Our last day ends on 30 Days of Night, the graphic novel that has spawned many sequels, a short film series, and the major motion picture. This is Steve Niles most successful piece of literature, and has set the new standard in telling the tale of the vampire. Special Thanks to Steve Niles, IDW Publishing, and Dark Horse Comics for their help in bringing this Horror Yearbook special, 5 Days of Steve Niles, to life. And now for our Comic Book Spotlight: The world as we know it has changed. Vampires are no longer hiding underground thanks to a book written about them. Humanity is on the brink of being swallowed into the shadows as the feeders of flesh make their presence known in a small town known as Barrow, Alaska. Hope is now a dream and the day falls short as a savior. Welcome to the longest of nights…
30 DAYS OF NIGHT
Written by Steve Niles Art by Ben Templesmith
IDW Publishing
The graphic novel. This is where it all begins. The most brilliant idea of all vampire ideas if you ask me. Reality finally crosses the fiction line with a subtle doubt of safety toward real areas in the world hosting nothing but moonlight, days on end. Writer Steve Niles and artist Ben Templesmith create the perfect location for their vampire tale, 30 Days of Night, causing readers to once again be afraid of those fanged monsters that feed on our innocent blood. The town is Barrow, Alaska, where every year, thirty days of night encloses the town under a blanket of darkness. Some leave and go to a place where daylight still comes everyday, but many stay and endure the month of visual hibernation. So what better place to let vampires roam free, feeding off helpless and weak humans as if they were at a Chinese buffet? The book inspired the movie, but they’re two slightly different entities. Both carry similar tones and pacing, but display different relationships amongst the sheriff and his wife, as well as the vampire clan attacking the town. The book showcases a strong marriage between Eben and Stella, but the movie shows they’re estranged in some way. Both scenarios actually work in their respected formats, and it actually makes more sense for the film taking that left turn to explore a more sensible dénouement. The vampire clan is much more modern in the book, using email to communicate and also speak English whereas the film vampires are feral and speak another language. Again, it’s unique, and a suitable approach for the transition to film, giving fans something more while keeping with the dark tones and atmosphere so finely tuned by Niles and Templesmith. 30 Days of Night is a vampire classic, and a must read for fans looking for more bite in their fanged fiends.
GRADE: A HIGHLIGHT? When Vicente attacks the helicopter, I pooped a little in my camos.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT – DARK DAYS
Written by Steve Niles Art by Ben Templesmith
IDW Publishing
With such a success on the original 30 Days of Night, it was only natural for Steve and Ben to follow up with a sequel. Dark Days continues on from Barrow, Alaska with one of the remaining survivors, Stella, the widow of our hero-turned-vampire from the first book, Eben. Only one thing on the mind of Stella as she travels to the most likely place of all vampires, Los Angeles, and that’s to let the public know that bloodsuckers do exist, and hey, kill ‘em if you see ‘em. Thing is, she’s not the only one looking for revenge as one of Marlow’s more likeable kin, Dane, is looking to bring Eben back to life so he can kill him for killing his master. Not only that, but Vicente’s wife, Lilith, is pretty pissed off as well, and wants Stella’s head. All of the elements are in place for a successful sequel, and for the most part, it is. The dynamic between Stella and Lilith is strong, keeping the parallel of both husbands in sight while drawing the lines of good and evil. Dane’s character is likeable as a vampire, but hard to grasp when every other vampire in the book appears mindless. It’s a length that sometimes stretches too far, especially when Dane and Stella get busy with the fleshy parts. What hurts the book the most is The Matrix inspired posse Stella carries around with her, even going so far in creating a character just like the albino Switch and quoting her before she changes over to the dark side. “Not like this…not like this.” It’s both disruptive and sigh-inducing to what is mostly solid storytelling for a sequel. Especially in the beginning when the vampires are flushed out at UCLA during a book signing, I really got involved with the atmosphere Ben Templesmith created. But then Neo and the Gang would show up, and make me laugh a little. Overall, it’s a good follow-up, and I really enjoyed the usage of 30 Days of Night as being the book Stella writes. Steve Niles appears to live vicariously here with Stella throughout Dark Days, and it’s a nice twist at the end. But if this were to be the basis for a true film sequel, then some things would need to be adjusted. Especially no Underworld or Matrix influences.
