Lord Henry Experiences The Horrors Of The Western Front
The first issue of this series was impressive, and this second installment is excellent. Some of the imagery that Mignola, Golden and Stenbeck evoke, is chilling, hideous and memorable.
In this issue, we learn some of the origins behind Baltimore`s obsession with the vampire, Haigus. The girl, Vanessa, has helped Baltimore escape the town jails, and secured them both a passage on the ship Marianne, heading for Livorno. Whilst on board, Lord Henry relates the story of how he first encountered vampires in the shell-blasted fields of No Man`s Land...
I`ll leave you to discover that particular tale. It`s worthy of anything out of Weird War Tales, a great gothic piece of horror that I enjoyed with hideous relish.
Something has really got to be said for the artwork. I found it unappealing at first, but it`s really grown on me. The greyness of everything fits so well with the sombre town and the muddy, barbed wire tangled wastes of war-torn France. The occasional touches of colour work really well with the atmosphere created here.
As I say, the battlefield scene with the vampires is classic stuff. The bloodsuckers of Baltimore: The Plague Ships are the horrible vampires of tradition, which I personally welcome...
Poor old Lord Henry`s horrors don`t just end on the battlefield either, and I enjoyed Part Two right `til the creepy end...