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aceinit's review
4.0
A bit of a disappointment compared to the first installment, but still far and away better than most of the stuff going to print these days.
Pearl and Skinner’s respective stories move forward a decade, to the 1930’s. Skinner’s set up shop in Vegas and is in the thick of the gambling and prostitution trade that’s thriving due to the construction of the Boulder Dam (known today as the Hoover Dam); while Pearl and Henry are trying to live a quiet life in California.
Some new faces are introduced, primarily in the form of Las Vegas chief of police Cash McCogan and a mysterious group known as the Council. Abilena Book and her now-grown daughter Felicia make welcome returns, as well as a prominent figure from Pearl’s past who was left for dead.
Snyder continues to weave an inventive and powerful tale, but this one leaves something to be desired compared to its predecessor. After growing used to the 50/50 split of Pearl and Skinner’s respective arcs, both in term of story and the year of their setting, it was a bit disorienting to see them both in the same era, even if their paths don’t cross. It also causes the fact that we’re reading two separate stories to seem more prominent, as sometimes there are large gaps between switching from Pearl’s story to Skinner’s and vice versa. Pearl, in my opinion, is given particularly little to do. Other than one big scene, she is mostly living the quiet life. And the quiet life, let’s face it, is boring.
There is also the fact that much of the Las Vegas arc is left unresolved. Someone is out to sabotage the building of the Boulder Dam. Though we find out who is responsible for the killings, we never find out *why.* No real hints are given, either, other than an odd parallel between the fact that someone is building a Really Big Dam and that a similar technique was attempted in the first arc to keep Skinner trapped in his coffin. There are hints of a conspiracy here, sure, but not enough to really satisfy. There’s not that “oh my god” moment that makes you HAVE to move on to the next vomlume.
But, as I said, American Vampire is still a fantastic series and a cut above most of the other monthly offerings in the comic industry today. It still tells a great story, still has perfect art, and is still very much worth a read.
Pearl and Skinner’s respective stories move forward a decade, to the 1930’s. Skinner’s set up shop in Vegas and is in the thick of the gambling and prostitution trade that’s thriving due to the construction of the Boulder Dam (known today as the Hoover Dam); while Pearl and Henry are trying to live a quiet life in California.
Some new faces are introduced, primarily in the form of Las Vegas chief of police Cash McCogan and a mysterious group known as the Council. Abilena Book and her now-grown daughter Felicia make welcome returns, as well as a prominent figure from Pearl’s past who was left for dead.
Snyder continues to weave an inventive and powerful tale, but this one leaves something to be desired compared to its predecessor. After growing used to the 50/50 split of Pearl and Skinner’s respective arcs, both in term of story and the year of their setting, it was a bit disorienting to see them both in the same era, even if their paths don’t cross. It also causes the fact that we’re reading two separate stories to seem more prominent, as sometimes there are large gaps between switching from Pearl’s story to Skinner’s and vice versa. Pearl, in my opinion, is given particularly little to do. Other than one big scene, she is mostly living the quiet life. And the quiet life, let’s face it, is boring.
There is also the fact that much of the Las Vegas arc is left unresolved. Someone is out to sabotage the building of the Boulder Dam. Though we find out who is responsible for the killings, we never find out *why.* No real hints are given, either, other than an odd parallel between the fact that someone is building a Really Big Dam and that a similar technique was attempted in the first arc to keep Skinner trapped in his coffin. There are hints of a conspiracy here, sure, but not enough to really satisfy. There’s not that “oh my god” moment that makes you HAVE to move on to the next vomlume.
But, as I said, American Vampire is still a fantastic series and a cut above most of the other monthly offerings in the comic industry today. It still tells a great story, still has perfect art, and is still very much worth a read.
jasmeaniethebookish's review
4.0
I enjoyed the storyline more in this volume, but the art (at least as I remember it) in volume 1 was better. I’d gladly take a better story over art any day.
sandeeisreading's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't get it. I mean, it could get better with the next issues, but honestly, this didn't interest me enough to read more. I love Scott Snyder to death. This just isn't for me.
benlundns's review
5.0
Man, this book was good. Obviously since it is Volume 2, reading vol 1 would be required to know what the heck is going on, and there is A LOT going on. It reminds me a lot of Locke and Key for it's fantastical elements, and of Preacher for it's use of language and just really savage violence. But wow, what a story. What if the old European vampires, created a vampire in the new world (America) but it was just slightly different. Different powers, different weaknesses. There is so much happening here, but revolving around a slowly expanding cast of characters. I read half the book, got distracted and got back to it a few weeks later, read it from start again and read all the way through in one sitting. I can't wait to get my hands on the next volume.
medium_dave's review
4.0
Just as good and crazy as the first volume. It's a refreshing take on vamps, where all the kinds you think of, the deformed Nosferateus, the posh Draculas, the violent Blade vamps exist and are there to kill and maim and grow rich and live forever. Everyone of them is a fucker, except for Pearl, and even she has a dark streak a mile long, Good, good stuff. And volume 3 heads to Japan during World War 2, I'm down.
iam_griff's review
3.0
I read these individual issues as they came out in 2010 & 2011. I really enjoyed this series as vampires were still vampires & didn’t “sparkle”, plus I also liked how different Skinner, Pearl, & Hattie were in comparison to the “traditional” myths of vampirism. I do plan on going thru the collection of graphic novels I have for this series.