30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow #5

Cover via Amazon

30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow

Issue #5

Story: Steve Niles

Art: Ben Templesmith

Lettering: Robbie Robbins

Design: Robbie Robbins

Editor: Jeff Mariotte

IDW Publishing

Return to Barrow is a six-issue sequel to the original 30 Days of Night where Brian Kitka has become Barrow’s new sheriff who has moved to the area to investigate his brothers who died in the original story. I have not read the prior issues of this series so I am unable to go into detail when it comes to the overall story arch but this issue did do a great job at making me want to pick up the other issues.

Bottom line whenever you hear the names Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith you know you are going to get your monies worth and are going to walk away entertained and craving more. Recently I have been reading various 30 Days of Night runs and find myself falling in love with the franchise more each issue. In an age where vampires have been turned into overly romanced emo heartthrobs I find myself desperate for vampire media that I can relate to as an adult.

30 Days of Night is the perfect return to the roots of the vampire genre bloodthirsty creatures of the night that see humans only as meals much in the way we see many animals our selves. Steve Niles does a wonderful job at reminding the reader at times that we are not so different than the vampires themselves in many ways adding a human element to the undead that really adds a great deal of depth to the over all 30 Days of Night world.

Recently I reviewed the prequel to 30 Days of Night entitled Red Snow giving me a whole new perspective on this series, now after being exposed to the sequel to the attacks in barrow I have become totally addicted to the franchise that has yet to disappoint me.

In issue #5 a group of what I assume are Barrow citizens are holding off a vampire attack leading to some beautiful gore soaked art provided by Ben Templesmith. I have always been a fan of Ben’s art style as a long time hardcore horror fan I really dig his bleak and ultra macabre style. The dark color palette used in Return to Barrow are perfect for creating the visual of never ending wintery darkness, whenever there is any sort of gun play or other changes in lighting I found myself really impressed with the contrast between the dark colors and the bright flashes of light true eye candy. In addition, for some reason I find myself really blown away by the blood in these comics the splatters, color, and texture is perfect this may be a minor detail for some but I find it to be a nice bonus as a gore hound.

After finishing issue #5 of this six issue series I have to go back and read the rest of the run as I become a fiend for 30 Days of Night tales of cutthroat vampires who show no remorse when it comes to doing what vampires should do best feed.

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• 30 Days of Night Becoming an All-New, Ongoing Comic Series (dreadcentral.com)
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