It was one of the most successful comics in Vertigo’s Line-Up since 2010 but after DC closed down the Vertigo imprint in 2020, the last time Snyder and Albuquerque’s American Vampire was on the stands was four years ago with the Anthology Special. This week Skinner Sweet is back and Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque haven’t missed a beat! The story takes place in the 1970s, the Country at a Political Crossroad with their minds filled with the pain from the Vietnam War and betrayal involving the Watergate Scandal, and mix in with a debilitating recession and a crisis in the Middle East resulted in stagnant wages, lost jobs and long lines at the gas pump. Trust in government was low while racial tensions were at an all-time high. Americans were disillusioned, and for many, it didn’t seem like there was much to live for. And then you have Skinner Sweet, the Original American Vampire, he has witnessed and played a unique role in Human History at it’s best and at it’s worst but now Sweet has exhausted all efforts to regain what he had lost, and that was his immortality. With his powers and purpose gone, he is ready to go out with a bang, Pearl Jones and a partner tracks Skinner down for one last, desperate mission and that is to stop the Gray Trader and his minions from unleashing Hell on Earth, just in time for America’s Bicentennial. This is the first issue in Nine Issue Series, the closing chapter in the legacy of the American Vampire.
As mentioned in the paragraph above, Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque haven’t missed a beat, the series’ return feels right while also delivering the Bloody Thrills that fans have loved about this series. Speaking of thrills, Skinner still trying to acclimate to being reverted to a Human Being after decades of living as one of the Undead he thrives for the thrills and the power he had as a Vampire. This by far has to be the lowest Skinner Sweet has been and with this, a change, a time-skip and suddenly feels like a new story but it also rewards the reader who is up to date on the title but also offers enough exposition to refresh one’s mind who hasn’t read the series before (like yours truly, I haven’t read the series much but does offer the thrills and intrigue to entice a new reader.) The Social commentary that Snyder weaved makes the era of American History feel relevant as the without coming off as Preachy.
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Let’s discuss the Artistic Team that consists of Artists Rafael Albuquerque and Dave McCaig, Rafael handling the Inking and Pencilwork while Dave handles the Coloring, from the Carnivals in the Southwest to the Dark, Gritty streets of New York City that are rampant with crime and packed Disco Clubs this team brings vast environments to life while offering Supernatural Action to keep the readers satisfied and crave more, taking them on a nightmarish ride.
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