The king of horror (and the busiest retiree ever) is expanding his presence into the realm of comics. (Seriously, someone get this guy a #23 jersey if this is his idea of 'retirement). Comic Book Resources reports that in March, Scott Snyder will be launching an original series, American Vampire, under DC's Vertigo label. Comic nerds and King fans alike are no doubt familiar with the Marvel adaptations of The Dark Tower and The Stand. American Vampire holds particular interest, however, since it marks King's first solo experience. It was something of a disappointment to learn that King was pawning off writing duties on the adaptations to other writers, even if they've proven themselves up to snuff. Even if it's only 16 pages for each of the first 5 issues, seeing King actually put pen to paper is reason enough to spark interest.



American Vampire sets out to put the terror back into the vampire mythos. Rather than sticking with the oft-used trope of tragic romance, Snyder hopes to sharpen the fangs of an iconic character that's been watered down by teen emo-lit and foppish Southerners. One of the more interesting aspects is that each arc covers a different period in history, documenting how vampires have evolved from their traditional origins. Purists will scoff, to be sure, but sparkly vampires have already tainted canon enough to prepare you for this.

The first arc features dueling stories, if you will. King's portion will focus on Skinner Sweet, a grimy, feral vampire/cowboy in the 1880s. Snyder's own piece will center around Pearl, a blood-sucking flapper in the roaring 20's. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that we're promised lots of blood, guts, and scares.

DC's Vertigo titles are readable at the very least. At their best, they're sublime, with Hellblazer, Sandman, and Swamp Thing being the pillars of the imprint. The idea for American Vampire is compelling enough to drive readership up, but King's hand in the launch will guarantee an audience.

More on Stephen King
Comics Alliance interview with Scott Snyder
Stephen King 'Under the Dome' -- Exclusive Interview