GRADE: B+ HIGHLIGHT? UCLA beatdown was a great buildup, creating a nice tension to the reader in a place that scares us all. Hell-A.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT – RETURN TO BARROW
Written by Steve Niles Art by Ben Templesmith
IDW Publishing
If it’s December in Barrow, Alaska, then you know what time it is; Vacation time for the vampires! Yep, it appears the first incident made such an impression on the bloodsucker race that every year, vampires head up north for the special thirty odd days of darkness and dine like Vegas whales in their jammies. The hard part to believe is that people still live in Barrow, especially family members of those that bit the dust the first time around. I guess that just shows how stubborn humanity can be at times, flirting with death until it bites them in the neck. Either that, or we’re a sucker ourselves for cheap property and easy to obtain jobs. Brian Kitka returns to Barrow to become the new sheriff. He was born there and was brother to William Kitka, the poor sap that basically killed his family in the first book. Brian feels he owes it to his brother to continue on in his hometown, and return it to a nice, normal place to live. But right away, he’s introduced to the new yearly ritual the townsfolk carry, and that’s fending off vampires returning home for human presents on Christmas. And guess who returns? Agent Norris, whom many thought became a jigsaw puzzle at the hands of Stella, heads on up to Barrow for some fun. When he gets there, he meets up with a temporary leader that lacks strategy, and together, they find holes in what is now a fortress of a town. Thing is, others have come up to play, including vampire Dane from Dark Days, and some special guests. Niles does a great job at keeping the guests special, and it’s not a surprise as to who they are, but it’s a fun way to reel them back into the picture. What I didn’t like is the fate of Dane, as it’s abrupt and dissatisfying. I kind liked the slickster, but something was wrong with his character this time around. Just didn’t feel like him. Ben Templesmith continues the 30 Days of Night style, and it’s much clearer and enjoyable than his run on Criminal Macabre. I guess it must be the snow, adding extra lighting to his work. This is a good return to Barrow, but some holes in the plotting and character arcs prevent it from being great. Vacation time is never complete though, is it?
GRADE: B HIGHLIGHT? While it’s not a highlight, it’s extremely memorable as Agent Norris confronts Dane for the very last time… I think.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT – BEYOND BARROW
Written by Steve Niles Art by Bill Sienkiewicz
IDW Publishing
Beyond indeed. It’s a good thing this was only three issues because I barely made it through, especially when a speed-bump section of issue three turns into exact copy of Neil Marshall’s The Descent. On top of that, we don’t know what the heck is going on until the very last page, and I mean last. That’s not a surprise. That’s slapping the reader in the face. Steve Niles doesn’t normally do that, but man that slap hurt pretty badly. Basically, the vampires still vacation here every year, but now they become prey to something outside the town lines. No, it’s not Eben and Stella either. Somehow, this evil has been around for a long time, and just now has made its presence. Somehow, after reading so much 30 Days of Night, I’m supposed to believe this too. I’m frustrated with this series, and not even legendary artist Bill Sienkiewicz can ease the acid on my toes. Sometimes his art is great, sometimes it’s a blur of colors that remind me of looking through a fogged-up windshield at the murder of the Lucky Charms leprechaun. So it’s a mixed bag artistically, but for Steve, this story seems forced and challenging. One where I feel only the new 30 Days of Night reader might like, and hasn’t read any of the other books. This is a forgettable series, and I recommend ignoring it as much as possible unless you’re a completist. Then leave Beyond Barrow last on the list.
GRADE: C- HIGHLIGHT? People arrive to Barrow for sport, which is not surprising and very believable. Yeah, some highlight.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT – RED SNOW
Written and Art by Ben Templesmith
IDW Publishing
A Soviet, a Nazi, and an Englishman walk into a bar. No, that’s not right. They walk into a town filled with vampires? There we go. Still kind of funny though, right? Ben Templesmith flies solo here on Red Snow, chronicling vampires during the second World War as they continue to wreak havoc in snow-covered Russia. It’s basically a parallel to the original 30 Days of Night, not really continuing the story but retelling it during a different era. While the mechanics are there to tell a great story, the construct gets caught up in crossed character paths and misdirection. Half the time, the reader is trying to figure out who is who and why three soldiers are working together even though they all hate each other on the inside. For the first half of the book, I was wondering what the point is for all of this. Niles absence is definitely felt. Then the vampires finally attack, and I’m wondering how Anne Rice got involved as a little Claudia-like girl appears to lead a pack of vampires against the warring nations. It’s an interesting idea that is combining too much influence from previous tales. Sort of a “What if 30 Days of Night met Interview with the Vampire during World War II?” And while Hollywood producers might enjoy that kind of quick spit, graphic novel readers are more atoned to originality and relativity. Red Snow is not all bad, but it’s nothing new. Templesmith continues to pour on the gritty paint style with starbright lighting, and it’s stylish and scary as usual, but the writing could use some polish. So for fans looking for a decent story that only slightly expands upon the 30 Days of Night universe, then Red Snow might be a worth a shot. For those that want to stick around in continuity, you can skip this.
GRADE: C+ HIGHLIGHT? A little boy chooses to end his mother’s life when she turns. It was a bold move by Templesmith. Very bold.
Check out more 30 Days of Night tales at IDW Publishing!
www.idwpublishing.com
Read all Mike Fish’s Articles in his Archives
Day 1: Quickie Interview With Steve Niles
Day 2: 30 Days of Night DVD
Day 3: Criminal Macabre Book & Comic Reviews
Day 4: Thursday Thirst - The Comics of Steve Niles
