Wiper creative team John Harris Dunning and Ricardo Cabral are releasing a new horror series this week. Set in Greece, “Summer Shadows” introduces readers to a yacht-borne vampire threat, a man looking to relax, and the type of horror that Clive Barker fans love. There’s something so seductive about summer vampires, and this first issue sees vampires come to life in a new way.
It’s fair to say that anyone who owns a yacht is probably a bad person, as evidenced by the vampire in this cover story. The story begins with an eerie scene of dead thorns by the water’s edge. Eventually, we see a figure standing in blue water stained red with swirling purple clouds overhead. As the next frame closes in on the figure in the water, the sense that something truly sinister is present begins to emerge.
The story then reveals that the scene was nothing more than a dream of a young, blonde man who has just arrived on a Greek island. He is pursuing his ex-boyfriend with a postcard that arrived from the same island. Ominously, as he is reading it, a woman takes his picture. Weird.
As the story progresses, we sense the presence of vampires on the beach and a mysterious, sinister yacht appears. The story has a dreamlike feel, evoking the summer infatuation of youth. The characters apparently party with a group of vampires, but of course they are completely unsuspecting. Death is present, but the sun shines brightly during the day and you can actually feel the heat.
Creepy!
Credit: Dark Horse
Cabral’s art and Brad Simpson’s colors add a realism that seems straight out of a sketch artist’s summer diary. The daytime scenes are richly detailed, conveying the Greek island bathed in light. The nighttime scenes are bathed in cool blues and purples. This contrast helps convey the sense of dread that the nighttime scenes have.
The visuals are haunting from start to finish, and will remain unforgettable. At one point in the story, a vampire makes its presence felt, alien, divine and truly astonishing. Its awe-inspiring and haunting nature reminded me of Clive Barker’s The Next Testament. In another scene, a pitch black yacht looms, its details highlighted by red lighting. Two windows peer out like eyes, as if the yacht is hunting prey on the shore.
The weakest part of this issue is the search for his ex-lover, which at some points feels a bit redundant. The captions where the protagonist searches for his ex-lover are wistful, but there is still no clue as to where he will find his ex-lover. This makes it feel unsatisfying.
The reader is given a sense of cosmic dread from the opening scene to the pivotal scene with the vampire outside the church, whose behavior is playful when he is trying to lure the reader in and unruly like a cheeky child when he wants to be frightened.
The story has LGBTQIA+ aspects, but not explicitly, and there’s something sensual about the young characters’ search for love, and the vampire who appears at the end seems self-aware.
This vampire tale feels entirely unique, yet touches on familiar aspects such as visual references from films like The Lost Boys and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The concept of a hunting vampire aboard a yacht in a summer destination is intriguing in itself, and combined with the surreal elements, it leaves a lasting impression.
Volume 1 of Summer Shadows is a real treat for cosmic horror
Summer Shadows #1
This vampire tale feels entirely unique, yet touches on familiar aspects such as visual references from films like The Lost Boys and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The concept of a hunting vampire aboard a yacht in a summer destination is intriguing in itself, and combined with the surreal elements, it leaves a lasting impression.
The visuals are fantastic, with a sense of cosmic horror at times.
An interesting premise: vampires on a yacht
The protagonist, searching for his ex-lover, feels a bit aimless at some points.
