Wiper creative team John Harris Dunning and Ricardo Cabral have a new horror series launching this week. Set in Greece, Summer Shadows introduces readers to a vampire threat via yacht, a man looking to relax, and the kind of horror Clive Barker fans would love. There’s something so intoxicating about vampires in the summer; they come out to play in new ways with this opening issue.
It’s fair to say anyone who owns a yacht is probably a jerk, as is seen when vampires come out to play in this opening issue. The story starts with an unnerving scene by the water amongst dead brambles. Soon, we see a figure standing in blue water that edges into red, and swirling purple clouds are overhead. You get the sense something is truly evil here as the following panels push in closer on the form in the water.
The story then reveals that the imagery was only the dream of a young blond man who had just arrived on a Greek island. He’s chasing an ex-boyfriend who broke up via a postcard from the same island. Ominously, a woman snaps his photo as he reads it. Strange.
As the story unfolds, vampires feel their presence on the beach, and a mysterious and evil-looking yacht is introduced. The story feels dreamlike, evoking the summer daze of youth. Characters party with what is definitely a group of vampires, but of course, they don’t suspect a thing. Death is present, but the sun is glaring in the daytime, and you can practically feel the heat.
Creepy!
Credit: Dark Horse
Cabral’s art and Brad Simpson’s colors add a level of realism straight out of a sketch artist’s summer journal. The scenes in the day are highly detailed, helping convey the Greek island caked in brightness. The scenes at night are filled with cold blues and purples. The juxtaposition helps convey a sense of dread in the night scenes.
The visuals are haunting throughout, and they will stick with you. At one point in the story, a vampire makes his presence felt, and it’s alien, godlike, and truly remarkable. I was reminded of Clive Barker’s Next Testament in its awe-inspiring, haunting nature. In another, we see the looming yacht in all black, with detail revealed via red lights. Two windows peer out like eyes as if the yacht is hunting the shores for prey.
The weakest aspect of this issue is the search for the ex, which seems a bit longwinded at a certain point. The captions are wistful as our protagonist seeks his ex, but there really aren’t any clues as to where he might find him yet. That leaves you wanting.
From the opening pages to a key scene with a vampire outside a church, one feels cosmic horror. The vampires’ actions are playful when they lure you in but also unruly, like a bratty child, when they want to be feared.
The LGBTQIA+ aspect of the story is present but not overt. There’s something sultry about youthful characters seeking love, and you get the sense the vampire at the end is aware of it.
This vampire story feels totally unique, yet it deals with familiar aspects, as seen in The Lost Boys and the visuals of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The very concept of vampires who hunt via yacht in summer destinations is fascinating, and when paired with the surreal, it leaves you with a lingering feeling.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login