American Vampire #8 – Review

By: Scott Snyder (writer), Rafael Albuquerque (art), Dave McCaig (colors), Steve Wands (letters) & Mark Doyle (editor)

The Story: Plots connect in a big way as Snyder starts to reveal more of his big concept vampire story.

What’s Good: Boom!  This was the issue that we were waiting for.  American Vampire has been consistently good, but it had been putting together a run of 8.5/10 quality issues that were almost boring to review.  How many times can you say, “The story was entertaining, the characterization is outstanding and the art is awesome”?  Reviewing monthly comics that are continually outstanding like Scalped or The Walking Dead can almost get dull because they are always good.  The biggest compliment that this reviewer can give American Vampire (the series) is that it has quickly entered that rarefied air where it hard to review.

But, every once in awhile, a really great series serves up a superlative issue and this is one of issues for American Vampire.

So, what makes this issue such hot stuff?  Let’s start with the way the Snyder is connecting the various plots elements that he has woven throughout this series and the Old West stories that Stephen King was telling in the first story arc.  One assumed that they would tie together nicely and we’ve had hints of that over the last few issues, but it is all pretty clear now and it is nice to see how the characters all fit.  Not only that, but the actual tying together was very elegantly done as Snyder smoothly took us back and forth between the stories.

What’s

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Strange Tales II #2 – I love anthologies and seeing a bunch of indy creators get to play with our favorite Marvel characters from different eras was a real treat.  Runners-up: Taskmaster #3 & Scarlet #3

Most Anticipated: Amazing Spider-Man #648 – This is the first issue without the rotating team of creators that have entertained us for the last several years.  It will be very interesting to see what Dan Slott will do with this title as the primary creative force.

Other picks: American Vampire #8, Unwritten #19, She-Hulks #1, Halcyon #1, Avengers Prime #3

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Superboy #1 – This week was all about Jeff Lemire, as his two ongoings were the front runners for pick of the week.  In the end though, Superboy gets it, if only for the novelty of being new.  That said, this is a great book, one that combines Lemire’s idiosyncracies and unique talents with his clear love for the DCU.  It’s a thoughtful, high-quality product, but one that’s also written by a writer whose excitement is utterly infectious.

Most Anticipated: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 – I don’t know a damned thing about the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents property beyond what the solicitation text has told me about this issue.  What I do know a lot about are the creative team of Nick Spencer and CAFU, which is a ridiculously good one.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent’s hook is a cool one but, more than that, I’m hoping that the fact that this is a relaunch of a long dormant property will allow Spencer and CAFU a good amount of freedom, as both are very, very good at what they do.

Other Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #648, Thor #617, Chew #15, American Vampire #8, Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #6, New Avengers #6, the Unwritten #19

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Incognito: Bad Influences #1 – This was a very strong and espionage-themed first issue as Brubaker, Phillips & Staples show how to work as a creative team.  Really, really good.  Runners-up: Scalped #42 & Thunderbolts #149.

Most Anticipated: 28 Days Later #16 – This series left our heroine in a really bad spot last issue.  I hope this series focusing on “zombie aftermath” can get a little love from folks excited by The Walking Dead.

Other picks: Batman & Robin #16, Punisher In the Blood #1, Scarlet #3, Irredeemable #19, Taskmaster #3

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Action Comics #894 – What a great week for comics.  Both major Avengers titles put on surprisingly strong performances while Hotwire and Scalped managed to reach A-grades.  However, they were going up against Action #894, which happened to be one of the best comics of the year, provided you aren’t adverse to an issue devoted to strong dialogue and characterization instead of face-punching and action scenes.  It was truly amazing stuff, as Cornell also continues to show off his intimate understanding of Lex Luthor’s inner workings.

Most Anticipated: Superboy #1 – I’m honestly not that huge a Superboy fan.  I have no problems at all with Connor, but his presence in a comic isn’t something that makes it a must-buy for me.  I guess I’m honestly sort of ambivalent about him, overall.  Jeff Lemire, however, I am not ambivalent about in the slightest, having read most, if not all, of his comics work.  This is Lemire’s first full-length, ongoing work for one of the big two, and it’s a title where he’s right at home.  Lemire has said in interviews that Superboy feels like a creator-owned title, due to its focus on small-town, rural life and that he’s channelled a bit of Essex County in his writing of it.  That’s enough to get me very excited.

Other Picks: Unknown Soldier #25, Batman & Robin #16, Scarlet #3, Wolverine #3, Secret Six #27, American Vampire #8, Sweet Tooth #15, Invincible #75, Brightest Day #13

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15 – Bendis knocked it out of the park last week with this epilogue to his “Chameleon” arc.  Centering on Peter Parker’s social circle and the people he affects in a way that pushes home just how painful it can be to be a part of his life, particularly when you’re in love with him.  The final scene of a cast member’s exit is all the more heart-wrenching when you realize it really is Peter’s fault.  A nice reminder of how good this title can be when all the pieces fit.

Most Anticipated: Irredeemable #19 – Last month’s tour de force gave us plenty of intriguing scenes that stood with me long after I put that issue down.  From Hornet’s realization of just how dangerous The Plutonian could be with the uttering of one single name to the horrifying price the hero paid to ensure our planet’s safety, it made sure that I’d be on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue.  And, well, it comes out tomorrow and I’m on the edge of my seat!

Other Picks: Brightest Day #13, Secret Six #27, Red Hood Lost Days #6, Superboy #1, Amazing Spider-Man #641, Avengers Academy #6, Generation Hope #1, Ozma of Oz #1, Wolverine #3, X-Men To Serve and Protect #1, Scarlet #3