2.241 (606) Crimson #8 ...

Humberto Ramos' penciling is full of energy and an excellent development from a manga style with oversized feet and hair to stylized facial expression or should that be the occasional explosion? Regardless, I liked his work from DC's Impulse and have followed him for a while from one series to another. However, if there is one gripe I may be permitted to express: it is his covers. Somehow, they are not popping if you know what I mean and this issue is no difference

Contentwise, we open to see Scarlet, the lady who hunts vampires with a crossbow and dressed in skin tights and a cloak, fight against another attack of some sort of creature (demonic children?) and while this is the opening scene, as the series progresses, we are given more to think about as we see Alex, our protagonist (human turned unwilling vampire) agonizing about life in general while his mentor, the odd shaped creature named Ekimus is hovering over someone close to Alex

So is Alex turning into a vampire a mere accident or something more?

And while we are pondering this, we also get a glimpse of good guy cop who is trying to help Alex's parents find where their son has disappeared too starts getting visions of someone who looks a lot like him except dressed in King Arthur esque armor?!?!?!?!

And if that is not enough, is that Alex and Scarlett developing feelings for each other? Now while this may seem normal to you for us, because of the artwork, when they first met, we thought she was like a young adult (above 21) while Alex is mid to early teenager hood (14 to 16). So what gives, eh?

Sadly, this issue while moving the main story arc forward does little else and feels like one of those in-between chapters in what could be a potentially exciting book. So if this is your first taste, we recommend you do not make a decision but go and buy the first TPB collecting issues 1 to 6 for a better feel of what this tale is about

Ratings: 6/10