Snyder and Albuquerque easily transfer us to the fifties and introduce a new mysterious character. We're in for a wild ride in this arc.
The Good
From the very first page, we get the combination storytelling that Snyder excels at. With the introduction of a new character, Travis Kidd, we find out what makes him tick while Snyder manages to give us a little bit of an education by having the character seamlessly spout out some facts in his inner monologue.
We've seen various characters take the center stage throughout this series. The fact that Snyder can insert a new character and not give us any sign of other familiar faces is a testament of his ability to tell a great story. There is an air of mystery surrounding Travis Kidd. As the story progresses, you start to admire the character more while not truly knowing what his full intentions might be. Because this series focuses on vampires, the options for his motivation are limited. But he continues to be an intriguing character.
About halfway through, we do see some familiar elements as the Vassals of the Morning Star are brought into the story. Those that have been reading the series know that means something big for Travis. New readers will have their curiosity aroused as we all watch to see what the meeting between the two will mean.
There is a great combination of laid back storytelling, fitting for the time period and then suddenly the action cranks up and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. All the while, Albuquerque's art keeps pace with Snyder's writing, perfectly giving us the perfect feel for AMERICAN VAMPIRE during 1954.
The Bad
Nothing except I wish this comic could have more than twenty pages of storytelling.
The Verdict
It's a new arc set during the fifties. We've all heard about 'perfect jumping on points' and this definitely is one. It's hard to think of a series reaching its twenty-second issue and suddenly thrusting a new character upon us. Snyder manages to introduce a new character with ease and within a few pages, you'll quickly find yourself fascinated by who he is and what his motivations are. Albuquerque dives right into Snyder's script and easily captures the mood and vibe of the fifties. We're left with an interesting cliffhanger and the longing to know how this arc will fit into previous stories but it's clear that it's going to be a great ride. Snyder and Albuquerque have nailed another issue. You can't help but want more.