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The Strain (Collected editions) #1
The Strain, Volume 1
When a Boeing 777 lands at JFK International Airport and goes dark on the runway, the Centers for Disease Control, fearing a terrorist attack, calls in Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team of expert biological-threat first responders. Only an elderly pawnbroker from Spanish Harlem suspects a darker purpose behind the event—an ancient threat intent on covering mankind in darkness. Collects issues #1-#6 of the ongoing series.
“This is one of the scariest comics on the stands, as genuine surprises await the reader at every turn of the page. Usually, such big reveals are left to the final moment, but with The Strain there’s almost a cliffhanger every few pages and that makes this series a truly surprising, and enjoyable, read.” —Broken Frontier
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2012
67 people are currently reading
1316 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 9, 2020
I used to work with a patron at the library who loved the TV show The Strain. I never understood her obsession with it; however, when I saw that this was available on Hoopla I thought I would give it a try considering it's the spooky season.
WTF....
This was not what I was expecting. I mean I've read vampire stories, but not like this. I think that it's hard to continue to re-create a well known paranormal entity; however, The Strain does an excellent job recreating "our traditional" vampire lore. Its begins with a missing airplane returns to JFK airport and every single person on the plain appears to be dead, but there's no sign of struggle, toxicity in the blood, wounds, bruises...absolutely nothing. What starts off as a supposed terrorist attack spirals into something much darker and grittier.
One of my absolute favorite aspects of this comic book was the creativity and the "realness" of the characters. While I don't think that anyone would willing accept the reality of the situation as quickly as a our main character Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, I do like that we see him struggle to balance between his professional career, remaining sober, and being a good father. It made his character feel more three dimensional. While I don't want to delve too much into what this comic explores, it is told from two varying perspectives. It is gruesome and does not shy away from gore, blood, and violence. It sets up the world and plot for future volumes and ended in a cliff hanger that had me instantly checking out the second volume.
In terms of artwork, I thought that the penciling was interesting. The panels that were done to illustrate the past of one of the characters were a little bit more on the grittier side which I had to adjust too (I also think that this could have been related to the content of this particular storyline). It definitely was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in the second volume.
If you want a different take on vampires I would definitely recommend checking this out. I also plan on checking out the TV show.
WTF....
This was not what I was expecting. I mean I've read vampire stories, but not like this. I think that it's hard to continue to re-create a well known paranormal entity; however, The Strain does an excellent job recreating "our traditional" vampire lore. Its begins with a missing airplane returns to JFK airport and every single person on the plain appears to be dead, but there's no sign of struggle, toxicity in the blood, wounds, bruises...absolutely nothing. What starts off as a supposed terrorist attack spirals into something much darker and grittier.
One of my absolute favorite aspects of this comic book was the creativity and the "realness" of the characters. While I don't think that anyone would willing accept the reality of the situation as quickly as a our main character Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, I do like that we see him struggle to balance between his professional career, remaining sober, and being a good father. It made his character feel more three dimensional. While I don't want to delve too much into what this comic explores, it is told from two varying perspectives. It is gruesome and does not shy away from gore, blood, and violence. It sets up the world and plot for future volumes and ended in a cliff hanger that had me instantly checking out the second volume.
In terms of artwork, I thought that the penciling was interesting. The panels that were done to illustrate the past of one of the characters were a little bit more on the grittier side which I had to adjust too (I also think that this could have been related to the content of this particular storyline). It definitely was enjoyable and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in the second volume.
If you want a different take on vampires I would definitely recommend checking this out. I also plan on checking out the TV show.
June 3, 2015
Bullet Review:
Can't help but be reminded of Vampire Chronicles and more recently, Justin Cronin's "The passage" trilogy. It's decent - just wish that Nora was more than the coworker that Ephraim occasionally has sex with :/
And must EVERY post-apocalyptic story have to have some dumb bit with an estranged son and a divorced wife?!?
Can't help but be reminded of Vampire Chronicles and more recently, Justin Cronin's "The passage" trilogy. It's decent - just wish that Nora was more than the coworker that Ephraim occasionally has sex with :/
And must EVERY post-apocalyptic story have to have some dumb bit with an estranged son and a divorced wife?!?
September 30, 2016
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
This comic book was definitely a pleasant and unexpected surprise! I've been hearing about the show for years, ever since it started. But it came out at a point when I didn't want to watch anything new, so I was cautious.
I'm so glad that I have the book a chance. It was really nice, interesting, well illustrated, and with so much potential.
The story itself is nothing too astonishing, in terms of mythology. As in, it doesn't come up with a completely unknown type of villain/monster/creature. It's the one and only - the vampire.
What is very well done in The Strain is the twist to the already famous tale of vampires and bloodrinkers. It creates its own folklore, tied to the existing one. In this case, this being the first volume, we could not see the full span of the myth. What was there was interesting and good for me. Although, and I am saying this right now, not having read anything further, I can see how this story can go wrong. When you are reimagining something already existing and famous, there's not a lot of room for error, because it's very easy to end up with something ridiculous.
The art was also cool. The good thing about it was that although it was not too complicated or detailed, it fit the story in a way that it gave everything the reader needed and didn't distract from the plot itself, which is very rich on its own.
Character-wise, I only had a vague feel of the people. I liked the introduction of almost all of the characters, the exception being Nora. From her very first scene I was just put off of her. The others have room to be developed but at least they started in a good way.
*** 3.5 stars ***
This comic book was definitely a pleasant and unexpected surprise! I've been hearing about the show for years, ever since it started. But it came out at a point when I didn't want to watch anything new, so I was cautious.
I'm so glad that I have the book a chance. It was really nice, interesting, well illustrated, and with so much potential.
