In Baltimore, Vol. 1: The Plague Ships, the end of World War I brings about a plague that overruns Europe with the existence of vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a former soldier, dedicates his life to making these monsters extinct and searches for the one monster that ruined his life.
I have to admit that I’ve never read a comic by Mike Mignola. I’ve only seen the Hellboy films and I enjoyed both of them. When I got a chance to read Baltimore: The Plague Ships, I was hesitant. The story seemed like it could be good or bad. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the book. I really liked the character of Lord Henry Baltimore. He not only has physical scars from war, but emotional scars from these vampires killing his fellow soldiers and his family.
Mignola and co-writer Christopher Golden have made a world that is interesting, different, and embedded in European history. Also included in this universe are aspects of horror that are reminiscent of the old monster movies of the past. Ben Stenbeck‘s art is dark and moody which is perfect for the timeline of the story being told. The mix of dark and bright colors, by colorist Dave Stewart, makes the images on the page look more sinister than they appear.
My only complaint with the story was the inclusion of Vanessa, a witch’s daughter. I felt that her role in the tale was not needed. She didn’t add much to the overall story. She seemed like a damsel in distress and a possible love interest for Baltimore.
Overall, I really enjoyed Baltimore: The Plague Ships. It was a fun story of monsters, things that go bump in the night, and the man that hunts them. If you’re a fan of the horror genre, then this book will be the book for you.
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Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
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