Growing up, my comic book collection was very, very slim. The only subscription my parents ever paid for was those "Highlights" magazines, which was only because my mom could get them at a discount.
I didn't get to grow up reading "Batman," "The Fantastic Four" or the "X-Men" comics, and I feel like I've missed so much lore and extra content across the entire genre for the characters I've only seen on the big screen.
However, this week I got lucky and was loaned a collection of the "American Vampire" series from Doc Kirby, a lecturer of journalism and communication, that covers issues 1-11.
"American Vampire" is a DC comic series written by Scott Snyder and . . . yeah, I read that correctly, THE Stephen King. It ran from 2010-2013 and had several adaptations and spin-offs.
The story is focused on two main characters: Skinner Sweet and Pearl Jones. Skinner is a wild west outlaw, very similar to Jesse James or Billy the Kid.
After being captured, Skinner is sent on a train to stand trial in a nearby town. The detective agency that brought him in was funded by a railroad tycoon named Percy, who is an old-school, run-of-the-mill vampire: pale, hates the sun, you get the gist.
Skinner's gang derails the train and attempts to free their boss, but Percy's vampire abilities allow him to kill the crew and leave Skinner for dead.
At least, that's what he thinks . . .
Skinner actually ended up getting infected and became a vampire trapped underground in his coffin for decades. He's eventually freed when the cemetery gets flooded, loosening the dirt above him. He becomes the first American vampire (roll credits) that is much more evolved than the predecessors from Europe.
He's immune to any damage the sun causes, rendering any UV flashlights in your vampire survival kit utterly useless. Along with that ridiculous buff, this new bloodline of vampires is just better in every single way.
Now, it's the 1920s, and struggling actress Pearl Jones will do anything for her big break. While on a movie set as an uncredited background actor, she gets invited by the movie's male lead to come to a party at the director's mansion.
Once there, she is led to a back room and sacrificed to the director and his gang of other old-school vampires. Lucky for her, Skinner always loitered around her house and the two would bicker back and forth when she would leave or return home. That was enough for him to take an interest in her and bring her back to life by infecting her.
After that, the series splits into a ton of different storylines and plotlines but primarily focuses on Pearl's trail of vengeance against the Hollywood elites that killed her.
Overall, I think the story is really interesting. It takes two of my favorite time periods in American History and blends them together very well. It can be a confusing read at times; a sticky note or two may be needed just to make sure you don't confuse timelines, but I thought it was such a cool concept and would recommend it to anyone with a Kirby Library membership.
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