I figured Chaykin's take on the modern vampire story would prove interesting. I was right, up to a point. The plot setup and initial characterization is quite interesting, but soon afterward, everything falls apart. The art, too, wears thin quite rapidly. ( )

If you like vampires, you might want to pick this one up. The first series collected in here had some interesting characters, but I never really liked how they developed. The second story/series collected is better on this front, but shorter.

It's been a while since between when I read this and reviewed it. Main overall thing I kind of remember is being a bit disappointed. ( )

The premise of this series has lots of potential. Vampires have been done before, and the Mafia has had plenty of representation in pop culture - but I don't think I've seen a Vampire-Mafia blend before. Chaykin and Tischman take two disparate themes and put them together with some positive results.

Eduardo Del Toro is the family patriarch, who reigns over his family and its interests with an iron fist. But, since Eduardo is killed on the very first page, you can bet the story isn't about him. Rather, his family -- a mixed pack of ambition, greed and carnal desire -- steps into the gap left by his death in a struggle to take over the business. But, to the surprise of all, son Leto -- both a vampire and a Catholic priest, believe it or not -- is handed the reins of power. And that doesn't sit well with others of the Del Toro clan, siblings and cousins and family satellites who have a varying array of vices and a similar yearning for control.

Aesthetically, everything comes together quite nicely. The colors are very nice, and the book is printed on a glossy paper which shows it off nicely despite the fact that the art is shrunk to fit in a smaller sized book. You don't feel like the art has suffered due to size constraints.

"Bite Club" draws the reader in much like many other great series from Vertigo; shockingly seductive and blood curdlingly violent from beginning to end, with the final twist something that you won't see coming.

Book Details:

Title Bite Club: Die Now, Live Forever
Author Howard Chaykin and David Tischman
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

I'm halfway through this and can't put it down, though parts of it make me a little comfortable. I'm so glad I picked this up to read. ( )