True Blood #11 Review


Issue 11 of True Blood kicks off a new arc, Part 1 of “Dead Melodies” with plenty of mystery in a new arrival to Bon Temps by the name of Katie and is there more to her than her attempt at a fresh start?

Official description from IDW:

Writer Michael McMillian begins a climactic arc that will threatens to rip up Bon Temps at its roots!

As in previous reviews I am admittedly not a watcher of True Blood on TV so the characters are all new to me in the comics. The nice thing is that this issue sets-up a new story arc with a new character and I get a chance to meet the regulars through Katie’s eyes. Most of this issue is a lot of set-up but Michael McMillian’s dialogue is upbeat, informational and at time humorous. It’s not known from the beginning if Katie has any special abilities but we do know she is a believer in vampire rights. By the end of the book it comes to light that something is quite askew with the new arrival but the mystery is still firmly hidden in the shadows.

The only true horror we get is when an old woman enters Merlotte’s and her actions only confuse and disturb everyone inside but it’s another mystery that will need to be solved. The rest is mostly a lot of introductions but again McMillian’s writing keeps it from becoming more than just simple exposition.

Michael Gaydos’ art and Beni Lobel inks are lots of bold lines and shadows which makes for a nice change of pace from most comics. The colors by Esther Sanz are just as bold and high in contrast which fits this artist expression style like a glove. The art as a whole works really well with this type of story and it sets a nice dark mood for the book.

I haven’t been very big on TV and movie adaptations for comics but True Blood is solid and there is enough meat on the bone to keep me reading. I’m not sure how avid fans of the show who read the comics feel but I for one found it engaging enough to stick around Bon Temps to find out what happens next.

3.5/5

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