Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: David Lapham (from a story by Guillermo Del Torro and Chuck Hogan)
Artist: Edgar Salazar
Colourist: Dan Jackson
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

In the annals of those who battle the monsters of this world, none are as renowned for their impeccable manners and all-around gosh-darned politeness than those who seek to rid us of the plague known as Vampirism.

For proof, look no further than The Strain #2 which introduces us to the ever so formally title Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter. Of course, when you’re the offspring of an arch vampire known as The Master (shhhh, don’t tell Dr. Who!) and your blood feud with your sire goes all the way back to ancient Rome, calling yourself “Mister” anything plumbs the depths of irony and comes out the other side into plain old mickey-taking, but when your comic book originator is none other than fantasy filmmaker extraordinaire Guillermo Del Torro you can get away with just about anything and writer David Lapham certainly takes that concept and runs with it.

In The Strain #2 Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter before he was Mister Quinlan, our vampire-hunting hero was a favourite in the Roman arena under the name Bellator Candidus, or, White Warrior, in acknowledgement of his ghostly pallor. Along with his freakish allies, Candidus is much despised by the human gladiators and when he makes the mistake of defeating the Emperor’s favourite his life takes a  dramatic turn for the worst and he ends up face to face with his homicidally inclined Pa, neatly setting us up for the ongoing battle to come.

The Strain #2 Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter has impeccable artwork, zippy storytelling and a glorious mash-up of barbarism and bloodsucking. Definitely a thumbs up all round.

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker