Friday, October 27, 2017

31 Days of Halloween - Day 27




Kros: Hallowed Ground by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake

Third Eye Skull. 2017.

Comic book legends, Ostrander and Mandrake have had this project on the back burner for thirty-years. Now, thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, the graphic novel is a reality. Kros: Hallowed Ground is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Gettysburg, a series of bloody battles in bloody war that have attracted vampires to feed on the blood of the fallen soldiers in this conflict. It's also attracted Elijah Kros, a man fighting his own war, not against the North, or the South, but against the vampire hordes. Kris is a Dampyr, a living man with many of the attributes of a vampire, and enough of the temptations that in his weakest moments could lure him across the dividing line from his righteous path to becoming the very thing he hunts.

Ostrander and Mandrake are master storytellers with decades of experience accumulated between them so it's no surprise that Kros: Hallowed Ground is a well told tale. Stranger's writing is tight, fast paced and succeeds in conveying a lot of information and character compactly. Mandrake's art is simply gorgeous and some of his very best, filled with atmosphere and detail. Best of all, the two of them have crafted a tale both satisfying, yet leaving the viewer wanting more. With the implied backstory and supporting cast, there's plenty for them to mine for further tales. I, for one, would welcome them.


Since this was a Kickstarter funded project, the availability of the book remains elusive to non backers. I know there were extra copies printed. Your best bet is to visit either the official website or read the information on this indiegogo page for information on how to obtain a copy.

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