American Mythology Productions 2018
Written by Mike Wolfer
Illustrated by Roy Allan Martinez
Coloured by Enrica Eren Agniolini
Lettered by Natalie Jane
In the dead of night, in a steaming, tropical jungle, Van Hauser is about to confront his destiny, and witness, firsthand, the eternal thirst of Dracula! After traveling to a remote, Philippine island, the 'B' horror movie actor finds only a decaying mansion filled with bloodthirsty vampires led by their king, the legendary Count Dracula. To his dismay and disbelief, Hauser has been lured to the island not for his blood, but for his lineage, and Dracula's true gambit is about to be revealed, one that could either save mankind, or spell its doom.
There are a number of reasons why the legend of Dracula has survived over the generations since it’s inception but chief among them is that it appeals and fascinates us like no other horror genre ever has. Life eternal through the drinking of blood and the romance that centred around his killing of Lucy and manipulation of Mina made this romanticised horror novel remade by visionaries in every generation. Mike doesn’t do normal and if you know him or know his work you’ll know that and when he takes on something as iconic as Dracula you take notice.
Last issue ended with Van Hauser coming face to face with Dracula after he lured him there from the set of the “B” Horror cinematic feature he was doing. We pick up with Dracula and Van Hauser, now Van Helsing discussing matters much to the dismay and disbelief in Van Helsing. The writing from Mike here is impeccable as the dialogue and scenario in which we find them in beautifully demonstrate. The fact that this is no re-interpretation of the original and instead a “modern” take on the story, see natural progression of the bloodline and the immortal, only serves to enhance the interest factor.
I love the way that this is structured as from the opening page to the last we are given so much story, drama, life and excitement that only reinforces the idea of that romanticised horror story as it was originally intended to be. While this is far from some kind of homosexual thing between Van Helsing and Dracula you can still sense it in how we see not only the gorilla’s or Dracula himself as he does what he does, how he behaves and in his characterisation. Mike will make you fall for these characters in ways you never expected or know you could.
Roy Allan doesn’t let Mike have all the fun here either. His linework is exquisite and the attention to detail is utterly amazing. Throw in Enrica’s colouring and the work pops off the page. I like how we can see the horror and “make-up” (yes I'm thinking Face Off on SyFy) on the creatures, the regal aire of Dracula and oh gosh handsome quality of Van Hauser and it all works perfectly against each other. The way page layouts are utilised so that we can see all these angles and perspectives in the panels shows a stupendous eye for storytelling. The prolific utilisation of backgrounds work to expand the story perfectly no matter where it takes place, at night on the island or during the day at the shoot.
This is the kind of Dracula story I want to see. He’s alive and well and hidden himself away from the world at large, the last in the line of pure blooded Van Helsing lineage is needed to assist him and then the real horror begins. This is what bloody brilliant storytelling is and what we should expect from every book we read!