Dark Shadows #11
Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Mike Raicht
Artist: Guiu Vilanova (cover by Francesco Francavilla)
Colors: Carlos Lopez
Young David Collins is trying to hide a secret. His love interest, Emma, has been turned into a vampire, and is feasting on small animals to satiate her hunger. These activities draw the attention of David’s Aunt Elizabeth. He tells her that nothing is wrong, concealing Emma’s presence, and she leaves them alone. Barnabas, Willie, and Julia arrive looking for Carolyn and Roger. Those two have been caught up in some kind of cult, and it’s up to Barnabas and Willie to free them. Back at the mansion, Quentin is looking for David, and his keen senses tell him that there’s someone else in the house that doesn’t belong there!
A couple of interesting angles arose in this issue. First, Barnabas and Willie trying to stop the cult that has enthralled Carolyn and Roger. That’s going to be easier said than done, and we’ll see how tough Barnabas is without his vampiric powers. Also, it appears Quentin and Emma might have a scrap in the next issue, too. That’s something we all love, don’t we? Werewolves versus vampires is always a cool idea, and it should really test some allegiances when all is said and done.
Vilanova and Lopez did a fine job with the artwork. The characters are the strong point of this book, as they should be. The bloody scenes with David and Emma were great. You really get a sense that something is going to go terribly wrong between the two not too far down the road. The bar scenes were really funny. Especially with the stuffy old Aunt Elizabeth. The dark underground panels with Barnabas and Willie were pretty intense with all the cult worshiper nonsense going on. As usual, Francavilla’s cover is fantastic. His covers are the type that catch people’s attention and get them to pick up a book off of the shelf. No doubt about it! Rating 4/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
