30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow
The Arctic Circle’s polar night is like Club Med to vampires: 30-odd days without sunlight to hamper feeding is paradise. The latest arc in a series that began in 2002 picks up the continuing story. Armed to the teeth and wary of visitors, the people of Barrow, Alaska, are as accustomed to undead attacks as possible. When a planeload of rich thrill seekers and amateur vampire hunters lands, guards check IDs and for fangs. While the undead are thrilled about new meat in town, they’re none too happy about a lurking new threat with an appetite for humans and vampires. There’s not much story here, so maybe this is a bridge between others. The book’s real attraction is the artwork of Bill Sienkiewicz, one of the best comics artists. His painterly style effectively captures the claustrophobia of the creeping darkness and bitter cold as well as the horror of being hunted by an unseen predator. In-the-know comics mavens will slaver over Sienkiewicz’s contribution, while 30 Days fans will feel tided over until the tenth arc. --Carlos Orellana