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Stories about the undead grow in number every day.  Most remain forgettable.  Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing's four part Raptors graphic novel turns out to be anything but.

A few words about the artwork.  Something about it feels European, and indeed such proves to be the case.  What I read was an English translation, but the images retain the kind of heightened reality at which super hero comics in particular excel.  Unlike (for example) Buffy, the costumes worn by many characters simply don't make sense--at least not naturalistically.  Bright crimson almost never helps when it comes to stealthy sneaking up on anyone.  Long hair worn loose gets in the way during hand-to-hand combat, as do voluminous coats.  No matter!  Everything about these four volumes looks and feels like an intricate dream world, a distorted version of the world we know, tinted with nightmare.

Another sign of non-American origins--sex.  Raptors includes the kind of material most publishers avoid yet cannot help but feel refreshing.  Not simply because sex happens in the story, but the edginess of that sex.  Full frontal nudity (male and female) for example.  For another, lesbianism as well as incest and the blending  of eroticism with violence too often hinted at or (much worse) underplayed.   Indeed, the whole four volume story successfully manages to both rivet and disturb.  No easy answers here.  Even a just war is a thing of darkness.  The best of us have sides to our personalities we'd like to ignore or pretend don't exist.

Set in modern day New York City, the story (initially) centers around a bizarre series of murders--each victim drained of blood, a pin driven into the skin behind the right ear.  Even weirder, autopsies reveal each victim in absolutely perfect health, no matter what their age.  Inspector Lenore and her partner Spiaggi soon run afoul of a gigantic corruptive conspiracy worthy of the most paranoid of film noir.  Vampires--the city's elite--view those like Lenore and Spiaggi as cattle.  But someone else, a pair of enemies from centuries past, sees the decadent rulers of this city in much the say way.  Drago and Camilla, brother and sister lovers, long for revenge against those who killed their vampire parents, a pair of proud nobles in medieval Spain unwilling to give up their lives as pure predators.  Now the twins cut a swathe through the undead of New York--with both Lenore and her partner caught in between it all.

This tiny precis of the plot barely hints at the twists and turns, many of them heart-breaking, the plot takes over the course of four books.  What may be most impressive about the whole work remains how it never pulls a dramatic punch.  Yet at the same time this is anything but a story of despair.  Desperation, yes.  Also, cruelty and terror coupled with the peeling back of mystery after mystery.   Still, genuine heroes show their mettle--often in unexpected ways.  What could have easily been a long descent into pure darkness, proves an epic tale of strange salvation.   The mass of humanity, not necessarily innocent but undeserving of what some plan for them, end up protected--at a price.  The way it happens in the real world.

Likewise characters, for all their intensity and heightened natures, remain nuanced.   We come to understand certain points of view, even (slightly) sympathize with them.  After all, is it not better to be civilized than savage?  Yet isn't a ruthless hunter of human prey at the very least an honest vampire, not a hypocrite, in the end even less damaging than those who wrap their bloodlust with self-righteousness?

Makes for a compelling tale, albeit not one for children.  Sex is the least of it.  Along with the beautiful we find plenty of the grotesque.   A set of parents murdered is one thing.  Another set (human in this case) rigidly and deliberately humiliating their own child is another.   Not so much because Raptors makes for a dark story, but because the darkness remains complex.  A sophisticated urban fantasy steeped in blood--what frankly Underworld tries to be only to ultimately fail (too "nice" too "simple" too straightforward).

No related posts.

In honor of the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter teaser trailer launch, the studio brought out director Timur Bekmambetov and star Benjamin Walker to Springfield, Illinois, the home of Lincoln’s tomb, his library and museum. While there, the folks over at Collider.com got the chance to chat with the two about the upcoming flick. Check out the goodies revealed below!

Since Collider had a limited time they could talk with the two men, they covered two main things – Lincoln himself and the recently released teaser trailer.

On taking a new look at Lincoln:

Benjamin Walker: “What’s great about it – and the fact that it is this kind of movie – is we can re-examine Abraham Lincoln as a human being. He’s an idol, we put him on a pedestal and see him as a sacred figure, and we kind of distant ourselves from him.”

Timur Bekmambetov: “For me it’s a person who can take responsibility to make a decision because we live in a world where everything’s kind of  gray. There’s no black and white.”

As for the unrevealing teaser (as all teasers are), Timur Bekmambetov did point out that, “It's not a trailer, it’s a teaser. Let’s wait for the trailer.” I can’t wait, Timur! I want to see it now! But alas, I must wait.

