Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
American Vampire #20
Vertigo Comics (DC)
Snyder & Bernet
How is it possible that the middle issue of a three issue arc is so good that I would recommend it to any reader regardless of whether or not they have ever picked up an issue of this series? The answer is simple: it's highly entertaining. The middle act of the Beast Cave arc is basically the origin story of a new character and it is so well written that it gives you an idea of what an "American Vampire" is, how they come about, how they differ from others all set on the historical backdrop of the changing American frontier. It's a fantastic issue that any fan of vampires, westerns, American history or just clever storytelling would love.
The story opens immediately with the origin. A young Indian woman, living with a white man who purchased her and made her his wife are visited by two men. These men claim to be frontiersmen who sound an awful lot like Lewis and Clark, though this story is set in 1793. Shortly after the man trades his wife to them to act as a guide. It turns out that these men are not men but vampires. Eventually everything goes to hell and the story fast-forwards to the "present" time.
The Indians are being hunted to extinction and one of them finds the cave where this beast lives. He hopes to convince the beast to kill the white men that are hunting them to the brink. The ending is an excellent twist on this story.
The comic book has it all. The characters develop based on clear motives. The story flows naturally and provides a conclusion to each of the mini-plots within the issue. The only piece that someone reading this for the first time would be missing is who Skinner is and what his role is in the book. Beyond that the book has everything you need to understand American vampires and the purpose of this series.
Bernet is outstanding in two arenas and both are in this book. He draws the nude female form to perfection and he draws westerns as if he lived there. This arc is a natural fit for him but he also gets to show off his skills at drawing demons that are scary as hell. The visuals in this book are amazing front to back.
American Vampire never has a down issue. Sure, some issues throw me for a loop that I was not expecting and not always in a good way, but this issue is right on the money. Though it contains little action it sets up a tremendous hook for the final issue in the arc. I can't recommend a book or series more than this one.
4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