The story itself is nothing too astonishing, in terms of mythology. As in, it doesn't come up with a completely unknown type of villain/monster/creature. It's the one and only - the vampire.
What is very well done in The Strain is the twist to the already famous tale of vampires and bloodrinkers. It creates its own folklore, tied to the existing one. In this case, this being the first volume, we could not see the full span of the myth. What was there was interesting and good for me. Although, and I am saying this right now, not having read anything further, I can see how this story can go wrong. When you are reimagining something already existing and famous, there's not a lot of room for error, because it's very easy to end up with something ridiculous.
The art was also cool. The good thing about it was that although it was not too complicated or detailed, it fit the story in a way that it gave everything the reader needed and didn't distract from the plot itself, which is very rich on its own.
Character-wise, I only had a vague feel of the people. I liked the introduction of almost all of the characters, the exception being Nora. From her very first scene I was just put off of her. The others have room to be developed but at least they started in a good way.
November 21, 2015
I watched the TV version first, which I thought was pretty good. For someone looking for a fix between The Walking Dead seasons, this is better than most options, though I couldn't help wanting to yell at the screen for how people waited around for the vampires to eat them. The comic is almost identical to what we saw on TV, if a bit shorter. The story's strongest element is the father scientist who struggles with his duty to career with his duty as father. I really empathized with that, though as a writer, not a scientist. I like the mythology of vampires and the threads of conflict our characters weave through. Very solid story, but I'll pick the TV version over the comic. Maybe I'll give the novelized version a shot before I start season 2.
May 12, 2017
Vampire stories just don't get old. Not with Guillermo Del Toro anyway. "The Strain" is a graphic novel adaptaion of a "Not-So-Bram-Stoker's-Dracula" vampire story. Things started to look really interesting since the very first pages, with this ominous illustration of Sardu; The Original Vampire:
I haven't watched the series and I guess I won't like it as much as the comics, specially with art like this.
I haven't watched the series and I guess I won't like it as much as the comics, specially with art like this.
December 19, 2020
4 Stars
Graphic novels are like reminders of great stories. The strain trilogy was pretty good; with the first book being great. Having this take on the Vampire lore, with un-sparkly monsters and humans that are just as evil and cruel.
I also love graphic novels, because they tell the same story succinctly and give you great visuals most of the time.
This is just another in a long line of good graphic novels to check out.
As far as the story; well, if you read the books then you know what to expect. If you have not read the trilogy; then do yourself a favor and read them. Like I said, the first book is great. The downfall of man throughout the trilogy is crazy fast. The backstory with the MC and his wife is nerve wrecking and irritating. Necessary evil because of how the monsters reel in victims or hone in on some. I still hated it.
Anywho; read it, just so you can see some nasty vamps.
Graphic novels are like reminders of great stories. The strain trilogy was pretty good; with the first book being great. Having this take on the Vampire lore, with un-sparkly monsters and humans that are just as evil and cruel.
I also love graphic novels, because they tell the same story succinctly and give you great visuals most of the time.
This is just another in a long line of good graphic novels to check out.
As far as the story; well, if you read the books then you know what to expect. If you have not read the trilogy; then do yourself a favor and read them. Like I said, the first book is great. The downfall of man throughout the trilogy is crazy fast. The backstory with the MC and his wife is nerve wrecking and irritating. Necessary evil because of how the monsters reel in victims or hone in on some. I still hated it.
Anywho; read it, just so you can see some nasty vamps.
December 6, 2014
A CDC doctor is called to help investigate a landed airplane at JFK, there has been no contact with the plane since landing and it is up to Ephraim Goodweather and his team to respond to what is thought to be a biological terrorist attack. What they find on board may be the end of mankind.
I really enjoyed the story with this one, especially the folklore, the origins of the virus and how Abraham came to do battle with the vamps. The volume does a great job in setting up relevant back story and characters, the lead characters in particular are engaging and I felt invested in their storylines.
This art was good but seemed a bit inconsistent at times and perhaps due to personal taste not quite as engaging as some other graphic novels I've read.
A good read all in all and I'll definitely be picking up the second volume.
Recommended.
I really enjoyed the story with this one, especially the folklore, the origins of the virus and how Abraham came to do battle with the vamps. The volume does a great job in setting up relevant back story and characters, the lead characters in particular are engaging and I felt invested in their storylines.
This art was good but seemed a bit inconsistent at times and perhaps due to personal taste not quite as engaging as some other graphic novels I've read.
A good read all in all and I'll definitely be picking up the second volume.
Recommended.
August 10, 2016
I haven't read the novels or seen the TV series but now I want to.
December 6, 2012
The Strain Volume 1 is a graphic novel that combines the genres of traditional vampire literature and ancient folklore in order to deliver a modern day tale of horror and nonstop action.
This is an adaptation of the first novel in the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, or maybe not exactly so, as the authors point out in their introduction.
"This is not an illustrated version of our novels. This is a graphic retelling: a visual translation and a definitive one. As such, we asked only for the application of fresh energy and bold thinking. Other than that, we granted David Lapham and Mike Huddleston free reign and embraced them as true partners in this enterprise."
It all begins with a flashback. We visit a rural scene in the country of Romania in 1927. An old woman tells a boy that goes by the name of Abraham the story of Jusef Sardu, an eccentric nobleman, in order to make him eat his foot. According to her, and local legend, Sardu was a man unlike any other. He was so tall that he looked down on everyone, yet looked down on no one. And the children loved him. He was sick though, but what his illness really was nobody knew.
Sardu used to live a peaceful life, until one day his noble father, decided to take him with him for a wolf hunt that would lead to a disaster and which would change, in unimaginable ways, his life forever.
