The chilling vampire series Summer Shadows has mixed romance, queer love, and horror together quite well. This week, Summer Shadows #3 brings our main character, Nick, face to face with the horror yacht that preys alongside a Greek island. Can Nick find his ex, and if he does find him on a vampire yacht, what will he find?
Summer Shadows #3 delivers on all the anticipation about what goes on in the vampire yacht. So far, the series has been teasing its danger and the nefarious delights on board. That makes this issue a satisfying next chapter while ramping up the danger levels for Nick.
Before the reveal of what goes on, although you can probably guess it involves lots of sex, the romance in Nick’s life ramps up to eleven. While there was some tension between Nick and the detective, it was nice to see a normal relationship unfold. I say normal, as everything on the yacht is very much not the norm. If anything, it’s the ultimate Sodom and Gomorrah experience. Writer John Harris Dunning and artist Ricardo Cabral use the first half of the issue to show Nick is truly innocent and a normal guy.
The horror elements are strong in this issue, with another macabre opening tying into Greek mythology. Captions run through the issue detailing the stories of Nyx and Orpheus. It adds a story within the story layer to the events transpiring.
Each issue has opened with a sense of dread.
Credit: Dark Horse
I had high expectations for what we’d learn going on in the yacht, and I was not left disappointed. There are drugs, sexual acts, perversion, and control happening that are all next level. The key to the things Nick sees is they aren’t overtly pornographic, but just enough is shown with a level of inhumanity in the faces to give you the sense truly unhinged things are happening. It’s not saying group sex is bad, per se, but the carnal nature of what Nick sees is definitely not healthy.
On top of the sights Nick sees, there’s also a surprise visit with a child vampire you won’t want to miss. She’s creepy and a bit less into playing a part. It’s a monster sighting I didn’t expect, juxtaposed well with the adult acts in the same boat she’s hanging out in.
The only element that seems lacking at this point is a reminder of why Nick needs to find his ex. There’s a helpful scene showing them breaking up, but at this point, what is Nick’s obsession with finding him about? There almost seems to be less reason to keep searching with the detective popping up in his life. More could probably be done to hammer home why Nick loves his ex so damn much he’s willing to go to great lengths to find him. On some scale, it’s as if Nick is dream-walking through the story.
The carnal delights of vampires come into focus as Nick continues to find a lost love and maybe even finds love along the way. Summer Shadows #3 continues to deliver a compelling mix of horror, romance, and mythological intrigue, making it a captivating addition to the series. John Harris Dunning and Ricardo Cabral masterfully blend sensuality with horror, using Greek mythology as an eerie backdrop that amplifies the dark allure of the yacht’s twisted pleasures. Nick’s innocence is highlighted in stark contrast to the debauchery around him, creating a tension that drives the narrative. It’s a thrilling chapter, but a stronger emphasis on Nick’s emotional drive would make his journey feel even more urgent.
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