Leonide the Vampyr

[thwhtGuardian]

Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Rachele Aragno

With the slightly cutesy art I didn't really know what to expect, thinking that perhaps this book would have more of a young adult fantasy feel than Mignola's usual fare...but that just goes to show that one should never judge a book by its cover as this was Mignola in all his glory! Playing both off of Dracula with a crashed ship delivering a ghoulish guest to a small village and also the Monkey's Paw with the wishes that Leonide grants come with a mortal cost. It's a dark story with a beguiling sweet exterior, much like it's protagonist Leonide, as although she looks like a sweet young girl she is a predator of the first degree. This book was dripping with that pulpy, gothic mood that originally drew me to Mignola's writing and after being disappointed by a lot of his output of late I was glad to have a Mignola book that was a clear home run.

[Kirby101]

I didn't enjoy it as much as you, but I am intrigued enough to see where it is going.

[thwhtGuardian]

I didn't enjoy it as much as you, but I am intrigued enough to see where it is going.

With the souls coming out as flies and being stored in a casket, and the nature of the town itself it reminded me a lot of Hellboy in Hell

[Kirby101]

It did have that vibe. The figures didn't, but the backgrounds had a very Mignola feel.

[thwhtGuardian]

It did have that vibe. The figures didn't, but the backgrounds had a very Mignola feel.

Leonide was definitely more cartoony, but I think that was intentional as the others weren't nearly in that same style.

[Kirby101]

Issue 2. I had to read it twice. For some reason I could not follow the story the first time (happens when you read late at night), but on my second read, it was a sweet Xmas story. And the bonus art at the end was a real gift.

[thwhtGuardian]

Issue 2. I had to read it twice. For some reason I could not follow the story the first time (happens when you read late at night), but on my second read, it was a sweet Xmas story. And the bonus art at the end was a real gift.

Yeah, it was a nice slightly spooky christmas special.

[middenway]

I adored this issue.