Young Abraham believed the story, even though at the time he didn’t exactly know what had happened to the man. In the years to come he would come to find out, and thus find in a mysterious way his life’s true purpose.
And back to the future, which is today, we go. Though we live in an era in which a terrorist attack is always the most frightening thing that could possibly happen, a yet more unusual and terrifying event takes place; an event that will bring the then boy and now elder man Abraham back to action. When an airplane lands in New York and rumors start spreading around about the fate of its passengers, he knows who’s behind the whole thing. But how can he help the authorities cope with the threat? And how can he convince them that he, a frail old man, knows more about it than they do?
He has no choice but to risk his freedom in order to save innocent lives. So he comes in contact with the authorities. He tells them his thoughts, he yells at them that they have to do as he says before it’s too late, but to no avail.
In the meantime the flashbacks continue and during them we get to know Abraham better, as well as his nemesis, Jusef Sardu, the man he’s determined to stop no matter what. But how can one kill the undead? He knows how, but the stubborn young men won’t listen to him. They’ve even thrown him in jail.
Now it’s up to Dr. Ephraim Goodweather to save the day. But will he make it? It seems unlikely, since he doesn’t really know what he’s up against to. However his job is not the only thing in his mind right now; he also thinks about his son Zack and his ex-wife Kelly, whom he still loves, and he secretly mourns about the life that he dreamed about but that wasn’t meant to be. He’s a brave man, willing to admit his mistakes and do anything to right his wrongs, but at the same time he’s just a human being, who’s simply trying to make it through another day, and who at moments also seems weak and lost for hope.
This is a story with a good plot, great character built-up and beautifully dark illustrations which bring to life the bleak subject matter. I haven’t read the Strain trilogy, but if this graphic novel is any indication about how good the books are, I think that maybe I should at least give them a try.
This is an adaptation of the first novel in the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, or maybe not exactly so, as the authors point out in their introduction.
"This is not an illustrated version of our novels. This is a graphic retelling: a visual translation and a definitive one. As such, we asked only for the application of fresh energy and bold thinking. Other than that, we granted David Lapham and Mike Huddleston free reign and embraced them as true partners in this enterprise."
It all begins with a flashback. We visit a rural scene in the country of Romania in 1927. An old woman tells a boy that goes by the name of Abraham the story of Jusef Sardu, an eccentric nobleman, in order to make him eat his foot. According to her, and local legend, Sardu was a man unlike any other. He was so tall that he looked down on everyone, yet looked down on no one. And the children loved him. He was sick though, but what his illness really was nobody knew.
Sardu used to live a peaceful life, until one day his noble father, decided to take him with him for a wolf hunt that would lead to a disaster and which would change, in unimaginable ways, his life forever.
Young Abraham believed the story, even though at the time he didn’t exactly know what had happened to the man. In the years to come he would come to find out, and thus find in a mysterious way his life’s true purpose.
And back to the future, which is today, we go. Though we live in an era in which a terrorist attack is always the most frightening thing that could possibly happen, a yet more unusual and terrifying event takes place; an event that will bring the then boy and now elder man Abraham back to action. When an airplane lands in New York and rumors start spreading around about the fate of its passengers, he knows who’s behind the whole thing. But how can he help the authorities cope with the threat? And how can he convince them that he, a frail old man, knows more about it than they do?
He has no choice but to risk his freedom in order to save innocent lives. So he comes in contact with the authorities. He tells them his thoughts, he yells at them that they have to do as he says before it’s too late, but to no avail.
In the meantime the flashbacks continue and during them we get to know Abraham better, as well as his nemesis, Jusef Sardu, the man he’s determined to stop no matter what. But how can one kill the undead? He knows how, but the stubborn young men won’t listen to him. They’ve even thrown him in jail.
Now it’s up to Dr. Ephraim Goodweather to save the day. But will he make it? It seems unlikely, since he doesn’t really know what he’s up against to. However his job is not the only thing in his mind right now; he also thinks about his son Zack and his ex-wife Kelly, whom he still loves, and he secretly mourns about the life that he dreamed about but that wasn’t meant to be. He’s a brave man, willing to admit his mistakes and do anything to right his wrongs, but at the same time he’s just a human being, who’s simply trying to make it through another day, and who at moments also seems weak and lost for hope.
This is a story with a good plot, great character built-up and beautifully dark illustrations which bring to life the bleak subject matter. I haven’t read the Strain trilogy, but if this graphic novel is any indication about how good the books are, I think that maybe I should at least give them a try.
July 4, 2017
Great pencil work as well as color scheme.
As a huge fan of the TV series, I personally vote the mystery surrounding the plane as one of the best openings to a story ever. The Strain has an interesting take on the vampire genre (million times better than Twilight).
The vampire design however, reminded me a lot of the 'reapers' from the Blade 2 movie (with their long tongue thingy).
Can't wait to get my hands on Volume 2.
As a huge fan of the TV series, I personally vote the mystery surrounding the plane as one of the best openings to a story ever. The Strain has an interesting take on the vampire genre (million times better than Twilight).
The vampire design however, reminded me a lot of the 'reapers' from the Blade 2 movie (with their long tongue thingy).
Can't wait to get my hands on Volume 2.
August 16, 2015
I liked it. If your watching the show it's the same. Nothing new but still good.
September 14, 2012
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: This horror filled encounter is more than just the biological attack, it’s far more dark and dangerous they believe.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time… there was a giant.
