Review: Little Monsters #13 (of 13)

Vampire stories can be a mixed bag. For every Lestat there is an Edward, with many a stop between the two. Whilst there have been child vampires previously, in Interview With A Vampire for example, I don’t think it was until the movie “Let Me In” did the horror and emotional impact of child killers actually come to the fore.

This is the last night. Can Romie ensure that the young vamps survive or is death and desolation all that awaits those cursed to live an undead life?

I have come into this late, so I don’t understand all the relationships that are in play. That doesn’t stop Jeff Lemire from dropping a book that is steeped in emotional payoff. There is a quiet resignation, a sort of bravery of sorts that comes into play. A child, generally lives a hand to mouth existence; must have now rather than later. This then fits the vampire need to feed well, though the revulsion of the act, the childish care for people acting and the need for love and acceptance as a sort of juxtaposition of needs. It is the contrast that dominates this issue. If the previous twelve issues have been leading here than the climax certainly pays off. The cynics may say that the book deserves definitive end. of which there is for some.

Dustin Nguyen may have have risen to fame due to his chubbi styled Lil’ Gotham book, some of which, facially at least, is mirrored a touch here. However the art for these Little Monsters is far more dramatic. The true horror is in the simplicity of the book with a beguiling innocence that no matter how hard the kids strive for, their true nature will win out in graphic disappointment and destruction. Nguyen’s pace never wavers, weaving through Lemire’s plot and nuances with the grace of a master storyteller. The greyscale effect works wonders in setting the tone; flashes of red demonstrate the importance to both the vampires and the reading. The letters from Steve Wand, sparse though they are, deliver an effective sense of finality.

I have missed a trick with this book and I am now in something of a dilemma; do I go looking for the back issues or wait for the ubiquitous trade? A rock and a hard place for sure. This problem is borne from the fantastic creative work of Lemire and Nguyen.

Writing – 5 Stars

Art 5- Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Jeff Lemire
art by; Dustin Nguyen
Design & Letters by; Steve Wands
Published by; Image Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network