BALTIMORE by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden & Ben Stenbeck

When I read Gef's review of Baltimore Volume 1: The Plague Ships, over at Wag The Fox, I knew I wanted to read it. And I think I liked it more than he did.

BALTIMORE - THE PLAGUE SHIPS tells the story of Lord Henry Baltimore, a man hunting and hunted by a devilish vampire that turned his family and the love of his life into the living dead.

Set against the backdrop of the final days of WW1 Europe, this beautifully told horror story is one you'll want to read again and again.

Mignola and Golden tell a tale that originally began with Baltimore,: Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire that tells a similar story, only in novel format (I have ordered that one and will have a review for you in the not too distant future).

With THE PLAGUE SHIPS the authors manage to entrance you from the very beginning as Lord Baltimore chases down Nazi vampires through the rainy streets of Villefranche, located on the coast of France, in the year 1916.

The story, though fairly predictable, is a solid one. It's the kind of tale of terror that gives you exactly what you want. Like I stated in my review of The Fall (The Strain Trilogy), who doesn't like Nazi vampires? Undead creatures? Other worldly horror?

Obviously an important part of enjoying a graphic novel, after the story, is the artwork. Ben Stenbeck's work is great, and suits the story perfectly. The images of horror are both frightening and beautiful at the same time. Each panel is drawn, coloured and shaded (Dave Stewart), with an eeriness and strangeness that will have you gazing at the pages long after you have finished with text.

All and all highly recommendable. I looked forward to the next book in the series, BALTIMORE - THE CURSE BELLS.