The Review:
I applaud this recent trend of re-imagining a popular novel and expressing it through the graphic novel format. It not only offers a visual representation of beloved characters for established fans, but also provides an easy and convenient look into a book that someone might not have read before. Personally, I have yet to read The Strain Trilogy though I have been eyeballing it for a while now. This first issue is said to follow the first book in the series, The Strain, closely. It definitely pulls nightmares and terrors out of the dark corners of our minds and onto paper.
The story starts with a flashback to Romania and a little boy named Abraham. His Bubbeh, his grandmother, tells him a story over dinner about a giant named Jusef Sardu. Born into a polish nobleman’s family, Jusef was good and kind but freakishly tall. He had a beautifully crafted wolf head cane that he used in order to get around. His father’s decision to go on a journey in order to find a cure for his son’s condition costs him and his party their lives. The sole survivor was Jusef, but he was greatly changed by the event. No longer the kind and loving giant, he is now only spoke of in hushed tones by candlelight and used as a warning to disobedient children.
The story now cuts to the present day and a father and son playing a violent video game. Though this gives the appearance of normalcy, it also looms like the calm before the storm. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather is a workaholic and is part of the CDC’s rapid response team. They are called to JFK in order to establish if an attack on an airplane is the work of bio-terrorism or not. We don’t know what is going on but it looks like an old man with a familiar wolf head cane watching what happing on the news, has a pretty good idea.
So far, it looks as if this issue is establishing the main characters and the initial catalyst that dominates the full story. The reader gets the idea that this is the calm before the storm, not just from the narrative, but from the illustrations. The use of dark and bold coloring give credence to the rising tension along with the conversations the characters have. I also really enjoyed the lack of color used to express the nighttime scene at the airport. It gives it a more realistic feel, since colors are viewed so muted and indistinguishable at night.
This issue, in particular, is reminiscent of the television show, Fringe, and their first episode. I doubt very much that there are more similarities between the two, but you never know. Overall, I think that this is a wonderful start to a fantastic horror story. Depending on how it all plays out, I may even go and read the book this comic is based off of.
FTC Advisory: Dark Horse Comics graciously provided me with a copy of The Strain Issue 1. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
Quick & Dirty: This horror filled encounter is more than just the biological attack, it’s far more dark and dangerous they believe.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time… there was a giant.
The Review:
I applaud this recent trend of re-imagining a popular novel and expressing it through the graphic novel format. It not only offers a visual representation of beloved characters for established fans, but also provides an easy and convenient look into a book that someone might not have read before. Personally, I have yet to read The Strain Trilogy though I have been eyeballing it for a while now. This first issue is said to follow the first book in the series, The Strain, closely. It definitely pulls nightmares and terrors out of the dark corners of our minds and onto paper.
The story starts with a flashback to Romania and a little boy named Abraham. His Bubbeh, his grandmother, tells him a story over dinner about a giant named Jusef Sardu. Born into a polish nobleman’s family, Jusef was good and kind but freakishly tall. He had a beautifully crafted wolf head cane that he used in order to get around. His father’s decision to go on a journey in order to find a cure for his son’s condition costs him and his party their lives. The sole survivor was Jusef, but he was greatly changed by the event. No longer the kind and loving giant, he is now only spoke of in hushed tones by candlelight and used as a warning to disobedient children.
The story now cuts to the present day and a father and son playing a violent video game. Though this gives the appearance of normalcy, it also looms like the calm before the storm. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather is a workaholic and is part of the CDC’s rapid response team. They are called to JFK in order to establish if an attack on an airplane is the work of bio-terrorism or not. We don’t know what is going on but it looks like an old man with a familiar wolf head cane watching what happing on the news, has a pretty good idea.
So far, it looks as if this issue is establishing the main characters and the initial catalyst that dominates the full story. The reader gets the idea that this is the calm before the storm, not just from the narrative, but from the illustrations. The use of dark and bold coloring give credence to the rising tension along with the conversations the characters have. I also really enjoyed the lack of color used to express the nighttime scene at the airport. It gives it a more realistic feel, since colors are viewed so muted and indistinguishable at night.
This issue, in particular, is reminiscent of the television show, Fringe, and their first episode. I doubt very much that there are more similarities between the two, but you never know. Overall, I think that this is a wonderful start to a fantastic horror story. Depending on how it all plays out, I may even go and read the book this comic is based off of.
FTC Advisory: Dark Horse Comics graciously provided me with a copy of The Strain Issue 1. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
February 17, 2015
Not sure if it's because the story is better suited to the medium of comics, or if it's just that David Lapham is a better writer than Chuck Hogan (probably a little from Column A and a little from Column B), but I really liked this adaptation of Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro's hugely disappointing novel. Of course, the first book is by far the strongest of the trilogy, and this adaptation only covers the first half of that installment (which begins much stronger than it ends), so maybe I just haven't hit the really terrible stuff yet, and therefore my opinion of this one may change once I reach the end (kinda like what happened with the novels). In any event, this is a fairly engaging read, and one that hits all the important beats while abandoning some of the more cringe-worthy stuff from the book (primarily the really shitty writing). Even though I know where everything is heading, I'm definitely interested in checking out more of the comics, to see if they are able to continue to improve upon the mostly terrible source material.
September 22, 2013
Brilliant adaptation of the novel
September 25, 2013
Not the best vampires I've ever seen, I'd love to know where you would keep a 6 foot long tongue.
November 22, 2012
These are the grossest looking vampires I have seen in a while, but they are of course based on a concept by Guillermo del Toro, so there you go.
This take on the vampire myth begins as all the old folklore begins - in a spooky village in Romania. The story jumps around in time taking us to the early 1930's, Nazi Germany and into the present day in New York city, which is where the real meat of the story takes place - a plane lands at one of the country's busiest airports and not one person gets off.
