Dhampire: Stillborn

Rating:
Summary: Only for the vampire-obsessed
Review: "Dhampire: Stillborn" is the first in what will (unfortunately) be a series of graphic novels. In "Stillborn" we watch a Dhampire (half human, half vampire) explore his past and evolve into a full vampire. Vampirism is a subject with tremendous literary opportunities that the vampire-story, as a genre, has utterly failed to explore. "Stillborn" is a perfect example of why. Characters with potential are reduced to archetypes with the whirl-wind plot, and bland dialog. Perhaps the author thinks that the reader would not be willing to put in the time to get to know the characters, so she jumps directly to what the target audience expects: depressed, pitiful characters empowered and glamourized by extraordinary violence. The graphic novel appears to be targeted toward emotionally disturbed teenagers. For them, vampirism represents power and superiority. Pitiful social maladjustment is transformed, in the fantasy of the novel, into Evil. Perhaps, within a few years, authors will begin exploring the lives of the consumers of fiction like this, rather than producing more of it. The novel's only redeeming quality is its beautiful artwork, especially of the Dhampire's mother

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Collins illustrated
Review: A very dark graphic novel - also a must read for fans of Sonja Blue. I enjoy comics, though I am not an avid reader. I found this to be a beautifully drawn book. Being a fan of Nancy Collins, I also enjoyed the story.