American Vampire #9 – Review

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

The Story: Events come to a head in Las Vegas and we have an inter-species vampire battle with the humans caught in the middle.

What’s Good: Everything about this comic was excellent.  From a story standpoint it was both a strong issue and a good ending to a story arc.  There was good action as we got to watch the vampires fighting (that’s always fun) and I’m really enjoying the Monster Manual type information that we’re learning about the various species of vampires.  Some are older, some are stronger and apparently you need different ammo in your gun depending upon which type of vampire you’re planning to shoot.  This arc and story have made good use of the characters that Snyder (and Stephen King) developed in the first story arc and added new characters to the mix.  But, what is really separating this vampire tale from so many others is the setting.  There is nothing Victorian about these vampires…..this is pre-Sin City Las Vegas and that came on the heels of the Old West and 20’s Hollywood first arc.  It is just a very fresh and enjoyable take on vampires.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Detective Comics #871 – Although I think I may have given Amazing Spider-Man #649 a higher raw grade, taking a few more days to reflect really makes me appreciate the excellence of this first issue by Scott Snyder, Jock and Francesco Francavilla.  Not only have they crafted a very good, back-to-basics Batman story, but they have made it very much a Dick Grayson story and that is very important now that we have multiple Batmen running around.  Runner-up: Amazing Spider-Man #649

Most Anticipated: Heroes for Hire #1 – Although my brain says this might be the latest short-lived Marvel title (see Thor: TMA, SWORD, Doctor Vodoo, Spider-Woman, etc.) my heart really wants to see this one go.  Can’t you find room in your pull list for a mash-up of street level Marvel characters helmed by Abnett and Lanning?  Should be a LOT of fun!

Other picks: American Vampire #9, Marineman #1, She-Hulks #2, Taskmaster #4, Irredeemable #20

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Detective Comics #871 – So…I’ve been a bit busy this week with my new kitten (hurray!) and have yet to chew through the entirety of my monstrous stack, but from what I’ve read…wow, what a week.  Fantastic efforts all-around from Amazing Spider-Man, Invincible Iron Man, Action Comics, Fantastic Four, and the Walking Dead, just to name a few.  In the end though, it was Scott Snyder and Jock’s Detective Comics that did it for me.  Snyder clearly understands the Batman franchise and he’s made a comic that feels both new and classic.  It’s the sort of gritty, realistic take that I think is exactly what’s needed in today’s wacky, Morrison dominated Bat-universe.

Most Anticipated: Action Comics Annual #13 – Wait, what?  Two issues of Paul Cornell’s Action Comics in two weeks?  Hell yeah!  Regular readers will know that this is my favourite DC title currently running and now with this Annual, we see Lex butt heads with Darkseid and Ra’s Al-Ghul in a super-sized issue.  I can’t see how this will be anything less than totally awesome, even if it does lack Pete Woods.  This is a comic that I’ll gladly fork over $4.99 for, and that’s saying a lot.

Other Picks: American Vampire #9, Brightest Day #15, Daredevil #512, Shadowland #5, Sweet Tooth #16, Secret Six #28

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman and Robin #17 – I liked the start of Paul Cornell’s new arc in the Batman and Robin #17 and it takes this week’s prize for me.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #15 –  Brightest Day #15 is promising Aqualad and Aquagirl (I love reimaginings) and more of Firestorm’s problems. Johns and Tomasi have had some pacing problems with this series, but wherever they’ve given enough space for the story to move forward, the story has been great. It doesn’t hurt that Ivan Reis is on the art team either!

Other Picks: Adventure Comics #521, Daredevil #512, Ozma of Oz #2, The Boys #49

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Uncanny X-Force #2 – I honestly did not think this would be my pick of the past week, but, damn was this good.  Sure, Remender’s script hit all the right notes and delivered a well-balanced package of character beats and awesome action, but the show really belongs to penciller Jerome Opena.  The man owns this book like no other could and that, my friends, is worth the price of admission alone.

Most Anticipated: Ant-Man & The Wasp #2 – Nothing jumped out at me from the pull list when I looked through on a search for the title I’m most excited about this week, so I’ll give it to a title who’s first issue surprised the heck out of me with how much fun it was.  Seeley’s odd couple pairing of this tiny duo was pitch perfect and especially captured the tone and humor of the cancelled Irredeemable Ant-Man series that introduced one of the titular characters.  Salva Espin’s artwork is also nothing to sneer at.  Here’s hoping they surprise me again.

Other Picks: Irredeemable #20, American Vampire #9, Brightest Day #15, Secret Six #28, Daredevil #512, Generation Hope #2, Ozma of Oz #2, Taskmaster #4, Wolverine The Best There Is #1