Green Arrow: Future's End #1 - A Review

As I commented in my review of the first two issues of Future's End, I would dearly have loved to have seen a comic detailing the events they described there.  I want to see that tale of a Green Arrow who preached unity over division - a hero who stood up for what was right at a time when others were lining their pockets or arguing over their own personal positions of power.  I want to see comics where the heroes act like heroes and work together instead of fighting one another, for cripes sake!


Green Arrow: Future's End #1 is not that comic.  It is, however, damn close.  This vision of the New 52 Green Arrow five years from now is everything I've always felt Oliver Queen should be as a character and Jeff Lemire captures that outlaw aesthetic perfectly.  The only problem is that as good as this story involving Ollie's efforts to unite The Outsiders in the wake of his impending death is, I really want to see the stories that lead up to this point.


Still, I cannot judge a comic for what I want it to be and not what it is.  Thankfully, the script for this book is good and Lemire does a fine job of explaining things for those readers who haven't been reading Future's End..  And the artwork by Andrea Sorrentino  and Marcelo Maiolo is as good as ever.  I don't know if I'll jump back into Future's End to see how the rest of this tale plays out but this issue was a welcome glance back to my favorite hero as I remember him.

Green Arrow #34 - A Review

Green Arrow #34 is Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's final issue working together on this title.  This lends this issue a certain bittersweet aura, for what these two creators have managed to do in so short a time is truly miraculous.  Before Lemire and Sorrentino came along, Green Arrow was on the fast-track to cancellation after having had three different creative teams try - and fail - to make the book interesting.


Lemire's script here - as in more recent issues - will doubtlessly remind readers of the current Arrow TV series and not just for the presence of John Diggle, revealed in issues past to have been Ollie's hereunto unmentioned partner in the fight to protect Seattle.  Heck, this issue even borrows a few catch-phrases from the show (i.e. "failed this city").  But that is where the similarities end.  Lemire may have added in some elements from the show but only as window-dressing for his own unique ideas.


It has been a challenge for me to describe Andrea Sorrentino's work on this title every month.  "Good" doesn't begin to do it justice, but neither would a thousand words describing Sorrentino's attention to detail or the way colorist Marcelo Maiolo uses differing palettes to emphasize the panels within panels that Sorrentino utilizes to enhance the action of the issue.  Suffice it to say, I shall miss their work as much as I will miss Lemire's scripts.

Green Arrow #33 - A Review

Green Arrow #33 continues last-issue's fire-fight between our hero and three super-villains who are out for the price on his head.  Luckily, Ollie gets some unexpected help from multiple sources - including his young half sister, who is now determined to be his apprentice despite all protests that he does not need a sidekick.  These moments are intermixed with flashbacks in which we see how Oliver Queen fell into alcoholism and apathy, leaving John Diggle to protect the city of Seattle when it most needed a hero several years earlier.


Jeff Lemire and Andreas Sorrentino are one of the finest creative teams to be seen on any comic series in recent memory.  Lemire understands Oliver Queen like few writers do and he manages to sneak in a few classic references for the old-timer Arrow-heads while still telling an involving story.  Sorrentino's artwork is indescribably good, further enhanced by the work of colorist Marcelo Maiolo, whose use of tints subtly label multiple time-periods in different flashbacks.


Reading Green Arrow #33 was a bittersweet experience.  This is a good issue of what has been a good series, but I can't help but feel somewhat sad about it.  Why?  Because right before I read this issue, it was announced that Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino - the men who saved this book from cancellation - would be leaving Green Arrow after September.  Their replacements will have a tough act to follow.

Green Arrow #32 - A Review

Green Arrow #32 opens with Oliver Queen returning home and finding out about the rioting that is destroying his hometown.  He doesn't get a chance to breathe, much less react, as a gang of super-villains - both old enemies with a grudge and newcomers looking to make a name for themselves - show up looking to collect a price that has been put on his head.  Meanwhile, Ollie's former partner-in-crime-fighting John Diggle learns the history of the mysterious Richard Dragon, whose actions have kicked off the gang-war.


Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino have turned this book around and transformed it into one of DC Comics best titles.  The action sequences as depicted by Sorrentino are well portrayed and Lemire's gives each character a unique voice.  Colorist Marcelo Maiolo should also be singled out for praise.  The final product of their work combined is astonishing!


If you've been looking for a way to get into Green Arrow, this issue is the perfect place to start.  Those who only know Oliver Queen through the TV series Arrow will quickly find themselves caught up on the status quo of this series and learn how different the stories are while still being similar enough in tone and content to be familiar.  And fans of good street-level action-based comics will enjoy this book whether they are fans of Arrow or not.

Green Arrow #31 - A Review

Lemire's Outsider's War has been an interesting ride but, now that we are at the end, my own feelings mirror those of Ollie Queen, who notes that he is sick to death of The Outsiders and wants nothing more to do with them.  This is not to say that this has not been an enjoyable story.  It has.  But mystic brotherhoods and elitist nobility have no place in Oliver Queen's life as a hero.  And the choice that Ollie makes near the issue's end - while likely causing trouble further down the line - will ensure that The Outsiders stay out of his life for now.


I may stand alone in this, but my favorite moment of Green Arrow #31 was the ending.  It is here that we get our first glimpse of the story to come in the next few issues.  It's also here that Jeff Lemire provides something that Green Arrow - as a character and as a title - has needed for a long time.  A unified gallery of rogues.  True, all of them are based on characters whom Green Arrow has fought at one time or another but given what Jeff Lemire was able to do with just the name of The Outsiders, I can't wait to see what he does with characters that have a somewhat firmer footing in the Green Arrow mythology.


As per usual, Andreas Sorrentino's artwork is amazing.  With clearly defined character designs that never leave the reader wondering who certain characters are and an amazing grasp of inking that finds the perfect balance between shading and highlighting, Sorrentino is one of the most underrated artists out there.  Colorist Marcelo Maiolo also makes this book a beauty, as enjoyable to look at as it is to read.

Green Arrow #30 - A Review

Writing reviews of Green Arrow is becoming increasingly difficult for me.  I am running out of unique ways to say "This is a great book and you should be reading it!" every month.  There is so much to praise and yet I feel as if I am repeating myself, when I point out little touches like how Jeff Lemire recaps the story so far at the start of each issue, on the off-chance there might be some new reader jumping into the series with this particular story.


This is a nice touch yet an odd one for what is the penultimate chapter of the current storyline.  There's a lot of things going on in this issue and most of them are dependent on some knowledge about things that aren't covered in the summary, like how Green Arrow's fellow JLA member Katana is also a part of one of the new clans of Outsiders (The Sword Clan, obviously) and who the cavalry who show up to aid Ollie in his battle are.  Lemire's secondary subplot - involving the on-going gang war in Seattle while Ollie is occupied - feels like an unwelcome distraction from the action of the issue.


The action is heavy in this issue and Andrea Sorrentino captures it all perfectly.  For what my money is worth, Sorrentino is a highly underrated artist and his kinetic style is a good fit for Lemire's scripts.  Colorist Marcelo Maiolo further enhances the artwork with muted palettes contrasted by single panels rendered in monochrome, save for a single dominant color.

Green Arrow #29 - A Review

The Outsiders War continues as Green Arrow seeks Kodomo and Oliver Queen's long-lost half-sister.  Little does he know that Kodomo has claimed leadership of the warrior clans known as The Outsiders and that they are now hunting him.  At the same time, John Diggle and the rest of Ollie's support staff seek to stop the gangwar that is tearing Seattle apart by making an unlikely alliance with the crime-boss William Tockman.


Jeff Lemire's script is full of action and there are many impressive sequences with Oliver making good use of the trick arrows that have played a surprisingly small role in the series so far.  The only real weakness with the script is that the sequences with Diggle and company seem like an afterthought, added in to give the supporting cast something to do.  We also keep hearing about the devastation Richard Dragon has caused in Seattle while seeing little evidence of it.


