Dark Shadows: Year One
The art work in this is lovely. I’ve found that comics that are based on things like tv shows can be hit or miss when it comes to art. Basing a comic figure on a known person and doing so in such a way that they are believable seems extra tough. The art here is all at least in the “not bad” range while some is in the “excellent" range. Ben and Angelique were excellent. Barnabas wasn’t bad. Josette seems to have missed the mark a little but was still good enough.
The story is one that is known to DS fans. How Angelique’s jealousy led to Barnabas’s vampire curse. For fans of the show it will make perfect sense. For people picking this up having never seen DS (or maybe whose only knowing DS as the newer movie) this will mostly make sense. There are some parts that were rushed over. You don’t get a feel for who any of the characters really are the way that you do in the show but that is only because just so much happens in this. Sarah is here. Victoria is here. Trask is here. Millicent. Witches. Vamps. No werewolves… yet.
Those who have seen the show will probably just find this a bonus to their DS collection. New to DS folk will probably like it (if paranormal stuff is their thing) but will need more stories later to really make them feel connected to the franchise.
It’s not perfect, but it is pretty darn good.
* Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost in order to review it. I offered no guarantee of a positive review, though I only request books I think I'll like because why read a book you think you’ll hate?
