AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOLUME 2 begins eleven years after AMERICAN
VAMPIRE VOLUME 1 ended. Like the previous edition, it’s split into two
different stories. The first, “Devil in the Sand” takes place in 1936 Las
Vegas. It introduces a new character to the saga, Cash McCogan, an officer for
the Las Vegas police department. There’s a series of grisly murders happening
in Las Vegas and Cash is convinced that Jim Smoke (aka Skinner Sweet) is
somehow behind the crimes. The murders bring two agents from the Vassals of the
Morning Star, a group of international vampire hunters, to Las Vegas who join
McCogan in his investigation. However, things aren’t exactly what they appear
to be and Cash finds himself in the midst of an alliance he could never have
imagined.
The second story in the volume, “Way Out,” features Pearl
and Henry. The two are now living as husband and wife. Like Sweet, Pearl is
determined to find and eliminate the old vampires who have infiltrated the U.S.
She and Henry have been living a fairly quiet life. However, there is a person
from Pearl’s life who hates Pearl as much as Pearl hates the old vampires and
this person is determined to make Pearl pay.
Even though Stephen King wrote part of AMERICAN VAMPIRE
VOLUME 1, I found AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOLUME 2 to be a better overall story. The book
can be read without having read the first volume. However, familiarity with the
first volume makes volume two much more interesting.
There is a difference in the artwork between “Devil in the
Sand” and “Way Out.” The styles of both volumes fit the stories they tell. For
instance, “Devil in the Sand” has a much darker and sinister tone than “Way
Out.” This fits because “Way Out” is mostly a story about Pearl and Henry and
their relationship together. The lines are softer and the shapes not as harsh
as are the illustrations in “Devil in the Sand.”
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOLUME 2.
Recommended for those who have read the first volume as well as anyone who is a
fan of Scott Snyder, those who enjoy interesting vampire stories, and those who
like horror comics.
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