These are the third and fourth trades in the American Vampire comic series, so it's a good idea to check out my reviews of the first two volumes at this link if you're interested in the saga's background. (Reviews will be in reverse order, so start at the bottom of the page for the earliest.) Asa I explained earlier, I originally picked up the first trade because Stephen King was involved, but the series continued on (improved) without him in the second volume and continues to build strength in these collections. One other thing I really like about the series is that each trade consists of 7-9 single issues--often comprising two story arcs--which makes the investment in the hardcover releases less daunting.
Volume 3 begins with a single issue starring Skinner Sweet, the first vampire of the American species, who settles some scores in the old west. From there, we move forward in time to World War II, first with a story arc entitled "Ghost War" starring Pearl (Skinner's first offspring), her husband Henry Preston (of the non-vampiric persuasion), and Skinner Sweet. In this tale, the Japanese are breeding a line of vampires to take on the Allied forces, and Henry and Sweet (posing as a human soldier) are dropped onto the breeding island with a special force to battle the evil military scientists. Of course, as these things go, even if this wasn't Japan, it would be an island, wouldn't it? Where would evil scientists be without islands?
The second story arc in Volume 3, entitled "Survival of the Fittest," involves the same war and the Axis/vampire alliances, but this time a couple years earlier--and behind the German lines. I mean, if the Japanese are breeding vampires, we must assume that the Nazis have even more diabolical plans. In this case, two agents working for the Vassals of the Morning Star--a secret agency seeking to eliminate vampires--head to Berlin under the premise of supporting the research of Dr. Pavel, rumored to be developing a cure for vampirism. Their cover is easily blown, and the two enter into a fight for their lives--and likely the lies of all of humanity.
Volume 4 includes stories told in three distinct American time periods: the mid to late 19th century, when pre-vampiric Skinner Sweet was a boy; the late 18th century when the west was being explored; and the 1950s, with new music and big cars. Throughout the book, we're introduced to both a Native American and African American vampire, learn Sweet's origins, and meet a rebel-without-a-cause vampire hunter. One of the things I love about this series is the recursive storylines which move forward and back in time to fill in pieces of the stories that have not yet been told. Albuquerque's artwork is amazing as well, creating distinct settings and scenes across the time periods that assist the reader in making shifts in time. This is both a beautiful comic with a complex plot, and one I highly recommend.
When reviewing Volume 1 of American Vampire (link to full entry 46 here), I commented on Stephen King's contribution to the series: "Snyder's
chapters are better written. . . . King is a gifted storyteller, and I'm sure
that more practice will lead him to excellence in the comic format as
well. In fact, the second trade was just released, so I'll soon be able
to report on his progress." I'm sorry to tell you this, but you won't be getting that report. Having given his name and clout to the series, it appears King dropped out of the project after concluding the first story arc. While it's disappointing not to have the opportunity to see King develop as a comic writer, in reality it's not a loss to the series. If anything, the narrative consistency provided by Snyder as sole storyteller--and the high-quality illustration provided by Albuquerque--make volume two of the series that much better than its debut collection.
Having established the premise for a new breed of daytime vampire in volume one, volume two moves forward a bit in time. Still in the American west, the main storyline it set in Las Vegas in the mid 1930s, when the town is beginning its boom in gambling and prostitution in order to meet the interests of the 3,000+ workers involved in the construction of the Hoover Dam. Skinner Sweet is still evil vampire number one, but his progeny, Pearl, lets her claws out after years of domestic bliss, and Pearl's own offspring, Hattie Hargrove, is released from the prison she's been held in for years. With three American vampires on the loose, volume three promises to be killer.
I like Stephen King, and I like vampires, so when I heard this comic was coming out, I eagerly awaited the release of the first trade. In this first story arc, readers are introduced to a particular species of vampire--the American Vampire--through the eyes of a young actress in 1925 Hollywood. Young, beautiful, and naive, she is the perfect vampire target, so I needn't tell you that it doesn't end well for her. Of course, I suppose that depends on how you feel about vampires...or becoming one.
In each comic, Snyder and King tell one half of the story, so in this collection of issues it reads as alternating chapters. While King has had a few of his books made into comics, he's never written a story specifically for the format. Because of this, I'd have to say that Snyder's chapters are better written, but Albuquerque's artwork ties everything together vividly, and the combination of vampire lore and American expansionism is compelling. King is a gifted storyteller, and I'm sure that more practice will lead him to excellence in the comic format as well. In fact, the second trade was just released, so I'll soon be able to report on his progress.