Ephraim Goodweather is an investigator with the CDC called in to try and figure out how nearly all the people on board died (three survivors say they don't remember anything). Enter a creepy old man who seems to know a LOT about this and wants to help and another, creepier old man that seems to be glad it happened.
The visuals here are deliciously repulsive (especially in the gorgeously detailed splash pages in between chapters) with a LOT of blood and guts and even in one disturbing panel what appears to be a shriveled and rotting penis. The story itself is an interesting take on vamps, intermingling bits of the old Dracula legend with the more modern theory that vampirism is a disease (or in this case possibly a parasite)though this volume did not get a higher rating from me because it leaves a LOT of unanswered questions and is fairly slow in the buildup. Still, it's an intriguing premise, and should earn itself some fans among vamp lovers and lovers of the macabre in general.
This take on the vampire myth begins as all the old folklore begins - in a spooky village in Romania. The story jumps around in time taking us to the early 1930's, Nazi Germany and into the present day in New York city, which is where the real meat of the story takes place - a plane lands at one of the country's busiest airports and not one person gets off.
Ephraim Goodweather is an investigator with the CDC called in to try and figure out how nearly all the people on board died (three survivors say they don't remember anything). Enter a creepy old man who seems to know a LOT about this and wants to help and another, creepier old man that seems to be glad it happened.
The visuals here are deliciously repulsive (especially in the gorgeously detailed splash pages in between chapters) with a LOT of blood and guts and even in one disturbing panel what appears to be a shriveled and rotting penis. The story itself is an interesting take on vamps, intermingling bits of the old Dracula legend with the more modern theory that vampirism is a disease (or in this case possibly a parasite)though this volume did not get a higher rating from me because it leaves a LOT of unanswered questions and is fairly slow in the buildup. Still, it's an intriguing premise, and should earn itself some fans among vamp lovers and lovers of the macabre in general.
February 25, 2020
Very nice mostly following the book but what I didn't like was that the vampires were shown from the very first issue, in the book there was suspense for their looks here no but rest is fine and dandy. Worth every bit reading just like the book.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
April 26, 2015
I've been interested in the strain since the TV show came out (I have to thank Samwise Gamgee for it, as he was the reason I started watching it). I have since bought the book and started collecting the issues for the current Strain series.
I wanted to do things properly and save the current issues for after I read the older ones. And I finally got volume 1!
I really liked the TV show until about halfway through. There was a lot of what felt like filling, Samwise Gamgee died and then I still watched, but I wasn't as interested.
Volume 1 of The Strain only has the good bits. The things I'm actually interested in and make the story so good.
I'm not keen on the illustration, hence 4 stars instead of 5.
I wanted to do things properly and save the current issues for after I read the older ones. And I finally got volume 1!
I really liked the TV show until about halfway through. There was a lot of what felt like filling, Samwise Gamgee died and then I still watched, but I wasn't as interested.
Volume 1 of The Strain only has the good bits. The things I'm actually interested in and make the story so good.
I'm not keen on the illustration, hence 4 stars instead of 5.
June 1, 2014
This is the unusual story which has been told many times of a virus being released into a country and two people struggle to be believed and solve the virus before it spreads. The art work in this graphic novel is good although the art work between chapters is exceptional and really make the book. There are parts of the story that are a little unbelievable none more so than the speed that the main character accepts the explanation for what is going on.
The story flows well and keeps the reader engaged. The action is well depicted graphically and this is a very addictive read. I can't wait for the next one to be released to see where the story progresses.
The story flows well and keeps the reader engaged. The action is well depicted graphically and this is a very addictive read. I can't wait for the next one to be released to see where the story progresses.
Want to read
June 12, 2014I was unable to finish the netgalley copy I received, but I loved the part I read. What a great adaptation of the original into graphic novel form. It brought a whole new element to the brand and I can't wait to buy a copy and finish it. How rare is it for something to work so beautifully in all forms of media?
November 19, 2014
Listening to the audiobook right now and loving it, but seeing the illustrations of the horror that's happening is a bit too much for me! Good story, though, and it follows the original novel almost exactly... I wish they'd released it as one long graphic, though, instead of splitting it up. The artwork (apart from being sometimes disturbing) is intriguing and foreboding.
November 7, 2014
Very well done. It's quite different from the show and that keeps the story fresh and interesting.
October 13, 2014
It was okay. Nice artwork...
August 11, 2020
This Is The Way The World Ends
A passenger jet lands at JFK Airport and all radio contact is cut. CDC investigator Dr Ephraim Goodweather finds all but four passengers are dead. As the investigation begins, Good weather discovers an ancient virus is infecting New Yorkers.
Grimly lit, with brutalistic style, this graphic novel is gripping and draws the reader into this compelling vampire drama.
A passenger jet lands at JFK Airport and all radio contact is cut. CDC investigator Dr Ephraim Goodweather finds all but four passengers are dead. As the investigation begins, Good weather discovers an ancient virus is infecting New Yorkers.
Grimly lit, with brutalistic style, this graphic novel is gripping and draws the reader into this compelling vampire drama.
October 30, 2021
4 stars.
Very intense, graphic, and haunting. Great for Halloween season. The plot wasn’t the best it could be, but the characters and setting made up for it. Not my favorite graphic novel, but I will definitely be reading the second one.
Setting:4
Characters:4
Originality:4
Plot:3.5
Ending:3.5
Style:4
Very intense, graphic, and haunting. Great for Halloween season. The plot wasn’t the best it could be, but the characters and setting made up for it. Not my favorite graphic novel, but I will definitely be reading the second one.