Andrea Sorrentino's artwork is truly cinematic.  Many of the panels look like stills from a movie rather than part of a comic-book page.  Colorist Marcelo Maiolo should be highly praised for his own contributions to this book, which take Sorrentino's already stellar pencils to another level with the addition of amazing lighting effects and palette-switched between panels that serve to highlight certain scenes, such as when the trick arrows go off.

Green Arrow #28 - A Review

Green Arrow #28 is primarily concerned with explaining the secret history of Oliver Queen's time while shipwrecked and how it was no accident that he was left stranded and forced to learn the way of the bow.  This is highly welcome, since - despite this title being around for nearly two and a half years - nobody has bothered to give us a full background for the new version of Green Arrow.  We also get caught up on what's going on in Seattle, the first modern appearance of the New 52 version of John Diggle and more insight into the internal workings of the group known as The Outsiders.


Jeff Lemire's script has been slow in developing these details but the work has proven worth the wait.  More than any other writer working at DC Comics today, Lemire has pushed the limits of the New 52 setting to offer something truly unique and different.  While most writers have been content to tell stories in the standard mold of what has come before, Lemire has created a whole new mythology for Green Arrow and it is glorious! 


Lemire's script is matched in quality and innovation by the artwork of Andrea Sorrentino.  Sorrentino's style defies easy description, being detail-oriented without being cluttered.  Sorrentino also does amazing things with white space and page layouts, with a number of two-page spreads that are eye-catching.

Green Arrow #27 - A Review

With Green Arrow #27, Jeff Lemire continues to expand the mythos of the New 52 in unexpected and enjoyable directions.  Perhaps the biggest surprise in this issue is a brief interlude where the mysterious Magus who has been manipulating things around Oliver Queen pays a visit to the hero Katana.  It spoils little to guess that she too has connections to Lemire's Outsiders - a mysterious cabal of warriors with connections to Oliver's family - but what this has to do with the ongoing story is still a mystery.


Fans of the show Arrow will find themselves on familiar territory, as this issue makes use of a number of flashbacks to depict Oliver's time shipwrecked on the island.  And yet things are completely different, for it seems that the accident that left Oliver Queen stranded in this reality was no accident.  Everyone - be they long-time Arrowhead or Green-horn - will be kept guessing by the issue's ending.


As uusal, Andrea Sorrentino's artwork astounds.  This issue features a number of two-page spreads reminiscent of Osamu Tesuka's early action manga in how the action is depicted through a number of framed close-ups.  The effect is rather like looking at still shots on a roll of movie film, yet much more dynamic.

Green Arrow #26 - A Review

Dubbed The Outsiders War - Book One: Return To The Island, Green Arrow #26 is a perfect entry point for new readers, despite its intimidating subtitle.  Those who only know Oliver Queen from the TV series Arrow may be confused that Oliver's support team consists of two computer nerds named Fyff and Naomi or by the revelation that Shado is older than Oliver and the mother of his half-sister.  Thankfully, the opening pages bring the reader up to speed on recent events with great efficiency before moving on to the action.  


Author Jeff Lemire has taken Green Arrow in directions not seen since the days of Mike Grell in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  There is a mystic quality to the character now, as we find Oliver is the last scion of a warrior clan bound to the power of The Arrow, pitted against other clans devoted to other weapons.  The presentation is reminiscent of Frank Miller's work on Daredevil and proves a welcome and unique change to this series after several false-starts following The New 52 revamp. 



The art by Andrea Sorrentino is, in a word, astonishing.  Sorrentino crams an amazing amount of detail into every single panel, without things becoming muddied or overshadowed.  Praise must also be paid to colorist Marcelo Maiolo, who alternates the color palettes between panels, using muted hues throughout for atmosphere, save for the action shots which are given brighter, more vibrant colors.

Bottom Line?  This is a great book and if you're any kind of comics fan, you should be reading it.

Green Arrow #25 - A Review

Whenever a comic book property finds success in another media, the publishers usually make an effort to reshape their books to reflect the more popular adaptation.  This is why Spider-Man eventually developed organic web-shooters in the comics and why Spider-Man briefly readopted his black costume around the same time that Spider-Man 3 came out.  Presumably that is why this issue of Green Arrow has seen fit to bring John Diggle and Oliver Queen's mother Moira into the New 52 universe.

