American Vampire

**cpattersoniv** · 09-23-2011, 11:18 AM

I can't believe there isn't a dedicated American Vampire thread.

Scott Snyder is doing wonderful work. I just finished the first hardcover this morning and I loved it. The art was phenomenal. He did a good job of establishing the universe and Skinner Sweet. We're still learning about Pearl.

I love how he made the American Vampire have different strengths and weaknesses though I don't think I understood the no moon bit. They just get weak and hungry yet can't feed?

Discuss.

**fever00** · 09-23-2011, 12:34 PM

I'm a good three or four issues behind. Same with iZombie. I have the issues, just haven't gotten around to reading them. I'm waiting for the current mini to finish then I'll spend an evening catching up.
I find the book is usually pretty good, but not great. There are much better vertigo ongoings.

**Chuckles** · 09-23-2011, 12:52 PM

On the moonless nights (the new moon phase), the American strand has no fangs and soft skin. The lack of fangs suggests they can't feed, but we still don't have many details beyond that. This was an element in that Stephen King Skinner Sweet story, but Snyder hasn't followed up on it.

I've been reading the floppies since the beginning (because of King initially), and it only gets better from that kick-ass start. Pearl Jones is easily one of my favorite characters of all time now. Also, the Survival of the Fittest, which spins out of the main series, is equally great. At first, the switching to Sean Murphy's art was jarring, but now I love his art for AV almost as much as Albuquerue's.

**cpattersoniv** · 09-23-2011, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckles

On the moonless nights (the new moon phase), the American strand has no fangs and soft skin. The lack of fangs suggests they can't feed, but we still don't have many details beyond that. This was an element in that Stephen King Skinner Sweet story, but Snyder hasn't followed up on it.

That sucks that Snyder hasn't followed up on it. I know there's a weakness to gold that Pearl discovered when she killed Hattie.

I really like Pearl and I'm gonna tear into (pun intended) Volume 2 tonight when I get home.

**Chuckles** · 09-23-2011, 01:00 PM

Snyder does follow up on the gold. It became a big deal recently.

**cpattersoniv** · 09-23-2011, 01:17 PM

Yeah I have the Ghost War arc or whatever it's called. I wanted to catch up before I started reading. Also have Survival of the Fittest. Won't read that till it's done.

Have the two hardbacks. I think there's 2 issues I need to read after that. 11 and 12.

**MartinNL** · 09-24-2011, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by cpattersoniv

Yeah I have the Ghost War arc or whatever it's called. I wanted to catch up before I started reading. Also have Survival of the Fittest. Won't read that till it's done.

Have the two hardbacks. I think there's 2 issues I need to read after that. 11 and 12.

I did exactly what you did. Read the first two hardcovers and then the monthlies after that. The miniseries is equally awesome. Sean Murphy's art is just fantastic. So very detailed. AV is easily one of my favourite monthlies at the moment.

Regarding the quote above, issue 11 is actually part of the second hardcover book, so you already have it. But I'm sure you've found that out by now. Issue 12 is a self contained story about Skinner Sweet. It's not really necessary to read before you start on the Ghost War arc. But a great issue nonetheless.

Just saw a few preview pages on the Vertigo blog for AV #19. Thought I'd post them here in case you guys missed it. I believe Jordi Bernet will do the whole next 3-issue The Beast in the Cave arc. He seems to be a great fill in for this arc by the looks of this.

**langdonnicholas** · 10-13-2011, 08:33 PM

How is the first arc to be read? I just realized there are 2 stories per book. Should I real all of the snyder stuff then all the sking stuff or both at the same time? Can you read all through one story and then all through the other or will it be confusing?

**El Sombrero** · 10-13-2011, 08:53 PM

It doesn't matter. It was originally published so each issue had part of the Snyder story and part of the King story, and I understood everything fine.

Personally I would read the entire Snyder story and then the entire King story, but it really doesn't matter.

**Kaim** · 10-13-2011, 09:21 PM

Seconded, it really doesn't matter in the least. I first read them as they were presented, a segment of Snyder then a segment of King, but I think I appreciated them more rereading them as one cohesive narrative each. I kind of wish the HC had separated them.

**Alex Keller** · 10-14-2011, 03:19 AM

I would recommend just reading them at the same time. That's how I did, and I've grasped the story just fine.

**FHIZ** · 10-15-2011, 09:25 AM

SO HAPPY AmVamp is going day and date digital starting in December. It was the one series that I still have to get in paper format.

**SpideyZERO** · 10-15-2011, 08:26 PM

I'm really looking forward to see how Snyder will utilize the ancient vampires. They look really interesting, especially the werewolf-ish ancient

**Alex Keller** · 11-06-2011, 01:05 AM

# 20 was a highly entertaining read, as expected. Can't wait to see what exact kind of Vampire the "Beast in the Cave" is, and what Mr. Sweet does the one Braves on the ridge.