The Strain #1
Reviewed by Brant W. Fowler
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Written by: David Lapham
Based on Novel by: Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
Art by: Mike Huddleston & Dan Jackson
Published by: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: December 14, 2011
Price: $1.00
Promotional Blurb:
When a Boeing 777 lands at JFK International Airport and goes dark on the runway, the Center for Disease Control, fearing a terrorist attack, calls in Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team of expert biological-threat first responders. Only an elderly pawnbroker from Spanish Harlem suspects a darker purpose behind the event-an ancient threat intent on covering mankind in darkness.
* From director Guillermo del Toro and novelist Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves)!
* Adapted for comics by Eisner Award-winning writer David Lapham!
Reviewer's Comments:
Anyone that knows me knows I'm not a huge horror fan, but this book was a dollar. Luckily, the book was worth much more.
I've never read the source material, being the novel by del Toro and Hogan, so I had no frame of reference going in. It was just another comic book story that I figured I'd give a shot. Thankfully, it was one of the few that really impressed me and left me wanting more. That's always a good thing in any story no matter what the medium in my opinion.
As we all know, del Toro is also a famed Hollywood Director, and that influence certainly shows in this story, which Lapham masterfully crafted into a comic story that did not feel condensed. The story flows very much like a movie would. We get an introduction in the vein of a flashback, which gives us some insight into what the story's about. It's more or less a vampire story in the form of a biological thread, but not the same thing as The Priest or anything like that. It has its own take on things that, for me, was quite intriguing.
From there we are introduced to some of our main characters in a slow build to the drama, but not too slow. In just a few short pages we get enough of a look into Ephraim's life to know the man and to care about him. He has his son for the weekend, but has to hurry off to work despite his best efforts to avoid doing so. We understand his dillemma, but also the importance of his job and the threat he now faces.
The first issue is mainly the opening act of the story, just introducing us to everyone and laying out the plot in a way that makes you want to pick up the next issue to see what happens from here. The dialogue is fresh and believable, never forced, and as I said before, the flow of the story moved along nicely without either feeling rushed or too slow.
Huddleston and Jackson definitely have a unique style of art for this book. There is a gritty realism to it mixed with just a bit of flare. I'd liken it to other offerings from Dark Horse, like Hellboy and the like, but not quite as stylized. Still, the style is befitting of the somewhat dark and serious nature of the book. And when I say dark and serious, I mean the threat as hinted on the cover. The story itself isn't dreadfully dark, nor is the art for that matter. Just dark enough to get the point across. It's almost an unfinished style, but still solid linework by the duo throughout.
I am intrigued by this story and I do want to find out what's in store and just how this old threat affects this current world. It also makes me curious about the novel, so if I like the comic well enough I may check it out. Or wait for the eventual movie if there is one as I can totally see this being adapted to the big screen. It almost feels like it was originally written with that intent in mind.
Dark Horse has a strong and long history of picking very good licenses and original properties, and this one is no different.
If you'd like to learn more, head over to www.darkhorse.com.
Reviewer Bio
Brant W. Fowler / Writer, Letterer, Reviewer, Columnist, Podcaster, Partner/COO/Site Manager of Comic Related
Brant W. Fowler has been a professional comic book writer, editor, flatter, letterer and logo designer for several years, and has been a freelance editor for the past five years or so. He is one of the cast members and host of the Zone 4 podcast here at Comic Related, and he letters some of the webcomics on the site. You can see samples of his works and how to hire him at Gonzogoose
Design and Just-Flats.net. And catch up with him on his forums right here at CR. Brant is also a member of the core
operations team at Comic Related.
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