Setting:4
Characters:4
Originality:4
Plot:3.5
Ending:3.5
Style:4
November 9, 2014
I sometimes wonder what Bram Stoker would think about the fact that his work spurred an entire industry of copy-cats. Everybody thinks that they can make an interesting and novel contribution to this vampiric genre. In very few cases, see: Richard Matheson’s I am Legend, they are correct. However, even though most of these works don’t take us into uncharted territory, they can still be entertaining. In fact, some of the versions that stay true to the concept seem more entertaining than others that moved into new territory but are patently stupid. I’m speaking, of course, of Twilight and other vampire-as-romance books that feed a widespread malady of the age afflicting teenage girls and, sadly, middle-aged women. I think The Strain, Volume 1 makes for an interesting and entertaining modern-day vampire story, without being particularly brilliant or groundbreaking.
The Strain, Volume 1 is the first installment of a graphic novel adaptation of the novel written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The Introduction states that the graphic novel isn’t meant to precisely mirror del Toro and Hogan’s prose novel. I haven’t read the del Toro / Hogan book, but the synopsis indicates that at least the beginning and the characters are largely the same. I can’t comment as to how much the two works differ in detail, and whether the authors of the first book emphasized the difference so as to encourage readers to pick up both books (instead of cannibalizing each other), versus because the works are truly substantively different.
The inciting incident, apparently for the novel as well as the comic, occurs when a commercial jet liner lands in New York, coming to a stop and going out of contact with the tower. It turns out that all but three of the individuals on the plane are dead.
The graphic novel weaves together the story from two perspectives. First, the lead in the story is Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, a Center for Disease Control (CDC) employee who heads a rapid response team. As circumstances somehow indicate that this event involves a biological or toxic substance—though they have no ability to see into the plane, Goodweather’s team is called to investigate. (How they concluded with such high certainty that it was a substance in CDC’s bailiwick and not smoke inhalation or a terrorist hijacking is beyond me. But the CDC team enters on the heels of SWAT, and with operational control.) However, it’s a graphic novel with limited page constraints, so I didn’t grade too harshly on this particular type of credulity stretcher.
Second, the graphic novel begins with a vignette from the point of view of Abraham Setrakian who is a holocaust survivor and former Vampire hunter. Setrakian knows what is going on from his experience in the old world. It’s this odd couple pairing of an old man who knows an unbelievable truth and a scientist who doesn’t believe in the supernatural that makes this work interesting. The latter anchors the work in the world as we know it, but the former adds an element of mystery and charm. These mixed atmospherics are where this work really excels. The two men end up teaming up to fight a threat that will spread with unchecked fury unless they do something about it.
Unlike the hunky Vampires of Twilight fame, the vampires in Lapham’s work are meant to be as repulsive as possible. They have six foot tongues with stingers by which they take their blood meals, and the giant slobbery maws necessary to accommodate such an appendage. Instead of having a new twist on the Vampire story, this work attempts to create value added in part by putting the horror back into Vampires in a big way (also, through skillful atmospherics.)
It should also be noted that this isn’t a work for young kids. That should go without saying, I know. Freak-show parents who reason that it’s only violence, and who have no problem with their child seeing someone take a shotgun blast to the chest, but who’ll write a death threat to networks, publishers, or congressmen if said shotgun blast exposes a nipple should be forewarned that the work has a short but sexually graphic section in it—in addition to all the stakings and proboscis stabbings.
This was an entertaining enough horror-genre take on the Vampire. Scientists may find it a bit ridiculous that their comic book counterparts go about their jobs sticking their hands in unknown substances found at the site of the mysterious deaths of almost 200 people. However, despite some credulity challenges, the book creates an interesting atmosphere for a vampire story.
The Strain, Volume 1 is the first installment of a graphic novel adaptation of the novel written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The Introduction states that the graphic novel isn’t meant to precisely mirror del Toro and Hogan’s prose novel. I haven’t read the del Toro / Hogan book, but the synopsis indicates that at least the beginning and the characters are largely the same. I can’t comment as to how much the two works differ in detail, and whether the authors of the first book emphasized the difference so as to encourage readers to pick up both books (instead of cannibalizing each other), versus because the works are truly substantively different.
The inciting incident, apparently for the novel as well as the comic, occurs when a commercial jet liner lands in New York, coming to a stop and going out of contact with the tower. It turns out that all but three of the individuals on the plane are dead.
The graphic novel weaves together the story from two perspectives. First, the lead in the story is Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, a Center for Disease Control (CDC) employee who heads a rapid response team. As circumstances somehow indicate that this event involves a biological or toxic substance—though they have no ability to see into the plane, Goodweather’s team is called to investigate. (How they concluded with such high certainty that it was a substance in CDC’s bailiwick and not smoke inhalation or a terrorist hijacking is beyond me. But the CDC team enters on the heels of SWAT, and with operational control.) However, it’s a graphic novel with limited page constraints, so I didn’t grade too harshly on this particular type of credulity stretcher.
Second, the graphic novel begins with a vignette from the point of view of Abraham Setrakian who is a holocaust survivor and former Vampire hunter. Setrakian knows what is going on from his experience in the old world. It’s this odd couple pairing of an old man who knows an unbelievable truth and a scientist who doesn’t believe in the supernatural that makes this work interesting. The latter anchors the work in the world as we know it, but the former adds an element of mystery and charm. These mixed atmospherics are where this work really excels. The two men end up teaming up to fight a threat that will spread with unchecked fury unless they do something about it.
Unlike the hunky Vampires of Twilight fame, the vampires in Lapham’s work are meant to be as repulsive as possible. They have six foot tongues with stingers by which they take their blood meals, and the giant slobbery maws necessary to accommodate such an appendage. Instead of having a new twist on the Vampire story, this work attempts to create value added in part by putting the horror back into Vampires in a big way (also, through skillful atmospherics.)
