Graphic Novel - The Strain vol. 1

The Strain Volume 1 by David Lapham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Creepy and Gory covers. Volume 1 has the 1st to the 11th issue of this comic. I started reading it knowing that was about vampires and some sort of pandemic virus. I was also curious because the original book is written by Guillermo del Toro (and Chuck Hogan's - The Strain ). Before finishing the volume 1 I've also saw the first episode of the TV-show/series.

I love the artwork. One issue I have with many comics and graphic novels is beautiful covers and not so pleasing artwork on the inside. But this is one is spot on. The colours and the contrast really help setting the tone of creepiness of the story. The mixture of dark colours really help to deliver a brutal and violent story. Some scenes look like nightmare material!

It all starts with an air-plane full of dead people. Mysterious dead people. Nobody knows why they are dead. Upon this the main character is presented.Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (what a name!) working for the Center for Disease Control.
He is the chief investigator of this operation, but he's life is quite a turmoil. Eph is an ex-alcoholic juggling between his job and family (mainly his son).

In the second issue a coffin is found in the air-plane cargo. There are a few survivors from this mysterious situation whom are released and sent home.
There is this morgue scene where you discover that the death people have tiny and strange marks in their necks, almost invisible to the naked eye. All bodies are drain from blood and, oddly, despite they are death for hours, the bodies are still warm and without rigor mortis. [
In the second issue a coffin is found in the air-plane cargo. There are a few survivors from this mysterious situation whom are released and sent home.
There is this morgue scene where you discover that the death people have tiny and strange marks in their necks, almost invisible to the naked eye. All bodies are drain from blood and, oddly, despite they are death for hours, the bodies are still warm and without rigor mortis. (hide spoiler)]

Another extremely important character is an old men named Abraham Setrakian. Jew from Romania, Holocaust survivor, owner of a little pawnshop is the only one who knows what is going on and have some hints how to stop this pandemic infection of vampires. (I actually enjoyed a lot the parts about Abraham life, they are scattered through the different issues and give helpful hints about what's going on and how he knows so much about everything).

One of the best and scariest parts is when the death came to life in the morgue. (I actually saw this scene in the first episode of the tv show and sh*t is awesome too!). They come to life and they first urge is to find their love ones... and feed upon them. When they finish feeding on the blood they infect the people. 

By the forth issue of this comics they decide to assume that it's a parasite - in the comics it's not very clear, but in the tv show you can see worms, white worms - the parasites - on the dead/vampires.
In issue 6 you learn that are 7 original vampires called The Ancients. Three are in the old world (Europe), Three in the new (USA - where the action happens) and the 7th is the one whom is Abraham arch-enemy. Is also the only one whom doesn't hide from the humans. These vampires (as usual) don't get a long, that's why they are divided - I suppose. It's not very clear why these vampires don't get a long and white they have a truce. Or even why the fact that this 7th vampire - the master, come to USA will begin a war between vampires. 

It was only possible for this 7th vampire come to USA because there is an economic group called The Stoneheart Group led by Mr Eldritch Palmer that make a deal with the vampire. Mr Eldritch thinks he can control the vampires. However his goals are not very clear.[
One of the best and scariest parts is when the death came to life in the morgue. (I actually saw this scene in the first episode of the tv show and sh*t is awesome too!). They come to life and they first urge is to find their love ones... and feed upon them. When they finish feeding on the blood they infect the people.

By the forth issue of this comics they decide to assume that it's a parasite - in the comics it's not very clear, but in the tv show you can see worms, white worms - the parasites - on the dead/vampires.
In issue 6 you learn that are 7 original vampires called The Ancients. Three are in the old world (Europe), Three in the new (USA - where the action happens) and the 7th is the one whom is Abraham arch-enemy. Is also the only one whom doesn't hide from the humans. These vampires (as usual) don't get a long, that's why they are divided - I suppose. It's not very clear why these vampires don't get a long and white they have a truce. Or even why the fact that this 7th vampire - the master, come to USA will begin a war between vampires.

It was only possible for this 7th vampire come to USA because there is an economic group called The Stoneheart Group led by Mr Eldritch Palmer that make a deal with the vampire. Mr Eldritch thinks he can control the vampires. However his goals are not very clear. (hide spoiler)]

There are a few questions that are not answered during this volume, that got me questioning what's going on. I will be for sure reading the rest of the comics and also keep an eye on the tv show. I'm already looking for the original trilogy to add to my tbr list.
I totally recommend these comics for anyone who likes scary vampires and horror stories.

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15 Books for 2015

This year I decided to challenge myself on only buying 15 books. I have so many books waiting to be read that I doesn't make sense in purchasing more.

Today is day 15th of the year and guess what?! Yeap I've already bought the dam 15 books.
How did happen? I blame online shopping, it so easy, just a click here and there and it's done. All you have to do it's wait to be delivered.
Of course that websites with extra cheap books in english it's a plus and temptation in my book. Books in Portugal are so expensive, and most of the ones I got are not even available so I have that working for me.

