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redhairedashreads's review
4.0
4 stars - It was really good
This follows the journey of Lord Henry Baltimore as he crosses the country trying to destroy the vampire who killed his family. This was a very interesting journey filled with a lot of monsters and death. The ending was a bit of a surprise. I didn't expect Baltimore to actually survive or no longer be human. I really want to know what he is now though. Also, I really loved the illustrations for this story.
Trigger warnings: torture, plague, violent death of spouse, death of family, grief, gore, violence, death
This follows the journey of Lord Henry Baltimore as he crosses the country trying to destroy the vampire who killed his family. This was a very interesting journey filled with a lot of monsters and death. The ending was a bit of a surprise. I didn't expect Baltimore to actually survive or no longer be human. I really want to know what he is now though. Also, I really loved the illustrations for this story.
Trigger warnings: torture, plague, violent death of spouse, death of family, grief, gore, violence, death
bluehairedlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A young British man fighting in World War I has to fight big, monstrous bat-like creatures when his platoon is massacred during a covert operation. After slashing one in the face, he unintentionally awakens a long dormant race of vampire creatures that start a plague across Europe. This book follows Baltimore, now older with a wooden leg, as he crosses Europe after the vampire, who he awakened during the war. It covers about three years, and Baltimore has a lot of fun, pulpy adventures. A collection of one-off shorts are included in this omnibus that really fills out the world in the middle of this plague of disease, zombies, and vampires.
The art wasn't really my thing with a lot of faces especially looking smooshed and warped when they weren't, but the use of color makes it all feel very surreal and like pulp novels and b-movies. The story is very cohesive, keeping track of time and locations in a way that books this large usually don't. Baltimore is a craggy, angry character with one objective, but despite his grumbling, he's always helping the innocent out of trouble and protecting people along his way. I look forward to reading the second volume of this series to see if Baltimore finally gets a little moment to breathe now that his adversary is finally gone.
The art wasn't really my thing with a lot of faces especially looking smooshed and warped when they weren't, but the use of color makes it all feel very surreal and like pulp novels and b-movies. The story is very cohesive, keeping track of time and locations in a way that books this large usually don't. Baltimore is a craggy, angry character with one objective, but despite his grumbling, he's always helping the innocent out of trouble and protecting people along his way. I look forward to reading the second volume of this series to see if Baltimore finally gets a little moment to breathe now that his adversary is finally gone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Violence
jmbz38's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
barb4ry1's review against another edition
4.0
Lord Baltimore destroys evil where he finds it but he hunts only one creature -a vampire named Haigus who murdered his family. In a world ravaged by a contagion, Baltimore wants to be left to his vengeance but somehow he never does. Not really. New horrors hide in every shadow and he makes them vanish in a spray of blood.
I loved this graphic novel, with its dark tones, and self-contained stories being part of a larger story.
Longer review to come, I guess.
I loved this graphic novel, with its dark tones, and self-contained stories being part of a larger story.
Longer review to come, I guess.
wrath1776's review against another edition
5.0
Mignola's best work IMO. This first half of the Baltimore story sets up and knocks down many colorful and horrifying antagonists while building a dense and ever-darkening world of villainy. And in perfect Mignola fashion, the protagonist sways between his heroic inclinations and the abyss he stares into.
Perfectly executed and masterfully plotted. 5/5 hogs.
Perfectly executed and masterfully plotted. 5/5 hogs.
pdz's review against another edition
Baltimore is one of my all time favorite characters. The art, plot, dialog- it's all great. I love Hellboy as a character and as a story, but I have to say Baltimore might have nudged him down a peg. This collection is amazing. Can't wait to read part 2.
nightmare_maven's review against another edition
4.0
This would make a really good TV series in these COVID times...just saying LOL
alexxxxxxxxxx's review against another edition
4.0
A World War 1, but different, story. The difference in Baltimore is vampires. The setting of exploring through late 1910's Europe in search of vampires was fun, and the slow introduction of more and more monstrous entities is sure to have some good pay off in the second novel.
Lord Henry Baltimore himself is an interesting character, who fought in the Great War and was maybe accidentally the start of an entire real plague / vampire plague. We follow Baltimore on his rambling revenge quest and meet some friends and foes!
Great art also, as can be expected in most things with Mignolas name on it, even if he's not doing it.
Overall I enjoyed this book about as much as Witchfinder if not a little more. I am excited to read the second volume!
Lord Henry Baltimore himself is an interesting character, who fought in the Great War and was maybe accidentally the start of an entire real plague / vampire plague. We follow Baltimore on his rambling revenge quest and meet some friends and foes!
Great art also, as can be expected in most things with Mignolas name on it, even if he's not doing it.
Overall I enjoyed this book about as much as Witchfinder if not a little more. I am excited to read the second volume!
hagiasophia's review
4.0
This is a really fun, classic vampire story. The authors spiced up the traditional premise enough to keep me engaged and I loved the art style. Some of the one-shot comics kind of disrupted the flow of the story and a few aspects of the world were a little unclear to me, but this was a super entertaining read and I'm excited to read more.
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