Nominally a tie-in with the Batman: Zero Year storyline, the real focus of this issue is Diggle and his efforts to protect Mrs. Queen from the villainous Killer Moth.  Batman does show up to deal with the criminal but it is Moira's son Oliver - newly returned from his time on the island - who truly saves the day.  Jeff Lemire wisely does not allow Oliver Queen to be upstaged in his own title - a lesson that escaped far too many Green Arrow writers during  past team-up stories.


 Lemire continues to develop the characters in a back-up tale which reveals an interesting little wrinkle - Diggle was a part of Ollie's original support team when he first began his campaign as The Green Arrow!  Fans of the Arrow TV series will be relieved to see that Diggle is largely unchanged in terms of personality, though his motivations for helping Oliver in this reality are slightly different.  Hopefully this story will continue to be explored in future issues and we will finally get some explanation about the relationship between Oliver Queen and Roy Harper in the New 52 universe. 


The artwork on this title is as excellent as ever.  Andrea Sorrentino continues his usual stellar job on the main portion of the book.  The back-up feature - with pencils by Denys Cowen and inks by Bill Sienkiewicz - is somewhat sketchier but no less enjoyable than Sorrentino's style.  My one complaint is that Oliver looks far older than he should in this sequence, even allowing for the years added on by the beard.

That being said, if you're an Arrow-head who has yet to get into the monthly comics, this issue would be a fine one to start with.  The story is a good one, full of action and excitement.  The artwork is top-notch.  Truly one of the best books on the stands today! 

Green Arrow #23 - A Review

The plot thickens in Green Arrow #23 as we discover more about the mysterious group known as The Outsiders who have apparently been manipulating Ollie since birth and his family for generations.  We also learn the full story of the mysterious assassin Shado and her relationship with Ollie's father.  We even get another check-in on the crime bosses of Seattle, where it seems another classic figure from the martial arts world of the old DC Comics universe has finally made an appearance in The New 52.


It's odd how Jeff Lemire has taken a number of the trappings of classic Green Arrow and used them to forge something that is entirely new yet feels like the the classic Mike Grell comics of old.  This version of Oliver Queen may not a perpetually pissed-off aging hippie and his relationship with Shado may be complicated in an entirely different way, yet the complication is still there.  Shado is much the same as she was under Grell's pen, even if the son she would risk all for is now a daughter. 


Andrea Sorrentino's artwork also reminds me of Mike Grell's work, yet Sorrentino has an aesthetic all his own.  Like Grell, Sorrentino is a master at fitting the maximum amount of detail into some surprisingly small panels.  Both artists are also skilled anatomists.  Yet Sorrentino separates himself from Grell through some clever coloring choices that throw the realism of his character designs into sharp relief one panel at a time. 

Green Arrow #22 - A Review

The cover of Green Arrow #22 boasts the premiere of "The All New Count Vertigo" and it does deliver on that promise.  Yet there is much more here that will please classic Green Arrow fans.  Things like brand new trick arrows - like the Mapping Arrow that allows Ollie to scan an entire area and give his tech support team another eye as they watch his back from afar.


The new Count Vertigo isn't the only somewhat familiar figure that Jeff Lemire has brought back from comic book limbo to torment Oliver Queen.  This issue also brings about the return of a familiar female assassin, whose approach had already been heavily hinted at.  Though her relationship to Oliver this time around proves quite different, it is just as complicated as before.  More surprising is the first appearance of a Seattle crime boss named Billy Tockman - a name Arrowheads will recognize as that of the original Clock King. 


As always, Andrea Sorrentino's artwork is excellent.  Indeed, it would be reason enough to buy this book even if Jeff Lemire's scripts weren't equally amazing.  This is one of the best books on the market today and a must-read for all fans of low-powered superheroics as well as The Emerald Archer himself.  Green Arrow hasn't been this good in years!

