Return to the World of Darkness in Vampire: The Masquerade #1
Thanks to a new comic series from Vault, it’s time to return to the World of Darkness. Vampire: The Masquerade #1 begins two stories from this foreboding world. It’s everything that fans have been waiting for.
It seems like stories from World of Darkness are suddenly popping up everywhere. First, there was that short story audio compilation, and now, there is a comic series! As a huge fan of the RPGs, I couldn’t be happier about that fact. I know I’m not the only one feeling that way.
These two stories are already proving to be steeped in the lore that fans (myself included) love so much. The first tale follows a courier, and the second an Anarch coterie. Talk about variety!
Winter’s Teeth
The first tale in Vampire: The Masquerade #1 is clearly the beginning of a longer plot. It’s titled Winter’s Teeth, and it follows Cecily Brine. She’s a courier for the Camarilla and knows she’s playing a dangerous game in life (or un-life, depending on how you want to look at it).
Written by Tim Seeley, this plot is unafraid to get as dark as necessary to show the politics and depths of vampires. The level of complexity portrayed in such a short period of time is impressive, all while showing some of the more harrowing elements of this world. Not to mention the heavy infusion of intrigue towards the end. It’s the perfect balance, really.
Devmalya Prmanik was the lead artist for this half of the issue, working alongside Addison Duke (colors) and Andworld Design (letters). There’s this rough and dark edge to the world, which is so perfect for the story. And for the character, for that matter.
A few elements are highlighted here, mainly the rapidly progressing scenes involving vampire abilities. Most of these go by without a comment, leaving the readers to supply the words we know so well.
The Anarch Tales
The Anarch Tales feels like everything Winter’s Teeth isn’t. That isn’t quite an accurate statement, as both revolve around vampires, politics, and dangers, yet it still carries a vastly different tone.
Tini Howard and Blake Howard took charge of this story, bringing the focus on a small Anarch coterie doing the best they can to get by. It’s an intriguing take, showing a different side of this world. It’s impressive how seamlessly the writers introduced four characters, the plot they’re about to be wrapped up in, and even hints of their backstory. It all flowed smoothly from one panel to the next, yet there’s no doubt that much information has been passed on to the readers.
The lead artist for this half of the issue was Nathan Gooden, with Addison Duke and Andworld Design again filling out the rest. There’s something so evocative about the artwork here. Perhaps it’s the red hues found on every page.
More likely, it’s the art style and characters. They’re all dramatically different, showcasing the best and worst (by implication) that this world has to offer. All while directly addressing biases and expectations about vampire lore.
Conclusion
Vampire: The Masquerade #1 is admittedly something I’ve been looking forward to ever since I first heard the news. Yet, I can honestly say that it lived up to my expectations. All while drawing me in and leaving me eager to see how both plots progress in the future.
This is arguably a series perfect for old fans and leaving an opening for new fans. While admittedly, those more steeped in the lore will pick up more details, the writing and art style are solid enough to support new readers as well.
In short, Vampire: The Masquerade #1 has kept its promises. All while introducing two fascinating and addictive plots. Now, it’s time to play the waiting game for the next installment.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
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