Trinity: the cross-bred vampire Pomeranian. Heh.) Good ol’ Mishkin gives the good guys a hand.

Of course, in true apocalyptic-horror-fun, Bennett is no longer a bad-guy, and is fighting for the light side again.

Finally: “Goood vampire-doggy…”

I, Vampire ended with issue #19, sadly. It was written by Joshua Fialkov, with art by Andrea Sorrentino and Fernando Blanco. I think it was a pretty good comic: the artwork was perfectly suited to the horror and atmospheric storylines, and Fialkov’s writing was top-notch. I’ve read all 19 issues, and none of them were bad. There were moments that were a little cheesy, but I get the feeling Fialkov was aiming for Buffy-esque humour (especially towards the end).

Here’s Andrew and Cain, the first vampire…

R.I.P. I, Vampire. I’ll miss your nuttiness.

Artwork: The Last Three Issues of “I, Vampire” (DC)

Just a very simple artwork post, in the wake of my earlier post about I, Vampire’s end. Here is the cover art (without text, etc.) for the final three issues of the Josh Fialkov-penned and Andrea Sorrentino-drawn series. Let’s start with #17 (published February 27 2013):

I just really like the composition and sinister air to this piece. The imminent violence and (possibly) execution of Constantine. It’s quite eye-catching.

DC Comics: Latest Cancellations

DC Comics has been wielding its Axe of Cancellation once again, with a slew of titles getting dropped. First up, announced a couple months ago, will be the sixteenth and final issues this month from Blue Beetle, Grifter, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., and Legion Lost.

According to CBR, it’s not surprising that Blue Beetle and Grifter have been dropped, given that they “are definitely the lowest-selling books in the New 52”. It is a pity, however, as I rather enjoyed Grifter. Blue Beetle is a series I’ve been meaning to read, but I’ve decided to wait for the second and final collected edition to be released, and then I’ll maybe do a double review or something. I’ll probably do the same for Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

Of the latest four cancellations to be announced, I really like two and have mixed feelings about another (the fourth I haven’t read and have no interest in doing so): I, Vampire and Paul Cornell’s Saucer Country (actually published through Vertigo) are the two I will be sad to see go. Both of them are superb, I thought, and I don’t understand why they haven’t been garnering enough interest to keep them alive. The former is a dark, beautifully illustrated horror comic, and the latter is an innovative, gripping mash-up of alien abduction lore and American presidential politics. Who wouldn’t like those?

DC Universe Present is a bit of a mixed bag: I enjoyed the first story-line from this variety series (featuring Deadman), but really didn’t enjoy the second story-line (Challengers of the Unknown). I’ve been keeping an eye on the recent story-lines and featured characters, and it actually looks quite good. I’ll pick up the final volume. The all-ages series Superman Family Adventures will also come to an end, but I don’t have any interest in reading that. These series will cease with their April 2013 issues.

These ones don’t glitter…

I, Vampire is one of the best things about DC Comics’ New 52 re-launch. Joshua Fialkov’s writing is really top-notch, and Andrea Sorrentino’s artwork is superb. This 14th cover (by Sorrentino and Marcelo Maiolo) is rather eye-catching, so I thought I’d share it with you all, as well as a great panel from inside the comic…

This is more how I like my vampires, if they’re not written by Anne Rice: evil, hungry, and… toothy.

And this is what happens when they come in contact with a spark…

Boom

I Vampire #14 goes on sale November 28th. I haven’t been able to keep up with the series on a monthly basis (irritating thing about being unemployed for so long…), but I will certainly be getting the collected editions as-and-when they are released.

Comics Round-Up (Apr.25)

This turned out to be a longer post than anticipated, just because I was so slow about reviewing things on time – for a pleasant change, other commitments got in the way of my comics-reading this week. Better late than never, though, so read on for a bumper comics round-up! There were some great issues this week, too.

Reviewed: Alice #5, All-Star Western #8, AvX: VS #1, Catwoman #8, I Vampire #8, Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends #15, Justice League #8, Justice League Dark #8, New Deadwardians #2, The Portent #4, Road Rage #3, Snake Eyes #12, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #3

Comics Round-Up (Mar.28) the Second

A great collection this week, as more of the DC New 52 move into their seventh month – Batman throws down with Bane, more 19th Century Gotham adventures, the rise of the Vampires, and Superman squares off against a new villain and troubles in his ‘day job’. A handful of Zenescope titles continue in fine form. Zombies in London. And Marvel’s series-spanning mega-event finally kicks off.

