by Jade Lindley
Imagine having big dreams, a passion, a goal that you are aiming for, something you would do just about anything to hold in your grasp and know it belongs to you. Imagine aiming so high for that, that you lose your common sense and you forget to protect yourself. The bright lights in Hollywood and empty promises are what lure you in and for your naivety, you are punished. It’s these very things that punish the character of Pearl in the exceptionally gritty yet classy, American Vampire.
American Vampire is a timeline of how the vampire evolves and how they came to be and how they choose to live their lives according to what put them there in the first place. Scott Snyder and Stephen King team up and construct two very different stories of how our two protagonists came to be craving that Type A blood. And while these two stories are very unique, and are both set in two different times, they do crash into each other and the timeline of the American Vampire grows.
Imagine having big dreams, a passion, a goal that you are aiming for, something you would do just about anything to hold in your grasp and know it belongs to you. Imagine aiming so high for that, that you lose your common sense and you forget to protect yourself. The bright lights in Hollywood and empty promises are what lure you in and for your naivety, you are punished. It’s these very things that punish the character of Pearl in the exceptionally gritty yet classy, American Vampire.
American Vampire is a timeline of how the vampire evolves and how they came to be and how they choose to live their lives according to what put them there in the first place. Scott Snyder and Stephen King team up and construct two very different stories of how our two protagonists came to be craving that Type A blood. And while these two stories are very unique, and are both set in two different times, they do crash into each other and the timeline of the American Vampire grows.
Scott Snyder unveils his 1920’s vampire tale entitled Big Break, which revolves around a young actress named Pearl who is itching for her big break and to finally see her name in lights. She is lured to a big Hollywood party in the hopes that she may finally get what she has been craving for so long. But unfortunately life and the supernatural bind together and unleash hell onto her in the form of European vampires led by B.D Bloch. She eventually recovers in hospital after being found left for dead in a desert, but it isn’t until a stranger who goes by the name of Skinner Sweet who really changes her life.
We now press play on Stephen King’s dark tale entitled Bad Blood, which focuses on total badass Skinner Sweet and his life in the Wild West. Sweet just loves causing trouble and taking the law into his own hands but it isn’t until blood from fellow vampire Percy accidentally falls into his eye from a brutal fight…and that is how the American Vampire was born. While each of these origin stories are both very different, their goal is the same…destroy the European vampires and make them aware of a new breed that’s out there; a more powerful breed.
Big Break and Bad Blood really do convey real life horror while mixing it up with the supernatural aspect and it works perfectly. There are so many ways this first volume could have gone, as the two stories are very different from each other. However their stark differences are what compliment one another and really add an eclectic flavour to the project. Snyder and King work together and write beautiful yet confronting scenes which have an emotional layer and depth to them, which not many horror comics can do. Most horror comics are just empty calories, while visually they could be stunning, it’s the lack of emotion and respect they have for the characters they create which ultimately let them down. While the vampire myth has taken a battering over the past few years as it has been watered down in a language unintelligent teenagers can understand, American Vampire definitely proves that THIS is how vampire mythology is supposed to be. And just when you think you have heard every kind of vampire story known to man, Snyder and King come together and create something new and fresh but also loyal.
We now press play on Stephen King’s dark tale entitled Bad Blood, which focuses on total badass Skinner Sweet and his life in the Wild West. Sweet just loves causing trouble and taking the law into his own hands but it isn’t until blood from fellow vampire Percy accidentally falls into his eye from a brutal fight…and that is how the American Vampire was born. While each of these origin stories are both very different, their goal is the same…destroy the European vampires and make them aware of a new breed that’s out there; a more powerful breed.
Big Break and Bad Blood really do convey real life horror while mixing it up with the supernatural aspect and it works perfectly. There are so many ways this first volume could have gone, as the two stories are very different from each other. However their stark differences are what compliment one another and really add an eclectic flavour to the project. Snyder and King work together and write beautiful yet confronting scenes which have an emotional layer and depth to them, which not many horror comics can do. Most horror comics are just empty calories, while visually they could be stunning, it’s the lack of emotion and respect they have for the characters they create which ultimately let them down. While the vampire myth has taken a battering over the past few years as it has been watered down in a language unintelligent teenagers can understand, American Vampire definitely proves that THIS is how vampire mythology is supposed to be. And just when you think you have heard every kind of vampire story known to man, Snyder and King come together and create something new and fresh but also loyal.
Aside from the brilliant writing, the most striking element about American Vampire is the art work by Rafael Albuquerque and colourist Dave McCaig. On one hand the art work looks dirty and raw, and on the other hand it looks smooth, warm and rich. It’s these contrasts which don’t work against each other, if anything it’s quite the opposite. And while looking at all this beautiful and dark imagery you cannot help but feel a little unsettled at times especially in the story of Big Break. Albuquerque and McCaig are just as important to this piece as Snyder and King are, especially since it’s their art work which leaps beyond the page and into your mind and makes the images move smoothly; everything just fits. While this is at times somewhat violent, there isn’t a huge concentration on blood, we don’t see a huge blood bath. Having an excessive amount of red would take away from the story and we would just see another stale horror comic, and not having those cliche elements instantly won me over.
I have only read the first trade of American Vampire, but already it is clear that this is a story which is going to constantly evolve, the timeline between characters will grow until everything comes full circle. This isn’t a boring origin story that sets you up for the next volume, this is something that is in depth and so exciting that you are constantly wanting to know what happens 10 pages in front of what you are currently reading. This is definitely a unique ride, which will keep you enthralled to the very last page which will leave you wanting to pick up the next volume. Do yourself a favour and sink your teeth into the powerful tale that is American Vampire, you won’t regret it.
I have only read the first trade of American Vampire, but already it is clear that this is a story which is going to constantly evolve, the timeline between characters will grow until everything comes full circle. This isn’t a boring origin story that sets you up for the next volume, this is something that is in depth and so exciting that you are constantly wanting to know what happens 10 pages in front of what you are currently reading. This is definitely a unique ride, which will keep you enthralled to the very last page which will leave you wanting to pick up the next volume. Do yourself a favour and sink your teeth into the powerful tale that is American Vampire, you won’t regret it.
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