Do comic fans really need to explore the origins of Barnabus Collins?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

A blood-thirsty monster terrorizes the people of Collinsport! As the bodies pile up, the Collins’ family faces an unspeakable truth: the killer is one of their own! The vengeance of Angelique hits Barnabas and his family hard— and threatens to tear them, and the innocent townspeople, apart! Plus: Victoria Winters appears at the estate, but will anyone believe her warnings? Or will her tales of time-travel and vampires get her burned at the stake? The retelling of the classic “Dark Shadows” history continues here!

In the latest journey into the path of the world’s most guild ridden vampire, we find ourselves baring witness to a very key moment in the young life of our protagonist.  Without saying too much, the creative team seamlessly sets a tone while paying respect to the source material in the smartest ways possible.

Mark Andreyko pens the script and by the time curious readers reach the final page they’ll find themselves quite impressed with the literary results. What we have here is a straight forward second act that sheds the shackles of unnecessary dialogue as it embraces what the heart of this narrative truly represents.  We are dealing with a man who will be buried in darkness for the rest of his existence, and thanks to the hard work of the scribe the empathetic side of that struggle is starting to form in the most honest ways.

The art by Guiu Vilanova from start to finish is solid.  Each pencil stroke imbues a unique perspective and spirit that echoes the old television series while forming what can only be described as an extension of the current monthly title of the same name. The mood of the saga is brought seamlessly to life with precision but there were a few moments where faces looked a bit off.  But despite that the work on display makes the comic a literal thrill.

Dark Shadows: Year One #2 is an excellent release that’s certainly worth your time.  Recommended.

4/5