Dracula: The Company of Monsters #2 (Boom! – Busiek / Gregory / Godlewski)
From the mind of Kurt Busiek, the all-new ongoing horror series continues! When a powerful, predatory corporation acquires the valuable asset that is Dracula, they are not prepared for what they have awakened. Despite being trapped by the corporation, Dracula will let no one stop him from rebuilding his kingdom. Even if it takes a hundred more years. And many more bodies. It’s bloodsuckers vs. bloodsucker, as Busiek brings an incredibly modern spin to the Dracula mythos.
Issue #1 left me interested but not inspired, with issue #2 Kurt Busiek shows a comic newbie why he is worthy of his writing reputation. With The Company of Monsters, Busiek takes the overused vampire story and Dracula myth and does what I would consider a near-impossible feat – he gives it a fresh spin!
This series jumps back and forth between two story lines – one modern and one ancient. The historic plot provides some fleshing out of this fictional history behind Dracula and his upbringing and how he made the jump from Carpathian royalty to undead lord. Really, what shapes a prince into making a deal with satanic forces for mystical powers? The combined storytelling here between Busiek and Daryl Gregory is an excellent balance of emotion and action, making the reader buy every frame. The modern arc is about Dracula’s resurrection the hands of an industrialist giant who sees the possible advantages of having a vampire at his beckon call. I don’t know about you, but I have a funny feeling this will not end well for the greedy industrialist. In this issue we just get a little taste of what Dracula’s post-hibernation character will be like – and I am just saying this guy already has more “kick-ass” points than the entire Cullens clan put together.
Scott Godlewski’s art is, as expected, well above par and his pages / frames provide a smooth flow for the story and transitions between the story arcs.
Bottom line: A kickin’ book for anyone, not just vampire or horror fans!
Out today!!!!!
Issue Grade: A