Green Arrow #21 - A Review

It's odd how Jeff Lemire continues to explore new ground with Green Arrow while simultaneously getting the character of Oliver Queen back to where he should be.  It's an odd dichotomy that should have the Green Arrow purist in me screaming in rage.  And yet the whole affair is so well presented I can't help but want to see where this book is going, even as I ponder whether or not a shield can properly be called a weapon.

The centerpiece of this issue has Oliver finally learning the truth about his father, his family, a mysterious group called The Outsiders and a collection of totem weapons.  Naturally The Queen family is affiliated with The Arrow and Oliver's new enemy, Kodomo, is seeking the mystic arrow in order to prove himself more worthy of Oliver's legacy.  All of this information comes from the mouth of the mysterious Magus, who also introduces Oliver to another scion of The Outsiders - the current wielder of the Axe totem. 


With all this talk of mystic weapons and Oliver taking a drug-induced vision quest, one might be forgiven for thinking Jeff Lemire got his scripts for Constantine and Green Arrow mixed up this month.  But any fan of Mike Grell's classic run on Green Arrow will tell you that while Ollie is usually a down-to-earth hero he has had his share of mystical adventures. Indeed, one of my favorite Mike Grell stories involved Oliver's visiting Sherwood Forest while being watched over by Herne the Hunter.

Lemire's story perfectly fits the mold of those tales but this story also reminded me a bit of the early works of Frank Miller on Daredevil.  And not just the obvious connection of Ollie having a blind mentor.  No, I make this comparison because I can't think of any superhero revamp in recent memory which so radically changed a character's origins since Miller presented the idea that there were whole ninja clans capable of replicating Matt Murdock's radar-based super-senses through training.

Lemire's concept of The Outsiders as a group of warriors devoted toward the study of a single weapon is unlike anything seen in any Green Arrow comic before.  Yet this comic also brings an Oliver Queen more like the hero we had in the pre-New 52 universe.  One who sees wealth as a burden and who is as concerned about the welfare of ordinary people as he is about fighting crime.  
     


Andrea Sorrentino's artwork is as fine as ever.  Sorrentino's style is all his own but I can't help but be reminded of Mike Grell's artistic work with the character, in both the use of shadows to create atmosphere and in the dynamic poses of the characters.  The overall effect is amazing and matches Lemire's script well.

Take it from a satisfied Arrow-Head of some experience, kids - this book is a must-read.  If you're an old-time Green Arrow fan, a newbie attracted to this book by the CW show or just someone who enjoys a good ripping yarn, Green Arrow should be on your want-list.

Green Arrow #20 - A Review

Reading Jeff Lemire's revamp of the Green Arrow franchise at the same time that the Arrow TV series is breaking similar ground makes for an interesting experience.  Both the show and the book are retelling the story of Oliver Queen but are doing it in completely different ways.  Yet despite the differences, there are a lot of common points of reference, such as the theme of Ollie trying to live up to his father's legacy and the main antagonist being a black-clad archer who is a successful businessman and loving father in addition to being a highly-trained assassin.


Jeff Lemire's Kodomo gets some further definition in this issue, showcasing how he has his own masters to answer to, unlike Malcolm Merlyn on Arrow.  Kodomo also has a far more hands-on parenting style, though he still resists having his daughter get involved in his battles. It is this sort of development and detail that has made Lemire's run thus far interesting.  With the idea of a semi-mystical brotherhood of warriors secretly planning out Oliver's life, this series is far different than any take on Green Arrow we've ever had before.  While the classicist in me longs to see a goatee-wearing madman shooting boxing glove arrows at corporate fat-cats with Black Canary by his side, I can't deny that Lemire's writing is the best this series has seen since The New 52 started and his concept for this book - while different - is engaging.


The artwork of Andrea Sorrentino also impresses me.  I don't know if Jock's work on Green Arrow: Year One was a direct inspiration but the work here is reminiscent of that great mini-series while still being uniquely good on its' own terms.  Sorrention's figures are firmly defined and expertly outlined, with even the darkest and most atmospheric of scenes being clearly defined and easily visible.  This is a welcome change considering how too many artists on a title like this tend to over-saturate the page with ink.