It should also be noted that this isn’t a work for young kids. That should go without saying, I know. Freak-show parents who reason that it’s only violence, and who have no problem with their child seeing someone take a shotgun blast to the chest, but who’ll write a death threat to networks, publishers, or congressmen if said shotgun blast exposes a nipple should be forewarned that the work has a short but sexually graphic section in it—in addition to all the stakings and proboscis stabbings.
This was an entertaining enough horror-genre take on the Vampire. Scientists may find it a bit ridiculous that their comic book counterparts go about their jobs sticking their hands in unknown substances found at the site of the mysterious deaths of almost 200 people. However, despite some credulity challenges, the book creates an interesting atmosphere for a vampire story.
June 19, 2015
Creepy and Gory covers. Volume 1 has the 1st to the 11th issue of this comic. I started reading it knowing that was about vampires and some sort of pandemic virus. I was also curious because the original book is written by Guillermo del Toro (and Chuck Hogan's - The Strain ). Before finishing the volume 1 I've also saw the first episode of the TV-show/series.
I love the artwork. One issue I have with many comics and graphic novels is beautiful covers and not so pleasing artwork on the inside. But this is one is spot on. The colours and the contrast really help setting the tone of creepiness of the story. The mixture of dark colours really help to deliver a brutal and violent story. Some scenes look like nightmare material!
It all starts with an air-plane full of dead people. Mysterious dead people. Nobody knows why they are dead. Upon this the main character is presented.Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (what a name!) working for the Center for Disease Control.
He is the chief investigator of this operation, but he's life is quite a turmoil. Eph is an ex-alcoholic juggling between his job and family (mainly his son).
Another extremely important character is an old men named Abraham Setrakian. Jew from Romania, Holocaust survivor, owner of a little pawnshop is the only one who knows what is going on and have some hints how to stop this pandemic infection of vampires. (I actually enjoyed a lot the parts about Abraham life, they are scattered through the different issues and give helpful hints about what's going on and how he knows so much about everything).
There are a few questions that are not answered during this volume, that got me questioning what's going on. I will be for sure reading the rest of the comics and also keep an eye on the tv show. I'm already looking for the original trilogy to add to my tbr list.
I totally recommend these comics for anyone who likes scary vampires and horror stories.
Can also be read in my blog
April 28, 2015
Nobody would expect Guillermo del Toro -- genius filmmaker of things dark, grotesque and fantastical -- to make drooping romanticized vampires.
So we got the Strain trilogy, a gloriously grotesque, apocalyptic tale of vampires attacking the US. And like a lot of bestselling books, "The Strain" is getting a comic book series -- while it's a little disjointed for a comic book series, the solid art and brilliantly horrifying vampires make it a riveting experience. Half gut-clenching horror, half police procedural.
When Flight 753 lands at JFK, the entire plane goes dead -- and all but a few passengers are found pale, bloodless and peacefully dead. And a giant cabinet goes missing from the hold. While a special disease unit tries to figure out the cause of death, Dr. Eph Goodwater (from the CDC) starts investigating the mysterious disappearance of the cabinet.
Then strange physical changes begin occurring not only on the four survivors, but on the undecayed corpses in the morgue -- white blood, tracheal growths, enhanced senses, and a growing thirst for blood. While ordinary people begin transforming into stinger-tongued horrors, Eph and his assistant Nora find Abraham Setrakian, an elderly pawnbroker who has fought the vampires since World War II...
In some ways, "The Strain" initially seems like a 21st century version of "Dracula": a plane full of the dead, a coffin full of soil, and a little old man who knows way too much about vampires. But this book doesn't have a shred of Victorian romanticism or ornateness -- it's an intricate twist of New York City, scientific analysis, and grotesque horrors from darkened corners of the Old World.
And this comic-book adaptation is a pretty brilliant, faithful one. The storyline feels a bit fragmented because it keeps jumping between characters, some of which haven't yet fulfilled their purpose. But it sticks to del Toro's powerful writing (one whole issue is devoted to Setrakian's recounting of vampires in Nazi concentration camps) and pervasive sense of growing horror (a woman sends a nasty neighbor in to "feed" her vampirized husband).
The art style takes some getting used to, since most of the body types are long and thin, blobby or blocky, and sometimes they look a little rough. But they make effective use of color, relying on black, white, greyish-blue and the occasional splash of blood-red -- and there are some astoundingly effective images, such as a bunch of half-autopsied vampires rising up to attack the coroner.
And yes, we end on a cliffhanger. Just hang on until "The Strain Volume 2."
And the vampires del Toro creates are the most horrific I've seen in a long time -- trust me, these are not sexy, romantic angsty immortals. They're corpses possessed by a ghastly virus that reshapes the body into a dead-white, mindless thing with a stinger-tipped tentacle-tongue. And while del Toro freaks us out enough with the biological changes, he also infuses the vampires with a genuine sense of evil. It's more than just a disease.
There's a pretty wide-ranging cast of characters here -- billionaires, housekeepers, doctors, street thugs, lawyers, and even a shock-rock-star in the Marilyn Manson vein. Eph is a likable protagonist -- a kindly genius with family issues and a rocky custody battle. Abraham serves as the Van Helsing of this story, and a powerful flashback chapter shows us how his battle started -- in a concentration camp.
"The Strain Volume 1" effectively adapts the first part of del Toro and Chuck Hogan's brilliant horror novel, and leaves you dreading what is ahead for the human race.