On the topic of people having questions after seeing the teaser, Walker said, “I imagine there will be some people who are skeptical, and I would say give us a shot, because the landscape of movies where we have a bunch of reboots and sequels, franchises and toy movies, we’re doing something new.”

Check out the teaser trailer below and let us know what you think about it:

Click here to view the embedded video.

What are your thoughts? I am a bit sad about how very little is shown, but it is a teaser after all.

- Moonlight

Related posts:

1. Benjamin Walker Scores Role as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
2. No Director Yet for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Film Adaptation
3. First Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Trailer Released!

As the release date for Tim Burton's new film Dark Shadows (with Johnny Depp as the tragic vampire Barnabas Collins) approaches, more and more fans wonder Where Is The Trailer?  Understandable.  The film hits theaters in May, less than three months from now.  On the other hand, Burton/Depp team-ups generate all sorts of publicity by their very nature.  And a steady trickle of information seems aimed at building excitement. 

Case in point--the most recently released photo, showing Depp in a costume nearly identical to one from the original t.v. series.  In it, he and the beautiful evil witch with the broken heart stare eye to eye.   Eva Green even captures the look so many Dark Shadows fans remember from Angelique--that "I slaughtered your entire family and you call ME the bad guy?" attitude.

At the website ComicBookMovie.com someone claiming to have participated in a consumer survey for a version of the DS trailer posted his description.  While such trailers rarely remain intact from such surveys, the description certainly teases nicely...

It starts with Depp narrating. He explains how he is cursed by a jealous witch (Eva Green) who destroyed all that he loves. Green turns him into a vampire and has him put in a chained coffin and buried by villagers for eternity. Coffin opens, Depp comes out and yawns Depp asks future dweller Jackie Earle Haley what is the year and learns it is 1972. Then Depp sees a McDonald's sign and a toy troll with a shocked face.

Depp goes to the Collins Mansion and meets his family. Helena Bonham Carter's character says "Who the hell is this?" Depp replies "I am a vampire madam" Jonny Lee Miller's character says "Yeah".

Depp cleans his fangs in the bathroom with a toothbrush and we see he has no reflection in the mirror. Chloe Moretz says "He's not staying with us forever, is he?" Her little brother interjects "I like him". Michelle Pfeiffer says "Welcome home Barnabas Collins", then Moretz slams door shut with KEEP OUT sign.   Depp sees television and says "What sorcery is this?" He then goes around and rips open back panel yelling "Reveal yourself tiny songstress!" Moretz says to Depp "Are you stoned or something?" (This bit was hilarious)

Eva Green's character Angelique walks in. Depp says "Her name summons vomit to the recesses of my mouth" (made me laugh out loud again). Green replies "Oooh no one talks like you anymore Barnabas".Depp explains that Green is the witch who killed the woman he loves and cursed him to be a hideous creature and asks Green "What is it you want?" Green rips off her shirt and Depp stares at her breasts and says "I must admit they have not aged a day". Green slides her bottom on piano, lays back on couch and Depp growls. Green spins her head around while giving an evil smile. Helena Bonham Carter's character asks "Is she for real" and Depp replies "Indeed" and puts his head down on organ keys playing high pitched note.

A train is moving then a ghostly appearance of Bella Heathcote's character appears and says "She's coming". Voice over says "I don't know what it is, there's always been something funny here pulling me to you". The real life Josette walks in. Depp stands up and says "Josette". The little brother character says "That's freaky" Bella Heathcote says to Depp "I feel like I've known you forever".   Green says "If I can't have you, I'll destroy you and your family". Then the disco ball comes crashing down. Michelle Pfeiffer says to Depp "Fight on Barnabas, fight on for us" with scene of ambulance and burning building. Depp replies "And fight I shall" as he puts his open hand out and blows up building.   Green says "Love me" and Depp replies "Never". Green wrestles with Depp as they destroy room while getting it on. Green pins Depp to the ground and licks his chest and face with her abnormally long tongue. Depp, sitting in the destroyed room, says to Green "That was a regrettable turn of events"

Chloe Moretz says "I guess the only thing missing is Alice Cooper". Depp replies that "She [meaning Alice Cooper] should be our guest". Scene showing Alice Cooper singing and Depp says "ugliest woman I've ever seen".

As might be expected, some fans of the show have been shrieking about heresy and the dreaded C word (Comedy).  On the other hand, maybe we should remember this is a Tim Burton film.  His stuff always includes humor.  We laugh, but we also cry.  He gives us thrills and heartbreak as well as creepy images and usually a more-than-touching love story.

