Written by Chris Roberson
Illustrated by Mike AllredGwen visits the Oregon street where she grew up, coming face-to-face with a part of her past that she’d completely forgotten. Meanwhile, the monster-hunters and the vampire girls come to an understanding, Ellie meets Spot’s new roommate, and Galatea and Amon get cosmic. Plus, just when it seems things couldn’t get more exciting, Gwen goes to the comic book store! See what thrills await in the climactic conclusion of “uVAMPIRE!”
On the cusp of it’s one year anniversary, this book remains the charming, chic, heartwarmingly mysterious bombshell its been over the last ten issues. As its second full arc comes to a close, how has the story progressed? Click on down to find out, youngins!
One thing to admit right off the bat: the end of the first arc felt much more like an ending than this one does. Maybe its because with that first story, it was still unclear what kind of future the book would have, so it was concluded in a more all encompassing fashion. Given that, the fact that if it weren’t for the heavy “wonder years” style exposition at the end of this issue that I wouldn’t even have known it was supposed to be a benchmark must signify a long and prosperous road ahead for this series…and I can’t be more stoked on that.
That said, this issue DID wrap up a decent chunk of the plots presented during this arc. Gwen travels back to her childhood home and ends up stalking her brother all the way to…his local comic book shop. Its at this point that Roberson gives us a very clear idea of what she remembers about her life pre-death and what she doesn’t, and also makes it abundantly clear that the “doesn’t” is dangerously close to overtaking the “does”. We knew from the start that this book would primarily feature Gwen’s fight to maintain her humanity, but now we finally have the stakes very clearly painted out of us, and they are intriguing as all hell.
Meanwhile, our intrepid monster hunters make a deal with their prey, who give them a tidbit of information that will undoubtedly threaten Gwen and Horatio’s relationship at some point in the very near future. We’re also given a whole buttload of information pertaining to Amon, Galatea and a certain unbeatable cosmic entity that could spell doom for our unlikely band of misfits.
On the art end, what can I really say about Mike Allred that hasn’t been said before a hundred thousand times? Answer: nothing. If you know anything about this book, you know Mike Allred, and if you don’t then…seriously? Seek help.
Overall, this book is charming as hell. If you want big explosions, groundbreaking “comics will never be the same” hokeyness, then look elsewhere. If you like quiet, hilarious, intriguing, mysterious character based storytelling with one of the most unique looks and feels of any comic on the shelves today, you could do no worse than this baby.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – Buy
