The Strain #10
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Mike Huddleston (cover by E. M. Gist)
Colors: Dan Jackson
Mr. Palmer has made quite a dirty little deal, but it’s one that he’ll regret in the end, no doubt about it. His dealings with Mr. Fitzwilliam and the Master are putting him in a situation that has no way out. Meanwhile, Ephraim and the gang are trying to figure out how they can infiltrate the Master’s lair, and put an end to his reign of terror. This gets complicated even more when Ephraim gets a text message from his ex-wife stating that her new boyfriend has been infected, and he’s trying to kill her and their son!
What else can be said about this great series that hasn’t already been said. The pacing for this series has been outstanding, and so has the character development. We’ve been given some back story on each of the main players, but the Master’s activities have been kept mostly a secret. David Lapham has something really special going here, and anybody missing out is going to be sorry. The first volume is available in trade, so get out there and snatch it up.
Mike Huddleston has been nothing short of fantastic on this book. He really gets how to scare you by drawing these “vampires” looking not only creepy, but also very unpredictable. Along with Dan Jackson on colors, Huddleston knocks it out of the park with these tongue lashing, grotesque creatures. The lead character, Ephraim, is your classic geeky hero that looks like he couldn’t punch his way out of a wet paper bag, but when the lives of the ones he cares most about are on the line, he looks like he can do amazing things. Let’s hope so, because he’ll need a miracle to defeat the Master!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the covers by E. M. Gist. These have been quite entertaining throughout the series, and this issue is no exception. It paints a perfect picture of how bleak things look for the heroes. Hopelessly outnumbered, and facing a greater evil than anyone thought possible. The last couple of pages show each cover that Gist has done for this series, and that was a nice extra that Dark Horse threw in to reward its readers! Rating 5/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