The books I've ordered are:

How to Draw Noir Comics - The Art and Techique of Visual Storytelling by Shawn Martinbrough and Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative by Will Eisner

Storytelling through images is something I've really fond of. And also something I really want to explore more in the future. I don't think I want to create comics, but I would love to create a graphic novel, that's for sure. Besides that, storytelling applies to either large or short stories. Capture the essential in a few images is hard, but a good challenge too. I can't wait to put my hands on these books.

Learning Linocut: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Relief Printing Through Linocut by Susan Yeates

Since I've experimented with Linocut, a couple years ago, I've been purchasing books and materials for some DIY printing. Unfortunately is very hard to find reading material about Linocut. So I decided to splurge and get this book.(It was the most expensive book from this 15 books lot and it cost 26€).

Legend, The First Cronicles of Druss the Legend, The Swords of Night and Day by David Gemmell from The Drenai Saga

One of the books that I own, and love most - from the cover to the story (I like it so much that I even bought it with the cover a little ruined) is White Wolf by David Gemmell. I bought years back. It was a book a saw in the shelf of local book-store over and over again, until the day I say I have to finally take it home. And I was not disappointed. A few years after the what I thought was the second book - The Swords of Night and Day was released but I never bought it. I meant to do it, but never did it. Last year I found out that these two books actually did part of a much bigger series - called the Drenai Series - which consists in 11 books! I instantly added them all to my wishlist. None of the books were released with chronicle order of the history, so I'm assuming it doesn't matter much the way you actually start reading the series. The first released book of the series was Legend (1984). The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (1993) it's the 9th book of the series, and The White Wolf and The Swords of Night and Day were the last released books of the series in 2004. These last books are about the same character (Skilgannon The Damned) and can be read as a duology without be necessary the read of the series. - it's also known as the Damned Series.

Knights of Dark Renown by David Gemmell and Morningstar by David Gemmell

From the same author I've also got these two stand alone books. I'm not sure what to expect from these two book. From what I could read on goodreads bought happen during the medieval times, which is fine to me, since it's one of my favourite eras.

Dance with the Devil, The Dream-Hunter, Acheron, Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Dark Hunter Series and Dream Hunter Series

I've been reading and obsessing by this series for a couple years now, the Dark Hunter Series. Many of them are available in portuguese, though I've only read them in English.
From the Dark Hunter series are about 20 books, but they have many companion books. In the total are 30ish books in the Dark Hunter Universe. I've only scratched the surface of this universe.
I've been mainly reading only the Dark Hunter Series, but I've also read a couple from the Dream Hunter series and from the Were Hunter Series. I've been also very curious about the Chronicles of Nick, but I'm still not sure if I want a physical copy of the book (thought the covers are GORGEOUS!)
From these 4 that I've actually bought, the first one - Dance with the Devil -  is the one that I've actually read (and re-read at least twice). I love it, so I really have to get a physical copy of it. I've read the second one - The Dream-Hunter - synopses so many times, that I'm pretty sure that I will love it. If you're familiar with the series, you know that the character Acheron is a central character (at least in all the books I've read he his). It's also a very mysterious character, so I can't wait to read a whole story just about him.

Born of Shadows and Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - The League Series

Also from the same author (yes more from the same author) but from a different series. These ones I've never read or heard of. I've choose the first one from the series and another one that attracted me. There are currently 8 released books in this series and more to be released. So if like it's going to be something to read for years. (I might just have doom myself). Born of Shadows was the cheapest book of this lot and it was 5,50€

The oldest, second hand book and only in portuguese (and written by a portuguese book) I got is "Lendas e Narrativas" from Alexandre Herculano. And though it is divided in two volumes I'm only counting it as one book. This book is a recollection of legends and stories from Portugal and can be considered as a classic.

So these are my 15 books for 2015. I hope I can keep with this resolution of not buying more books in 2015 and also that I read the last ones I've purchased last year too! (and that I haven't shared yet!!)

That moment that you feel like...

It hurts realize how alone you actually are in this world.
So many people, and the ones that actually care about you... well they fit in one single hand and there's fingers left.

I'm just going to cry myself to sleep... or emerge my thoughts on some fantasy world where I matter.

on following your dreams

"There are so many people that use 'following your dreams' as an excuse to not work,When in reality, following your dreams, successfully, is nothing but work."

 by Brandon Stanton, photographer (Humans of New York)

a mass of contradictions

"You appear to be a mass of contradictions; there’s a subsurface violence almost always in control, but very much alive. There’s also a pensiveness that seems painful for you, yet you rarely give vent to the anger that pain must provoke."

from The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

On the observer separed from the events

"He could feel, think, see, perceive panic and struggle—yet strangely there was peace. It was the calm of the observer, the uninvolved observer, separated from the events, knowing of them but not essentially involved."

from The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum