Saturday, October 13, 2012

Longbox of the Damned: 30 Days of Night



Longbox of the Damned 13. ‎

34 comments:

Bekah said...

From what I remember of the movie (I only saw it once and that was quite a few years ago) the comic seems a lot like the movie. :) So I probably won't read this comic. As for the art style, I only semi-agree with you. I like sketchy art. It usually contains a lot more texture and detail and lines that your own inner artist can pick out that makes it look better in your opinion. But this exact kind of sketchy style doesn't seem to have those qualities that I usually like in that type of art.

Anonymous said...

This art seems well lazy. Its scribbling instead of consistent. Sadly it looks like some of my doodles from middle school. The tale isn't a bad one but it would have been nice if they didn't have characters like the vampire hunter to basically distract.

That Husband made such a big sacrifice... Much better than the EMO pricks that often become the "Heroes" of more recent Vamp offerings.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I LOVE the work of Ben Templesmith, he's a breath of fresh-air among all the stale mainstream that seems to be trying it's hardest to look all the same and choke-out any trace of individuality
but I digress

30 Days of Night is definitely one of the best vampire comics I have ever come across, and I like that it remembers that vampires are first and foremost predators first

LucasChad said...

The movie's surprisingly not that bad as far as I remember. The mix of spooky atmosphere and bloody violence I think gave the film its own charm.

Ozaline said...

I do like the idea of the elder Vampire being brought to the town, and being shown it by an impressionable stripling and chewing him out; yes it's not all that original an idea but it's a good one.

I'm a little dubious about the "steal all the cellphone's" plot... that doesn't seem like it'd be realisitic, and given how sparse I'm sure the network is up in Alaska, I think it'd be easier to take a few of the towers around the town down.

Movie-Brat said...

I've been curious about the comic for quite some time, I have seen the movie though but I need to see it again.

Actually, I do like the designs of the vampires in both the comic and the movie to be honest.

Lizard-Man said...

I don't mind Templesmith's art, but it can be a bit... bizzare. I suppose I can handle it better cause I watched the Dead Space motion comics EA put out and they were all drawn by him. I think mainly you need a really good story to get passed his art or you need to be able to follow it better. He's unique and I appreciate that, but I can see why some find his style a bit... disorienting.

Cryptix said...

I picked up a couple of comics from Half-Price once and one was a Ben Templesmith, which I only belatedly recognized from the Silent Hill reviews. I have to agree with his defenders that his style is interesting, but it's terrible for sequential storytelling -- at least, it was in the comic I picked up (I don't recall the name and I didn't keep it around). At several points I had to stop and spend minutes deciphering panels to figure out what was going on -- and these weren't chaotic action sequences, they were simple things like PICKING UP THE PHONE. On the subject of action, though, there was a memorable fight scene through a museum where the dialogue mentioned getting revenge for being thrown through a squid tank, or something -- I had to guess what they were talking about, because such a sequence was NEVER indicated in the art (the backgrounds tended to be shoddy and indistinct at best even when being interacted with), and it wasn't like we'd cut away from them sometime during the fight, either.

Long story short: based on an independent test, I also dislike Templesmith's art. His inconsistent and rather Uncanny Valley 'normal humans' don't help with the horror element, either, not for me.

So I'll probably stick with the movie. Which reminds me, there was a certain crossover/cameo review that I've been meaning to get to...

Unknown said...

maven should have shown up and you do that get out gag she did in the movie review

Unknown said...

I've not seen the movie so was surprised how good this comic looks, story wise at least. I liked why the older vampire was so pissed that the younger ones decided to party.

And nice job showing, yes, they took the cell phones and things.

All in all, another enjoyable LOTD.

Anonymous said...

MORE Avengers Arena news!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41603

They know people are going to hate their second issue now! And all signs are pointing towards Hazmat being killed first.

Linkara, this book might be the most hated book ever coming out from Marvel, and it hasn't even started yet. Twitter, Tumblr, even 4chan, people are shouting to Marvel they don't want this book, and Marvel is continually going "Oh no, you'll love this book!'

You can see how disconnected Marvel is with how much people are saying they don't want this book.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=41573

"On the Marvel NOW! front, Drew Mathieu was one of a few readers nervous about the body count in "Avengers Arena." He asks: "I'm worried that Avengers Arena is unfair to fans of newer Marvel characters. The series seems to focus on death and with many fan-favorites it seems like a slap to the face of anyone who likes these obscure characters with the possibility of seeing them die. What is the point?"

Alonso: Death is a necessary aspect of this story, Drew. Nothing reveals character like adversity, and the 16 super-powered teens in "Avengers Arena" are going to see plenty of it. Pushed to their breaking points under the most extreme conditions, each character will have to take a good hard look at who they are, what they stand for, and what they are willing to do to survive. There will be sacrifice and betrayal, alliances will form and shatter in the blink of an eye, and, yes, there will be blood. It's all part of the harrowing emotional journey that [writer] Dennis [Hopeless] and [artist] Kev [Walker] are crafting."


