Baltimore: The Widow and the Tank
Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Art by Ben Stenbeck
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Roberts
Cover by Ben Stenbeck
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 20, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

The story of Lord Baltimore is set during the post-World World I era and centers on the former British soldier turned monster hunter’s obsession with Haigus, an ancient vampire who set a plague upon Europe and ruined Baltimore’s life. In The Widow and the Tank, a 2-story one-shot, Lord Baltimore travels to Londonshire, England to interview a confirmed dead soldier who has somehow returned home to his wife (in “The Widow”), and then to the Aquitaine region of France, to a field of beautiful red flowers littered with the skeletal remains of what he believes to be vampire victims, where he discovers something more disturbing than the vampires he loathes (in “The Tank”).

Baltimore, who you’ll recognize from his wooden peg leg and trusty harpoon, has nothing to live for, except to eradicate Haigus and his preternatural creations, which is why he consistently puts himself in harm’s way to confront these deadly creatures. Sometimes he’s striking down all undead in his path with his aforementioned and frequently bloodied harpoon, as well as with his guns, knives, swords, and other weaponry strapped to his back; other times, he’s an angel of mercy. But in the end, his mission is clear: find Haigus and kill him.

Baltimore: Dr. Leskovar’s Remedy #1
Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Art by Ben Stenbeck
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Roberts
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 20, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

I’m a big fan of the first two Baltimore miniseries that Dark Horse has released and I’m just as much of a fan of the first issue of the next entry in the series, Baltimore: Dr. Leskovar’s Remedy. This is just a two-parter between larger minis, and this issue gives a good look at what the series is all about.

The basic premise of Baltimore is that during World War I, a plague broke out that caused an outbreak of vampirism. The rise of these new vampires awoke some older vampires who had been sleeping for a long time. One of these older vampires attacks a certain Lord Baltimore and his family. However, Baltimore survives and swears vengeance against the vampire who ruined his life. Now, Baltimore travels Europe, seemingly always one step behind the target of his revenge.