Stephen King and vampires have gotten along famously ever since ‘Salem’s Lot hit shelves 35 years ago, and his newest project will further cement that relationship. American Vampire is a DC/Vertigo release with a lofty goal: to reinvent Vampire mythology for America. Any fan of classic horror literature can picture the original vampire: well dressed, well spoken, Victorian-era clothes, horse drawn carriages, old money, you get the picture. And as the centuries have gone by the vampire has evolved in popular fiction. The vampire has gone from being an object of terror, to almost an idol of worship, especially in America, home to such creations as Twilight, True Blood, and Blade, all of which depict the vampire lifestyle as glamorous, desirable, and fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I love Blade and True Blood, but the horror fan in me wants more Dracula, more 30 Days of Night, more Let the Right One In. Hell, give me more Lost Boys!
     No longer is the vampire something to be feared; in today’s pop culture it is something to be envied. Across the country we have thousands of people who not only are not scared by vampires, but they want to be a vampire. Gone is the terror that visits when the sun goes down, and in its place is a weak parody of its former self, teen heart throbs and middle aged fantasies. However, in American Vampire there is a new species of vampire, brutal, powerful and mean, and Skinner Sweet is the first.
     Created by Scott Snyder (who writes the main storyline) and guest starring Stephen King for the first 5 issues, the comic shows the story of the first American Vampire, and his new powers, characteristics, and history. The first 3 issues so far have jumped back and forth from the 1800’s to the 1920’s and show two individual story lines. The origin tale of Skinner as an outlaw in the Wild West, and how he came to be turned into a vampire is King. The tale of Pearl, an actress in the 1920’s is Snyder’s. Both plot lines are phenomenal, and I am very excited for the next issue, which drops on June 23, 2010.
     Now as some of you may know, I am partial to the works of Stephen King, and by partial I mean I have Dark Tower tattoos that cover both of my upper arms. That being said, I enjoy King’s story in the comics more than I do Snyder’s, but I want to justify it so that I do not come off as a raving fan boy.
     As I said, both story lines are awesome, but they have two different tones. Snyder’s is dark, brutal, and scary. His line is meant to show off the monsters that vampires truly are, after decades of living at the top of the food chain, and Snyder’s writing is perfect for it. King’s origin story is a bit more fun, more adventurous, while still keeping that horror element. Who doesn’t love Wild West stories with outlaws and sheriffs, and maybe some vampires? Not only is it just a bit faster paced, but when it comes to horror stories, for me it is all about the origin.
     When I was younger I had an encyclopedia of monsters and aliens that covered hundreds of horror and science fiction novels, it was the first place I heard of Lovecraft actually, and each entry had an illustration, and a detailed history of the creature, and I would read it over and over. Reading King’s story of a Wild West outlaw who becomes a brand new species of vampire just whisked me back to the days of sitting with that giant book on my lap, learning about the histories of things that have never existed. It took me far away from my couch, my living room, and everything else, even if it was just for the 15 minutes I spent reading it. And isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do?
     The art is another thing worth mentioning. The art in Snyder’s portions is cartoony and colorful, resembling the mindset of the 1920’s, and is almost (not so much in the example here) reminiscent of Disney art. The juxtaposition of the horrific violence with the almost innocent art style is definitely cool. The art for the Western story is done with watercolors, it even looks dusty and old, and is a perfect setting for King’s origin tale. What is mot impressive about the art is that both styles are done by the same artist, Rafael Albuquerque. He is extremely talented, and truly brings the story to life on the page.
     The plan is for the tale to continue on through all the decades of American history and show a side of the vampire that is brand new and original. King has already stated he would love to return to the comic when it reaches the 1960’s, but Snyder is of the opinion that King needs to come back for the 1950’s. Either way, it will be something to look forward to, and I highly recommend the series to any and all comic or horror fans.

Tags: Comic, Horror, Stephen King, Vampire