Call it premature, call it outright paranoia, but when this book hits, brace yourself Linkara. We might need your sword along with the fans!

Lewis Lovhaug said...

"MORE Avengers Arena news!"

Look, I understand your frustration about this upcoming title, but I do not need to be informed about this, nor is my blog an adequate venue for spreading the word about it. The blog is not a catch-all comics forum and focuses exclusively on shows I create or That Guy With the Glasses-related material that pops up.

People have informed me that this is going on. Chances are it's going to suck and I will end up reviewing it at some point, but it's GOING to be published and there is nothing we can do about it other than vote with our wallets and talk about it in the appropriate places. You do not need to post more "news" concerning this title.

Anonymous said...

"Look, I understand your frustration about this upcoming title, but I do not need to be informed about this, nor is my blog an adequate venue for spreading the word about it. The blog is not a catch-all comics forum and focuses exclusively on shows I create or That Guy With the Glasses-related material that pops up.

People have informed me that this is going on. Chances are it's going to suck and I will end up reviewing it at some point, but it's GOING to be published and there is nothing we can do about it other than vote with our wallets and talk about it in the appropriate places. You do not need to post more "news" concerning this title."

I apologize. I did not mean to bother you. I just am a bit worked up that they are doing this.

Lewis Lovhaug said...

"I apologize. I did not mean to bother you. I just am a bit worked up that they are doing this"

And I apologize if I came across like a jerk with that post - it's just I've had a looot of people telling me about this. ^^;

Anonymous said...

"And I apologize if I came across like a jerk with that post - it's just I've had a looot of people telling me about this. ^^;"

Whoops! Sorry, I didn't know. I apologize again.

Anonymous said...

Again, I'm sorry for badgering you. I hope we can leave on good terms!

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

I love Steve(writer) and ben's(artist) work, love this series and actually have read most of it including the stuff they barely had a hand in. I'm kinda wanting you to review more of the whole series, especially the one that takes place in Mexico where the character is speaking his thoughts aloud and everyone around him clearly hears him .

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

As someone who's a huge fan of Ben's art. I like it because especially when it comes to creatures, he sometimes has more hidden in shadow then actual visible, I'd love to see his take on the "thing" or similarl creatures(which he kinda did with his dead space mini series).

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

As a fan of Academy and the Intative (gage's previous series that Academy farmed characters from later) I'm cool with some of them dying. It all depends on how it's written as these character aren't coming back and unlike Suicide Squad/Secret Six some are truly dear to people's hearts.

Anonymous said...

One of these days someone will write a comic so bad not only will Mourte be afraid of it. The inkers will call Linkara themselves before it is printed asking him to Pan it.

When that day comes the long box will obtain the work of the truly damned.

Torkuda said...

I don't know, actually having lived in the state of Alaska for 16 years, I tend to just roll my eyes at movies about it. Another twerp found out there is one month where there is no sun and never figured two plus two equals thirty days of friggin sun light! And let me guess, there are number of brown bear attacks in the story right? When in reality bears hibernate during the winter and only polar bears are known for coming near civilization, and not very often either. I don't know, imagine if your state was a popular movie and story theme, but everyone kept getting everything 100% wrong on almost every detail, because all they ever did was find out a few details and run with them. It's probably also about insomnia being set on by a sun that never comes up right? When in reality folks just get over it and sleep and wake when they're supposed to anyway. If you enjoy books and movies on Alaska, that's fine, just fair warning, doing research on the state will generally make you feel disappointed.

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

Torkuda dude it's a fictional take on your state (as Barrow in the story is a small town but from what I've read on Barrow it's not that small). If I complained about every movie/comic book that takes place in California that made some ridiculous claims I'd be dead before leaving films made in the 1950s's. Basically accept that it's a FICTONAL verison of Alaska where brown bears are known to attack more and there is a place where literally 30 continuous days of the year it's near pitch black.

oh and Linkara just noticed something on your review, the guy who's shot in the face, he's a bug eater. Bug Eaters in the 30 Days universe are basically Ghouls, humans with near vampire like ability who aren't vampires.

Anonymous said...

I've seen it posted in the thread concerning this series in your section of TGWTG's board, and I tend to agree. Maybe if Moarte had been the one to ask, Maven wouldn't have thought twice about it.

Fiery Little One

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that these shorts are making me nostalgic for the days when cheesy characters, armed with bad puns, hosted worse movies, on UHF stations.

I only wish that your character has a name half as awful as someone like Doctor Paul Bearer (our local horror host).

Still--Bravo!