Green Arrow #19 - A Review

Green Arrow #19 is an action-movie captured on the printed page.  Writer Jeff Lemire manages the neat trick of presenting an issue that is basically one extended fight scene between Green Arrow and his new archer-enemy Kodomo while still presenting relevant exposition regarding asurprising revelation.  Namely, that Oliver Queen was being prepared for some grand destiny by his father besides running the family company and Oliver's father was much more than a simple billionaire industrialist. 


Lemire has a perfect partner in artist Andrea Sorrentino.  Sorrentino captures the pacing of Lemire's scripts eloquently, using unique tricks like panels overlaying a static background to show the progess of the fight.  Sorrentito also produces some poster-worthy images, such as the splash-page where Kodomo's young daughter enters the fight.   


Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino are slowly but surely becoming one of the comic world's finest teams.  Through that partnership, they are transforming Green Arrow into something unlike anything we've ever seen before with the character of Oliver Queen yet still familiar enough for it not to seem completely out of place.  If you haven't started reading this series already, track down this issue as well as Issues #17 and #18 before it is too late.  You don't want to wait on the trade for this one, believe me!

Green Arrow #18 - A Review

Green Arrow #18 continues to move The Kill Machine storyline along at a brisk pace while expanding upon an excellent first issue.  The script by Jeff Lemire balances a thrilling action-movie plot with several well-paced expository scenes, as Ollie Queen seeks allies and answers in the wake of his being framed for murder.  We're introduced to a new ally for Ollie in the form of  Fyff - a brilliant but troubled tech-genius Ollie once fired due to his social awkwardness. Lemire gives Fyff more personality in half an issue than either of Ollie's previous support team - Jax and Naomi - ever got in the previous 17 issues of this title.



Good as this is, for my money the best part of the book is the scene where Lemire develops new villain Kodomo.  Parallels between Malcolm Merlyn from the Arrow TV show are inevitable, given that both villains are archers who favor dark costumes with concealing masks and both are corporate raiders when they aren't out killing people according to their mysterious agenda.  Where the characters differ - and what makes Kodomo instantly interesting in the brief glimpse we see of his typical day at work - is that Kodomo does not hide his double life from his young daughter.  Indeed, he makes a special effort to see that she is as much a part of his life as his business and his assassinations and he seems to be training her to join both sides of the family business.


Andrea Sorrentino was a bold choice of artist for this book but so far he's proven to be a fitting one.  There is not one panel in this book that is not precisely sketched and then perfectly inked.  Colorist Marcelo Maiolo also deserves high praise for making this comic look as good as it does. 

If this book has a flaw, it's that some of the drama does ring a bit false.  The cliffhanger on the final page falls flat since we know from the opening scene of this book that Ollie has survived the action so far long enough to escape from Seattle.  Still, that does not diminish the excitement of the ride as we proceed to that point and this is still the best Green Arrow has been in a long while. 

Green Arrow #17 - A Review

I think I'm well established as one of the most prominent Green Arrow experts on the Internet.  At the very least I think no one can deny my status as one of the most devout and nit-picky of Green Arrow fans.  So when the Green Arrow title shifted creative teams (yet again), I felt the need to give the series one more go, despite my better judgement and past experience.  So please understand all that and where I'm coming from when I say this regarding Green Arrow #17.


Well done, DC Comics.  You finally got it right!
 
It spoils little to say that the slate has been wiped clean with this issue and that no previous experience with the New 52 Green Arrow title is required.  The plot centers upon Oliver Queen scrambling to recover as he is left without resources or allies as he loses his company and is framed for murder.  One can say this about Jeff Lemire - he does not do things by halves.  His script is highly reminiscent of Frank Miller's work on Daredevil and I suspect that by the time The Kill Machine is over I'll be able to do a "compare and contrast" essay regarding it and the similarly themed  Daredevil: Born Again. 


The artwork by Andrea Sorrentino is spectacular!  Not many books in American comics are penciled, inked and colored by a single creator and Sorrentino's work here is an epic argument against the "assembly line" method favored by  American comic publishers.  If Lemire is mirroring Frank Miller, I can only compare Sorrentino to the great Mike Grell.  Both have a similar sense of drama, with heroic poses against the moon and half-page splashes amidst the action.  Sorrentino's panel work here also reminds me of Jock's work on Green Arrow: Year One. 


