Ben Templesmith

I'm not the biggest fan of Templesmith's art, but it actually suited this series quite well.

But, of course, the biggest star here is the now-tarnished one of Warren Ellis. I know I say this in damn near every review of his work, but man, this guy is a talented storytelling and wordsmith.

And this short series does nothing to change my mind about that. There's very few characters populating this one, but it's essentially NYPD Blue, if that show was focused on a single cop and the city was FAR darker and more gritty.

The less said about this prior to reading it, the better. Just...read it.… (more)

30 Days of Night gives you the vicious, violent vampires you know and love, but puts them in a setting you may not have seen before. The swirling, freezing cold of winter lies heavy on every page, brilliantly illustrated by artist Ben Templesmith. I’m a huge fan of his work (something of a cross between Dave McKean and Ralph Steadman), and it’s showcased wonderfully in a backdrop of ancient evil and dripping viscera. The stakes are clearly set: a horde of vampires versus a band of small town residents who must find a way to make it through the next thirty days of darkness. Will they survive to see the light of day?

As interesting as the story is, I found it incredibly rushed and even hard to follow at times. Really wish it had taken its time with everything because the set up/story ideas are great.… (more)