"30 Days of Night #4" Comic Review

Vampires have descended upon the town of Barrow, Alaska, just as it’s consumed by a night that will last for a month.  The remaining residents don’t know what they’re in for just yet.  A number of bizarre incidents have been reported to local police, who are doing their best to investigate and keep people calm.  That is going to get very hard as the bodies are starting to pile up.  

Artist Piotr Kowalski shows off his vampire skills in this issue, as they’re out in full force.  The bloodsuckers have the upper hand, as the townsfolk have no idea they’re in any real danger just yet.  When they see someone suspicious lurking about, they think it’s just a weirdo or a drunk walking it off.  Then the teeth come out and the bloodbath starts.  

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And oh what a bloodbath it is.  The vampires are totally in their element here, reveling in the smorgasbord before them.  They don’t have to hide or lurk in the shadows.  They can walk in the open and take their time.  That means they can play with their food.  

Kowalksi does gore well, especially coupled with Brad Simpson’s colors.  The blood stains the snow a dark crimson, making it stand out in an otherwise peaceful area.  Some of the action shots are given a red hue to highlight the gruesome exchange.  

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There is an impressive double-page spread of pure carnage as the vampires really dig in. I really like how their teeth show up as rows of razor sharp daggers instead of the traditional two fangs.  It makes them appear more savage and unnatural.  At this rate, I don’t know how the vampires are going to make their food last for the night, let alone the month.  They’re literally ripping people apart like some twisted version of a piñata.  

With all this bloodshed, you can’t help but feel sorry for the humans in town.  There is seemingly no way for them to survive.  They’re trapped in Barrow with no way out and no way of contacting the outside world, plus they’re outnumbered and way outgunned.  It may only be a matter of time until they’re all dead…or is it?  The final pages of this issue provide a nice twist on things that continues to keep me guessing.  

We’ve heard the story of 30 Days of Night before, but not like this.  This series is a reboot and writer Steve Niles is taking it in new directions that show how to do a proper retelling.  Hollywood should be paying attention.  The end result is an unpredictable series that is as surprising as it is terrifying.