Many people cringe over the idea of vampires in fiction these days but Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino are bringing them back to the forefront of the DC Universe in an breathtaking and chilling way.
The Good
From the very first pages you get a sense of what the tone of this book will be. There is an eerie darkness from Sorrentino's art mixed with emotion that oozes off the page. You'll want to spend time looking over each panel before moving on to the next. I couldn't imagine the issue drawn by someone else. The art combine with the story really makes the book stand out.
Like many of the 'New 52' titles, this takes existing characters, Andrew Bennett and Mary, Queen of Blood, and are re-introducing them to the current universe. These characters both first appeared in 1979's House of Mystery #290 but I can't say I'm really familiar with them. The interaction between them is beautifully portrayed and you really get a feel of what they mean to each other along with the dilemma they are not facing.
This isn't a simple vampire story. There's a lot here to digest. Fialkov is a writer and he's going to give you your money's worth. You'll be hanging onto every word in the dialogue as you get pulled into the story. New readers can jump right in as there isn't any major ties to past stories. You don't have worry about the rest of the DC Universe. This issue gives you all the set up you need. There's more than just a couple vampires running around. It'll be interesting to see how this crosses over into the rest of the DCU.
The Bad
There is a lot to take in. You might have to read a couple parts over to fully grasp what's going on. This title is meant to be part of 'The New 52,' but it really doesn't feel like it. There is mention of some of the big heroes that felt a little weird. I understand the need to incorporate this the new DCU but a big part of me would rather that didn't have to happen. I can't imagine how these characters will interact and fit in with the brightly colored superheroes. Hopefully they can stay in their dark little corner but the big feel in this issue makes that hard to believe.
The Verdict
If you're looking for something a little different in the 'New 52,' this is a book to check out. Fialkov takes characters that weren't on my radar and re-introduces them to new and old readers. Fialkov is a writer and this is a comic you have to actually read. Too often you can zip through a comic in minutes but you'll want to take the time to breathe in this entire issue.
Sorrentino's art is amazing. It sets the tone of the darkness while also conveying the connection between our two main characters. The issue has a T+ rating but it's because of the tone and nature of the story. There is some violence but there has been some T rated books with more. If you're looking something a little different you're going to want to...take a bite out of this series.