So we got the Strain trilogy, a gloriously grotesque, apocalyptic tale of vampires attacking the US. And like a lot of bestselling books, "The Strain" is getting a comic book series -- while it's a little disjointed for a comic book series, the solid art and brilliantly horrifying vampires make it a riveting experience. Half gut-clenching horror, half police procedural.
When Flight 753 lands at JFK, the entire plane goes dead -- and all but a few passengers are found pale, bloodless and peacefully dead. And a giant cabinet goes missing from the hold. While a special disease unit tries to figure out the cause of death, Dr. Eph Goodwater (from the CDC) starts investigating the mysterious disappearance of the cabinet.
Then strange physical changes begin occurring not only on the four survivors, but on the undecayed corpses in the morgue -- white blood, tracheal growths, enhanced senses, and a growing thirst for blood. While ordinary people begin transforming into stinger-tongued horrors, Eph and his assistant Nora find Abraham Setrakian, an elderly pawnbroker who has fought the vampires since World War II...
In some ways, "The Strain" initially seems like a 21st century version of "Dracula": a plane full of the dead, a coffin full of soil, and a little old man who knows way too much about vampires. But this book doesn't have a shred of Victorian romanticism or ornateness -- it's an intricate twist of New York City, scientific analysis, and grotesque horrors from darkened corners of the Old World.
And this comic-book adaptation is a pretty brilliant, faithful one. The storyline feels a bit fragmented because it keeps jumping between characters, some of which haven't yet fulfilled their purpose. But it sticks to del Toro's powerful writing (one whole issue is devoted to Setrakian's recounting of vampires in Nazi concentration camps) and pervasive sense of growing horror (a woman sends a nasty neighbor in to "feed" her vampirized husband).
The art style takes some getting used to, since most of the body types are long and thin, blobby or blocky, and sometimes they look a little rough. But they make effective use of color, relying on black, white, greyish-blue and the occasional splash of blood-red -- and there are some astoundingly effective images, such as a bunch of half-autopsied vampires rising up to attack the coroner.
And yes, we end on a cliffhanger. Just hang on until "The Strain Volume 2."
And the vampires del Toro creates are the most horrific I've seen in a long time -- trust me, these are not sexy, romantic angsty immortals. They're corpses possessed by a ghastly virus that reshapes the body into a dead-white, mindless thing with a stinger-tipped tentacle-tongue. And while del Toro freaks us out enough with the biological changes, he also infuses the vampires with a genuine sense of evil. It's more than just a disease.
There's a pretty wide-ranging cast of characters here -- billionaires, housekeepers, doctors, street thugs, lawyers, and even a shock-rock-star in the Marilyn Manson vein. Eph is a likable protagonist -- a kindly genius with family issues and a rocky custody battle. Abraham serves as the Van Helsing of this story, and a powerful flashback chapter shows us how his battle started -- in a concentration camp.
"The Strain Volume 1" effectively adapts the first part of del Toro and Chuck Hogan's brilliant horror novel, and leaves you dreading what is ahead for the human race.
June 16, 2014
Now that I've had time to calm down from my earlier excitement over this graphic novel, I think I'm finally ready to review it. Being totally honest, I'm a sucker for all things vampire related. Wait, no. That's not entirely true. I don't do sparkly vampires. Ever. Everything else is fair game though, and I especially love when something new and different comes along. Which is why I was so excited over The Strain. I had no idea this was a book first, but based off the cover art alone I knew I was going to want to devour this. I was right.
I absolutely adored the art style in this one. It has these perfectly dark and gritty illustrations that do a great job of evoking the madness of this story line. Be warned, this graphic novel has it's fair share of blood and gore. Then again, any good vampire story does so I was expecting it anyway. It's not overly gratuitous bloodshed, honestly. In fact, it helps draw the line between good and evil in the panels. I think some of those illustrations might haunt my nightmares for a bit though.
It was the story itself that really caught my attention though. This is a much different vampire story than I'd been told before. Granted it does share some of the same origin stories, but the twist on this just deliciously, well... twisted. If you're like me, and you haven't read the book yet, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find between these pages. If you'll permit me a small tangent, my husband isn't a big reader but he loves graphic novels. I know that one I'm reading is really good if he steals it from me. This one? He took it away after I'd only read 10 pages, and didn't give it back until he was done. It has the hubby seal of approval.
So, yes, I loved this! It was just the type of story I was hoping to get lost in, with the type of illustrative work that I just can't get enough of. I'm so thrilled that I had the opportunity to receive a review copy of this, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! That ending. Oh, that ending. I'll be here mourning my lack of the next installment if you need me.
I absolutely adored the art style in this one. It has these perfectly dark and gritty illustrations that do a great job of evoking the madness of this story line. Be warned, this graphic novel has it's fair share of blood and gore. Then again, any good vampire story does so I was expecting it anyway. It's not overly gratuitous bloodshed, honestly. In fact, it helps draw the line between good and evil in the panels. I think some of those illustrations might haunt my nightmares for a bit though.
It was the story itself that really caught my attention though. This is a much different vampire story than I'd been told before. Granted it does share some of the same origin stories, but the twist on this just deliciously, well... twisted. If you're like me, and you haven't read the book yet, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find between these pages. If you'll permit me a small tangent, my husband isn't a big reader but he loves graphic novels. I know that one I'm reading is really good if he steals it from me. This one? He took it away after I'd only read 10 pages, and didn't give it back until he was done. It has the hubby seal of approval.
So, yes, I loved this! It was just the type of story I was hoping to get lost in, with the type of illustrative work that I just can't get enough of. I'm so thrilled that I had the opportunity to receive a review copy of this, and I can't wait to find out what happens next! That ending. Oh, that ending. I'll be here mourning my lack of the next installment if you need me.
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