Every comic reader and Arrowhead in the world should give this book a try.  If you're a fan of the Arrow TV show who has been curious about the original comics, now is the time to get started reading Green Arrow.  If you're an exile like me who was left cold by the New 52 take on Ollie, now is the time to come home.  And if you just like good comics with grand action scenes, high drama and gorgeous art... well, you'll just love it to pieces!

Green Arrow Comic Recieves Yet Another New Creative Team

SOURCE: Lemire & Sorrentino Take Over "Green Arrow"



Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in...

Animal Man author Jeff Lemire and I, Vampire artist Andrea Sorrentino will be partnering up to depict the monthly adventures of The Emerald Archer, starting with Issue #17 in February.

Jeff Lemire had me at "If you liked Mike Grell's GA run...."  And the preview cover above looks appropriately moody and atmospheric.

I Vampire #1 - A Review

The New 52 has seen several oddities among its’ new titles. Far from being a solid line of superhero books, we have seen new series from a wide variety of genres – from war stories to westerns. Even so, it was surprising to see such an obscure story as I, Vampire – a series which barely lasted two years as part of the House of Mystery anthology book - be given a (pardon the pun) revamp. Then again, with Twilight, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries still being a popular part of the cultural zeitgeist, I suppose it only makes sense for DC Comics to tap into a market hungry for more dramatic tales of blood-sucking beasts.

Most of us have had issues with an ex. I would guess, however, that few of us have had our issues reach the point of causing a potential global catastrophe. Such is the case for Andrew Bennett – the titular hero of I, Vampire. A vampire who has still – somehow – maintained his conscience and code of honor in the wake of his vampirism, Andrew has awoken to discover a city in chaos. Andrew’s lover and vampiric child – a woman named Mary – has apparently grown tired of life in the shadows and has become convinced that with her powers she can take over the world, even with all the superbeings standing in her way. Dubbing herself The Queen of Blood, Mary has raised an army of vampires and set upon the human world. As the book opens, Andrew has set about trying to stop her…

I’ve never read anything by Joshua Hale Fialkov before, although I heard good things about his Elk’s Run series and what I’ve read here would encourage me to seek out more of his work. While the idea of the vampire hero trying to reign in his more blood-thirsty kin may not seem original to today’s audiences, the original I Vampire came at a time when such a concept was quite novel. Fiakov makes the concept his own, presenting both Andrew and Mary as sympathetic characters. Indeed, Mary – who took her vampirism as a gesture of empowerment at a time when few women were allowed any control over their lives – comes off as somewhat more likeable as Andrew, who merely wishes to be left alone… right up until we see just how depraved her vampiric nature has made her. Fiakov also does a good job of establishing the ground rules for vampires in this reality - i.e. as in Dracula, they can shape-shift into various forms and sunlight doesn’t kill vampires but it does make them unable to use their powers and they don’t like it much.

There have been a lot of dark, washed-out books to come out of the New 52 line but in this case I think the style is appropriate. Don’t expect any of Stephenie Meyer’s pretty-boys or even a fair but vicious Ann Rice vampire here. These vampires are feral beasties and Andrea Sorrentino’s pencils reflect that clearly, with even the human-looking Andrew appearing to be slightly “off” compared to the normal humans. Sorrention’s inks leave most of the individual figures obscured in heavy shadows, with thick outlines that threaten to overtake them. This creates an effect that is reminiscent of the art of Mike Mignola. Colorist Marcelo Maiolo complements this with a palette of greys and browns that further place this book in an world of half-shadows and weak lights, with the only white being the pale, unnatural skin of the vampires.

All in all, I enjoyed this title. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but I think fans of The Walking Dead or Hellboy will enjoy the artwork. Likewise, fans of stories where the vampires are real monsters will appreciate the story, so I’d recommend this to fans of Buffy & Angel, American Vampire and the old Forever Knight TV series. Twi-hards need not apply.