American Vampire

[Bev Vincent]

Celebrated short story writer Scott Snyder and artist Rafael Albuquerque will launch a new monthly comic book series from Vertigo in March 2010 with a unique contribution from New York Times bestselling novelist Stephen King. The new ongoing series, AMERICAN VAMPIRE, will introduce readers to a new breed of vampire-a more muscular and vicious species of vampire with distinctly American characteristics. The series' first story arc, to be told over the course of five issues, will feature two different stories, one written by Snyder, the other by King.

King's story provides the origin of the very first American vampire:Skinner Sweet, a bank robbing, murdering cowboy of the 1880s. Skinner is stronger and faster than previous vampires; he has rattlesnake fangs and is powered by.... the sun?

>>> Full story and artwork

[lophophoras]

This should be interesting!

[turtlex]

Just coming here to post this info! Thanks, Bev.

Really intesting.

Funny that it's a Vertigo ( ie - DC ) title and not a Marvel book... what with all the Dark Tower stuff landing at Marvel.

[Bev Vincent]

He's spreading it around -- The Talisman is with Del Rey.

[Bev Vincent]

Here's a long article at Newsarama

King decided to work on the comic when Snyder sent him a description of the story and asked if he could provide a quote for promotional purposes. "He wrote back and said he really liked it and he'd be willing to do a blurb. But he said he'd also be willing to do a couple issues," Snyder explained. "Obviously, I said yes."

Karen Berger, senior vice president at Vertigo, said it was a pleasant surprise to get a writer like Stephen King involved in "American Vampire." "Stephen King is the master of modern horror," she said. "He put modern horror on the map. The fact that the first comic story that he's actually written, and the fact that he's choosing to write his first comic based on the strength and the power of Scott's concept, and the fact that it's for us, is just a huge, huge thing."

And what was originally supposed to be just two issues by King quickly turned into more. "He kept saying, 'Do you mind if I expand this a little bit?'" Snyder said with a laugh. "And he ended up doing five issues. He had such an exciting direction after the second or third issue. At that point, it's totally his imaginative baby. And the series is so much better for that. He added so many great things to the character and the storyline and the relationships. He brought an incredible A-game. It was awe-inspiring to watch him do it."

[Nerak]

I am thinking I am going to have to get the King issues!

[Gris]

I'll get the king issues. I just hope there are not 18 different versions of each issue I have to get.

Is DC know for the money grubbing bull-shit like Marvel is with it's 10 different covers of every comic they publish? When I was a real comic kid back in the 80s, DC did not, but Marvel was doing it to some extent even then.

[Daghain]

Oh, this sounds interesting. I might just have to pick these up.

[CRinVA]

Masn I am going broke buying comics! :-)

[flaggwalkstheline]

so isthis the "november surprise"?

[turtlex]

so isthis the "november surprise"?

Actually, I think the November surprise is the Discordia game teaser/info.

The game goes live the last day in November.

[Cloysterpete]

Shame King is only doing half of each issue and only for the first arc. Still if this gets a hc release i'll be all over it!, a comic series written by King with new characters in it quite a rarity!.

[Brainslinger]

To be fair Scott Snyder did create the characters . It is very much his project. King offered his contribution, which was expanded later. I know what you mean though, it would be good to see more comics work from King himself. If not here, elsewhere.

The ideas behind both stories seem quite interesting. I have to admit, when I saw the thread title I groaned a bit inside. "Not another vampire thing." I thought (and I like vampire stories!) but the overall theme here seems to be both bringing something original and getting back to basics with vampires as true monsters rather than misunderstood angsty people.

[Patrick]

I'm looking forward to this. I'll buy the five issues of the first story arc to get both stories. Then if I like it so far, I'll keep on buying.

I'm glad King is spreading the comic love to other publishers besides Marvel.

[CyberGhostface]

Now THIS is what I wanted to see from Marvel--King actually writing a comic. I can't wait to read this.

[turtlex]

Now THIS is what I wanted to see from Marvel--King actually writing a comic. I can't wait to read this.

CG - As soon as I read the release, I knew you'd be thrilled.

I'm looking forward to it.

I'm loving all the Sai King related comic news.

[Dean]

..

[Brainslinger]

There are two stories in the comic. King wrote just one. Although you have a point, it could have turned out that way...

On the other hand it could give the series a lift too. King is only writing for five issues after all, and it's quite possible those drawn in by King in the first place might still continue if they like the other guys work.

[NeedfulKings]

I've got my comic guy (yeah, I now have a comic guy) setting aside these issues for me when they're released.

[turtlex]

Having a "comic guy" is a beautiful thing.

No word yet, at least not that I've read, if there will be variant covers or anything.

[flaggwalkstheline]

I have a comic guy as well
He's like my pusher

[turtlex]

I suspect our first chance to order American Vampires will be in the January issue of Previews.

( I just double checked Nov & Dec and nothing is listed there yet )

[Ari_Racing]

Cool! Thanks!

[nocny]

[herbertwest]

thanks !