B.P.R.D. Vampire #3 cover image

First appearing in Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (the B.P.R.D. or BPRD) protects America and the rest of the world from the occult, the paranormal, and the supernatural.  Beginning with its own title, B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth, the B.P.R.D. series focuses on the team and sometimes individual agents, as is the case with the new comic book series, B.P.R.D.: Vampire.

B.P.R.D.: Vampire is a direct sequel to B.P.R.D.: 1948 and is separate from the main B.P.R.D. series.  Set in 1948, the five-issue miniseries follows an apparently doomed Agent Simon Anders and his quest for revenge against a clan of vampires and its Gorgon-eyed queen, Hecate.

After consulting “witch maps,” Anders travels to Cesky Krumlov, Czechoslovakia.  There, he and his guide, Hana Novarov, who is from the Krumlov History Museum, begin a quest to find Krumlov Castle.

As B.P.R.D.: Vampire #3 opens, Anders and Hana find the castle, or actually, they fall into it.  Once inside, Anders meets the conniving sisters, Katharina and Annaliese.  His big meeting is with the master of the castle, who tells him of a horrific bargain he made centuries ago.  It turns out, however, that both Anders and the master have things to learn, but will the bloodthirsty Anders stay calm long enough to learn anything?

THE LOWDOWN:  Individual issues of the B.P.R.D.: Vampire series are quick reads.  There is not a lot of dialogue and little exposition, but the main reason this is a quick read is because the story is so engaging it just demands to be read.

I can’t help but race through the pages to view the visually arresting art by Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon, with its graphically striking colors by Dave Stewart.  Stylistically and visually, this series recalls the early black and white horror films of Italian filmmaker, Mario Bava (Black Sunday).

Also, the story twists and turns like a reptile in clumsy hands, waiting to strike the unprepared, but attracted reader with revelations and with changes in character.  B.P.R.D.: Vampire is heading for a smashing ending.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of Hellboy and of good comic books will want to read B.P.R.D.: Vampire.