American Vampire Vol. 4 [Hardcover]

AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 4 isn't the best in the series, but it gives fans plenty of meaty material to sink their teeth into (terrible pun completely intended). This volume of American Vampire is divided into two portions. The first takes place in the 1800s during the Indian Wars, and the second portion takes place during the 1950s. It's a Skinner Sweet-heavy volume, which is great, because Skinner is such a fun character (and by fun, I mean evil and terrible. But the worst villains make the best characters). Pearl barely makes an appearance, which is a fault in my opinion, but that speaks to the quality of Snyder's and Albuquerque's work-I get upset because they have not given me enough awesomeness.

The first story takes place before Skinner was turned into a vampire. He's in the US Army, fighting the Indian Wars, along side his best friend, James Book. This portion gives readers some great backstory on Skinner and how he has always been a monster of one sort or another, even as a boy. It also hints at other types of vampires running around the American West.

The second portion has two protagonists. The first is Travis Kidd: teenager, greaser, vampire hunter. Another badass in a world that seems to be lousy with them, Travis is obsessed with killing vampires because they killed his family. But Travis has a sense of style. He has to do it his own way, outside of the Vassals of the Morning Star, as much as they would love to have him as a new recruit. He's a smart, vicious, and capable guy. I hope this isn't the last time we see him. Oh, and Travis's story offers readers just a hint about the big things that happened between the Vassals and Skinner after Volume 3. I hope we get to learn more about that.

The second protagonist is Calvin Poole, last seen as part of the secret group the Vassals sent to the Pacific during WW2 (i.e., Volume 3). While investigating rumors of new vampires, he was infected with Pearl's vampiric blood. 10 years later, he's now a vampire, but working for the Vassals, still searching for new strains of vampires, while also learning what it means to sacrifice everything to be a member of the Vassals. But what's great about the one-two punch that is the stories of Kidd and Poole is that people-just everyday, non-Vassal people-are fighting back against the vampires. They are learning, adapting, and maybe even scoring a win here and there.

Like I said earlier, this wasn't my favorite volume in the American Vampire series, but that's really because the other volumes set such a high bar. I wasn't as engaged by the plots as I was in earlier American Vampire volumes. They were good, but not great. And even as I write that, I feel like I'm splitting hairs. Kidd's story was the best in this volume, and there was a big reveal and some hints at great things to come. I just wish a couple of those big moments could have happened in Volume 4.

That being said, I love Snyder's writing as well as Albuquerque's and Bernet's artwork. I'll be a fan of their across all their projects. I can't wait to see what they do next, in the American Vampire series and beyond.

AMERICAN VAMPIRE gives us something rarely seen in comics since the days of the old Wolfman/Colan TOMB OF DRACULA comics: Really scary vampires. I know that Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith really did some nice work with 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, but despite all the tie-ins and films and so on in regards to that title, it was really a one-off. AMERICAN VAMPIRE, created by Scott "The Best Writer DC Has Had In Years" Snyder, Stephen King (yes, THAT Stephen King), and artist Rafael Albuquerque have introduced a vampire tale for the times. It's a tale that spans centuries, but it's a uniquely American take on what essentially is a mythology for the entire world at this point. And Snyder keeps taking us to new times and new characters, but never losing sight of the mission of this comic: creating a new mythology that branches out on the old.

The first half of this trade is, sadly, not terribly good. While having some really nice art by Jordi Bernet, "The Beast in the Cave" is something of a letdown, where we get a pre-vamped Skinner Sweet and his once-upon-a-time best friend James Book and their duty as soldiers and their battle against Indians. The tale just never really picks up a lot of steam and kind of plods along with a more anecdotal quality to it that seems forced. Basically, a little too much of Snyder's English degree shows through here.

Fortunately, this trade also introduces us to the coolest member of the VMS to ever hit the streets in "Death Race". Set in the early 1950's and wearing the traditional garb of the "greaser", Travis Kidd seems to be as much of the problem as he is the solution. He's THE rebel. When killing vampires, he wears false fangs. He's totally anti-authoritarian. He's every bit as dangerous as the vampires he's hunting and his superiors at The Vassals of The Morning Star know it. But the race referred to in the title of this arc is indeed a deadly race as a long-thought-dead villain returns as two vehicles go racing through the southern California deserts as the villain has Travis' girl in the trunk.

"Death Race" is something of a small miracle, because it clearly deals with a time and a culture that Snyder is very much in love with, and it shows with vivid detail. Via Kidd's internal monologue, we get something of his own personal journey as well as details about the archetypal "juvenile delinquent" that pervaded the youth culture during the 50's. But Kidd is a rebel WITH a cause, as we find out in his own tale. As a character, he breathes new life into a comic that is never stale, and being able to surprise and stun readers is something that Snyder effortlessly pulls off in this arc and leaving them hungry for much more. And as per usual, Albuquerque's art is just delicious icing on an already delicious cake. His renderings of vampires are very reminiscent of Gene Colan's work, working to make them hideous grotesqueries rather than your Lugosis or your Pattinsons.

Vol 4 of AMERICAN VAMPIRE may not be the best volume of this comic you'll ever get, but it is certainly contains one of its best arcs and freshest characters.

4/5 Stars.

I really like these books!! I hate that i have to leave a certain amount of words. I love lamp!!