One more detail--according to a poster at the IMDB message boards (someone who also claimed to see an early draft of the trailer) the music used for the trailer is "People Are Strange" by The Doors.

Related posts:

1. Dark Shadows Update #2
2. Dark Shadows Update
3. Dark Shadows Filming Update

That’s right Truebies, another series of True Blood comics are coming soon! Many fans don’t even know that the folks behind the hit show have created True Blood comics, but they have and that more are on the way! Woo!

Michael McMillian (Steve Newlin on the show) recently revealed that the 4th series of True Blood comics will be coming out soon, and a posting on the HBO store for IDW Publishing’s True Blood comics has confirmed it. The post shared the full creative team behind True Blood Series 4, and I’ve got to say, it’s an excellent collaboration.

The ongoing will be written by Green Arrow writer Ann Nocenti and True Blood actor Michael McMillian with creative collaboration from True Blood producer Alan Ball and art by Michael Gaydos. So far, IDW has only posted the Issue #1 cover image. They have yet to released specific details about the storyline of the upcoming comic or how it will link to the show.

McMillian co-wrote IDW’s second True Blood series, Tainted Love. The writer/actor spoke with CBR News back in 2011 about Tainted Love and his view on comics expanding the True Blood universe and mythology.

“I think the comic can play a role in exploring areas of the ‘True Blood’ world that the show may not be able to get to,” McMillian said. “Marc [Andreyko] came up with the wonderful idea of Tru Blood bottles getting contaminated with an element that causes vampires to go crazy. Since the bottled blood is the link between vampire/human relations, it’s such a great device to mess with. Tainting that symbolic connection seemed like an apt reflection of where vampire/human relations were left off in Season 3. On another level, the theme of contamination is at play with the main cast of characters. Their lives have been drastically affected since Bill walked into Sookie’s life. Are they themselves tainted? A lot of our characters kick off the series with a longing to return to the way things were before… to reclaim a feeling of lost, perhaps even false, innocence.”

If you want to check out the previous comics before the new one is released in May, they are: True Blood: All Together Now, True Blood: Tainted Love and True Blood: The French Quarter.

What do you guys think of the True Blood comics? Have any of you read them, if so, how do you feel about them?

- Moonlight

Related posts:

1. Godric is Coming Back to True Blood!
2. True Blood Soundtrack Vol. 3 Coming Soon
3. Vampire Comics & Graphic Novels Coming March 2011

The Vampire Diaries has a riveting plot filled to the brim with vampires, werewolves, witches and even ghosts – but it’s not just those wonderful things keeping many fans hooked, it’s the eye candy as well.  You can’t deny that you don’t love watching scenes with Damon and Stefan (particularly shirtless scenes), or scenes with the stunning and unbelievably sexy Elena. The show is packed full of hot, and EW just made it hotter. The magazine recently did a super sexy, and naked (but conveniently covered), shoot with the three stars of the show - Ian Somerhalder (Damon), Paul Wesley (Stefan) and Nina Dobrev (Elena).

Check out the photos from EW’s super sexy shoot (click for bigger photo):

These pictures make the love triangle between the two undead brothers and Elena SO much hotter – it really adds all kinds of naughtiness to my imagination. If only we could see all of that in the show. Speaking of the love triangle, executive producers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec chatted a bit about it with EW. When they finally decided they were ready for Damon and Elena to have an actual kiss, after years of buildup, they knew that they had to do it in a way that would satisfy two avid fan bases – those who wanted Elena and Damon together and those who want Elena and Stefan together.

“It’s one of those things that you want to be able to defend,” Williamson explained to EW. “But even more importantly, you’d rather not defend it. You want it to feel real and right and natural by all the audience.” Satisfying the “shippers” (a term used to identify fans who cheer for fictional characters to have relationships), is a challenge both Williamson and Plec have faced every time they’ve tried to advance the triangle. Asks Plec: “How can we service this moment between our characters that we really want, a Damon and Elena kiss, without getting the Stefan-Elena side of the fandom to give up hope and give up on us? And vice versa, when we want Stefan and Elena to have a moment together, how can we do that and not have our Delena fans outraged?”

That definitely makes things more difficult. Who are you rooting for? Elena and Damon or Elena and Stefan? Also, what do you think of the super hot pictures? Out of those three covers, which is your favorite?

- Moonlight

Related posts:

1. Naked Damon and New Characters Coming Soon to The Vampire Diaries!
2. Vampire Media Lies, Hot New TB Poster, Damon and Elena not Happening Soon, in this Week’s Vampire Bites
3. The Vampire Diaries Season 3 Promo Revealed!