I’m going to be adding more images from the previews available for many of these issues, in order to give people a better idea of what the artwork is like – I’m starting to wonder if the limited vocabulary I have to accurately and appropriately describe some of the artists’ styles isn’t broad enough. So, a bit more of a work-in-progress, but I’m still trying to figure out the best way to do these round-ups.

Reviewed Herein: All-Star Western #7, Avengers vs. X-Men #0, Batman: Dark Knight #7, Grimm Fairy Tales #70, Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends #14, I Vampire #7, Jurassic Strike Force 5 #3, Justice League Dark #7, New Deadwardians #1, Superman #7

DC New 52 Catch-Up: The Dark

I’ve decided to split the ‘Dark’ and ‘Edge’ review into two (otherwise, it would be a review of 21 comics, and that could end up being a bit unwieldy). These titles are, with the exception of Justice League Dark (a late addition to my pull-list), the ones that originally attracted my attention when I first started reading about the New 52. They promised more gothic, twisted and (excuse me) darker stories. I was not at all disappointed, and in fact these are some of my favourite comics full-stop, not just from the New 52.

Reviewed herein: Demon Knights #4-6, I Vampire #4-6, Justice League Dark #4-6, Resurrection Man #4-6

[While on the subject of The Dark, a reminder that I’ll be reviewing Swamp Thing #1-6 in an all-in-one, separate review.]

Artwork: I, VAMPIRE #7-9 (DC Comics)

Last night I managed to finally catch up with I Vampire #4-6 (review next week). It’s definitely one of my favourite New 52 titles. I wanted an opportunity to mention it again on the site, and after seeing the artwork for the next three issues, by the highly talented Andrea Sorrentino, I had my excuse.

Comics Round Up (Nov.23)

Another good week for DC’s New 52, plus Diablo, and Wolverine kicks some ass…

The final week of the third month of New 52 releases. For the most part, they’ve all been pretty good or even great. They do all have a ‘middle’ feel about them, though this can be expected as we start getting into the wider plots and larger stories. This week’s titles are on the darker side of the DCU, which as long-time readers will know is where most of my favourite titles come from: All-Star Western, I Vampire and Justice League Dark; but we also have Batman: The Dark Knight (which is pretty, uh, dark as well) and also Aquaman.

As well as the New 52s, I’ve also picked up the first issue of a five-month run of Diablo, a title based on the computer game franchise and world of the same name (yet more media to get my anticipation for the game ratcheted up even further); and the second issue of Marvel’s Wolverine & The X-Men. There’s a pause in New 52 releases next week, so I’ll have to come up with another comic-related review – a catch-up on some heretofore unread titles in the reboot, most likely (I already have a few on my desk, waiting to be read and reviewed).

A Quick Chat with JOSH FIALKOV

A Quick Chat with JOSH FIALKOV VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When I was in Los Angeles, I attended a signing at Meltdown. One of the authors signing at the event was Josh Fialkov, the author of the DC New 52 title I, Vampire. A dark, atmospheric and brutal take on vampires in the DC universe, this series hooked me from the very beginning. So, I looked up Fialkov’s other work (Last of the Greats and Echoes), and decided I wanted to find out a little bit more. Luckily, he had some time to answer my questions, so without further ado…

DC New 52: This Week’s Chosen

A smaller selection this week, as my chosen titles shrink further. These three DC titles had great debut issues, so I was very much looking forward to getting my hands on them.

In addition to All-Star Western, Batman: Dark Knight and I Vampire, I also picked up the first issue of new Vertigo title, Spaceman (it’s only $1, which is a pretty low-risk price for something to try out). Some mixed impressions, this time.

DC New 52: “I, Vampire” #1

A human-vampire War is brewing, and an unlikely hero stands on our side…

Writer: Josh Fialkov

Artist: Andrea Sorrentino

For hundreds of years, vampire Andrew Stanton kept mankind safe from the horrors of the supernatural world, thanks to a truce he made with his ex-lover Mary, the Queen of the Damned. But now the truce has reached a bloody end and Andrew must do everything in his power to stop Mary and her dark forces from going on a killing spree

I’m a sucker for most things vampire, so when I saw that I Vampire was one of the titles DC was rebooting, I figured why not? Also, on the day of its release, the author was signing copies at Meltdown Comics on Sunset Blvd., which is where I’ve been buying my comics.