Dark Days (30 Days of Night, Book 2) by Steve Niles, Ben Templesmith Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Dark Days (30 Days of Night, Book 2)
Book Review: Vampires in LA
Summary: 4 Stars
DARK DAYS is the sequel to 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and focuses on Stella Olemaun in the aftermath of the horrific slaughter of the citizens of Barrow. Widowed, she has moved to Los Angeles and has now written a book about what happened in Barrow. The story starts with her doing publicity for her book which instigates the action that follows. Why? Because the book is damaging for vampires: It speaks of them and divulges their secrets, but is most damaging simply because it states that they exist. Naturally the vampires don't expect all of humanity to suddenly believe in their existence and promptly hunt them down, but they fear that it will renew interest in them and that some will believe. The vampires don't want this, as humanity's ignorance to their existence is the key to their prosperity and their survival. One expects that the vampires will aim to silence her, but so does Stella... and she's prepared...
Although DARK DAYS doesn't have the focus, tension or horror of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, it doesn't mean it isn't as good - in fact, I actually think it's better. In 30 DAYS Steve Niles had a premise and ran with it. The story was gripping and well paced and other than it being sad and scary, there wasn't much else to the book. But that's what made it good: the simplicity and the focus of it. DARK DAYS is more in-depth, it's subtler and has more of a narrative in that it's a complex story that develops through each chapter. Even though it isn't horrific, it has a chilly feel to it because we are nevertheless dealing with vampires. There is also tension, as even though we don't have the claustrophobic setting of Barrow, there is a different threat to the setting of Los Angeles, as one never knows when or from where a vampire may appear.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT hints at the humanism behind the vampires - that they're not all merely sadistic creatures that have a thirst for blood. DARK DAYS elaborates on this and the joy of this book is having a closer look at the vampires; each vampire has different motives, agendas and loyalties, and they don't all get along.
The artwork is again excellent and Ben Templesmith's moody, expressive, artwork complements the feel of Niles' writing and smoothly drives the story, punctuating dramatic moments with exciting illustrations that arrest the audience. He works well with the summer hues and capitalises on its incongruity, making it add to the eeriness. The climate also adds a lot to the realism, which is much of what this book is about: taking it slow and trying to make us suspend our disbelief, and to this purpose Los Angeles is a perfect setting.
Thats what makes the book so good, the fresh and realistic angle on vampires, giving the feeling that its realistic and suggesting that there could just be vampires out there. In the end, we're all familiar with the idea of hissing vampires, running about in the dark - but seeing them standing and smiling in the lazy haze of the Los Angeles summer... somehow that makes them seem rather more realistic.
Book Review: Vampire story that looks perfect for Cameron to film
Summary: 5 Stars
I've become a great fan and follower of Steve Niles' body or work. Once I saw that he was going to write a sequel to his 30 Days of Night comic miniseries, I knew I had to pick it up. I read through the graphic novel in under an hour and I wasn't disappointed with Dark Days. Steve Niles has penned himself another classic horror story and I hope it becomes a film.Book Review: A very good sequel to 30 Days of Night
Summary: 4 Stars
Dark Days is Steve Niles' sequel graphic novel to his critically-acclaimed 30 Days of Night. Once again, his brutal and tense prose is backed up by Ben Templesmith's unique illustrations that really helps Niles' story with its horrific and disturbing images.
Dark Days continues the events which transpired in Barrow, Alaska except this time the story is set in Los Angeles and its sunny atmosphere. The story this time is really one of revenge and redemption. The major characters, from the good guys to the villains have revenge as the common denominator linking them throughout the lenght and breadth of the graphic novel. There's one character who straddles the line between light and dark who is the most interesting in the bunch.
The story itself is not as powerful as 30 Days of Night. Dark Days is similar to James Cameron's Aliens --- when compared to Ridley Scott's Alien --- in that there is more action in Dark Days than its predecessor. There is still a heavy dose of horror, but it doesn't suffocate as much as 30 Days of Night's did. Dark Days even has more of a film feel to it that 30 Days and maybe thats why its horror is less, but I am not complaining too much. And yes, Dark Days would also make a fine sequel to 30 Days of Night if the original ever gets on celluloid.
Dark Days' ending does owe alot to shock value, but it just shows that Niles' take on horror as something that shouldn't really have a nice, sunny ending. Fans of the original graphic novel won't be disappointed with this sequel. Steve Niles is a master storyteller and I hope he continues the saga he began with 30 Days of Night.
Book Review: a good sequel
Summary: 3 Stars
Being a new fan of Mr. Niles work, I picked this up and quickly read it. I admit that the story has weak plot elements to it, namely the end (which I wont spoil). I felt a bit betrayed by the conclusion but understand its horror and shock value. Overall well done and the artwork continues to be top notch, one of the best. The setting moves from a forlorn Barrrow, Alaska to sunny Los Angeles (which makes for a great contrast). I wish the some of the minor characters had more development, but understand the limitations of this genre. I highly recommend it.Book Review: Niles and Templesmith do it again
Summary: 5 Stars
Perfection? Not necessarily. But a great read? Absolutely.Having already read (and reviewed) "30 Days of Night" by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, I already had a pretty good idea of what to expect from them: angry, bloodthirsty vampires. And that's what you get in "Dark Days", the sequel to the last trade. "Dark Days" is composed of six issues, providing a chronicle of the vampire-hunting career of Stella Olemaun.
Stella is the wife of the sheriff killed in the aforementioned book, and these issues sees her tracking down the wife of the vampire that led the original attack on Barrow. She's had to evolve into a hard-as-nails hunter with issues with trust. This makes it even more difficult when she is forced to take a vampire into her confidence. The storytelling is not exactly revolutionary, but Niles still puts out an extremely competent storyline.
For me, however, its Templesmith who makes these stories. No artist better captures the horror and paranoia that go with the story as well as him. Eyes wide in terror, mouths screaming for blood...no one draws the fear and the fearsome like this guy. Combined with Niles' story, you have a hell of a combination: a story for any comic collection, provided you don't scare easy.