Arianne said...

I'll have to see what kind of reviews there are for the movie if the comic book and movie are similar to each other.

Le Messor said...

I kind of wish this review had answered some of the questions in Maven's review.

And I hope Muerte cameos in her Twilight review - Linkara, you are bizarre.

Does anyone know what piece of music was playing through this? I want to say part of the The Planets suite (by Holst - the vampire hunter?) - but I royally mixed up my Tchaikovski in the Dracula Vs. Zorro review, and am a bit hesitant now...

Lewis Lovhaug said...

"Does anyone know what piece of music was playing through this? I want to say part of the The Planets suite (by Holst - the vampire hunter?) - but I royally mixed up my Tchaikovski in the Dracula Vs. Zorro review, and am a bit hesitant now..."

No, I think you're right. I can't quite recall off the top of my head if I used it for this one, but for one of the Longboxes I used Saturn and another I used Neptune.

Anonymous said...

Thanks. I'll have to play them back-to-back and compare.

Anonymous said...

... one brief and very lazy check later...
I'm going to with Neptune on this one.

Anonymous said...

you know, I do kinda wonder if we're ever going to see a proper representation of vampires
one based on the actual Slavic mythology, rather than books and movies made by western authors

this comic does at least get the personality right, but the method of extermination is based on Nosferatu

sunlight does not destroy vampires, but merely returns them back to their graves where they are helpless

a proper vampire extermination consists of digging them up from their grave, tying their hands behind their back, braking their legs, cutting off their heads, stuffing their mouths with garlic, ramming a stake trough their heart in such a manner that it nails them to the bottom of their casket, and then ramming a second one through their head, which must then be buried separately

incinerating them, or throwing them into the river might also work, but there's a high chance of them recovering from that, shall the ashes or water be poured with blood (human or animal)

garlic also prevents a vampire from entering the house

Christianized versions of the myth replace the garlic with a cross for protection, and sacred soil for extermination

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

Slavic mythology because there's no kill like over kill.

Also let's not get in the traditional way of things before I get pissed talking about Voodoo zombies versus Romero's Zombies from his earlier films. I say earlier films because they gained intelligence displayed in day then the weapon use and group tatics land of the dead on level with voodoo zombie in mythology. I like how resident evil(the games) has even embraced the voodoo like ways of having zombies in 4, 5 and some what in 6.

Torkuda said...

To those thinking I'm just being sensitive about Alaska's false portrayal, first off, this is the site of an internet critic, we blow things out of proportion, it's kinda the deal here. Actually one of the worst offenders of getting everything wrong on Alaska, was Balto, and I kinda liked that movie. It was a special movie about dogs on a parallel earth's version of Alaska. Very parallel, since in the movie people took a train to Juno (look up Juno on a map).

Fictional portrayals of California and New York come in two varieties. One, they're the states where all dreams come true and people go to become real people. If you're upset about that, cry me a friggin river. Other stories portray them as over run by crime lords and basically criminal sess pools waiting for a hero. Okay, so that's over kill, but actually even in stories like that the states are at least seen as civilized. Alaska is almost always portrayed as a gold rush state in the modern age. Go ahead, visit Barrow or Anchorage, you won't find igloos, run down wood work towns, or towns populated by beer guzzling gun toting wack jobs with Santa Claus beards.

I get it, Hollywood and most writers for modern comics have an aversion to doing good old fashioned study before they pen a work. I'm sure as a writer I'll end up writing about a state I know nothing about soon too. However I won't portray everyone there as stupid near cave men even if they do live in a state that is typically politically opposed to my points of view (and don't tell me you don't think that plays a roll in why all southern states and Alaska get portrayed as primitive states populated by Neanderthals).

Wishes to remain Unknown said...

@Torkuda, as someone who lives in Cali and has all my life. The movies you say "cry me a river on" are the equal to beer guzzling gun totting hicks. You know why? because you're then promoting everyone as some big hot shot or falsely selling the state as some beautiful "COME HERE AND BE FAMOUS!" paradise when it's more like the corrupt sess pools types (especially around the bay area). the thing is just like you I rather have a realistic potrayl of a California life style where the character isn't some surfer dude, doesn't have a big named contract and infact may be in debt up to their mouths from the fact that living in any popular area (i live in the Bay where a lot of tech companies are) the cost of living is INSANELY HIGH!

I would rather live in Balto's alsaka or even 30 days of night (as long as I don't live in Barrow)'s Alsaka because it is at least hospitable with people who take care of their own. Unlike Cali where I've run into a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEee number of fake people who think they're going to be something big due to the "X IS GOING TO BE A BIG STAR" movies.

Anonymous said...

Lucky episode 13,I see. Well lets hope the year 2013 is lucky for this undead madman. Man, I got quit pointing out how Moarte is insane