Reviewer: Mathan “I miss American Century†Erhardt
Story Title: Flesh & Blood
Written by: Howard Chaykin & David Tischman
Penciled and Inked by: David Hahn
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Colored by: Brian Miller
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
Ok, last issue, Eduardo, a vampire mob boss, was killed. His daughter Risa is a music mogul in the making. His son Eddie Jr., is kind of like an enforcer. Eddie’s partner is his cousin, Victor, who also happens to be sleeping with Eduardo’s widow, Arabella. Eddie’s son Danny is in possession of his grandfather’s gun. And the issue ended with Zephraim, the family’s consigliore, informing Leto, Eduardo’s other son and the nation’s first vampiric priest that his father wanted him to take over the family business. Phew.
This issue begins with Leto having a fantasy about his sister Risa, while Zephraim explains what his father had in mind with him taking over the business. Meanwhile, Eddie and Victor continue searching for the person responsible for Eduardo’s murder. Risa snaps on one of her artists, because she’s so upset at being passed over as head of the family.
Victor and Eddie begin interrogating someone, but its short-lived as the police come and break things up. Risa and Leto have a conversation about how things ended up, and put Leto in a very compromising position. And, across town, Danny is being picked on by bullies at school. The issue ends with Risa’s former friend and Leto’s ex coming back to Miami. Next issue should be very interesting.
Chaykin and Tischman make an excellent team. Their narration is pitch perfect and oft times hilarious. I thought their explanation of the different classes of vampires to be pretty interesting. The dialogue rings equally true. Having Leto lust for his sister is a very interesting twist, as is the introduction of the ex.
Hahn has such a clean style. It works just perfectly with this book. The brutality of the interrogation looks just as good as Risa’s form when she tries to seduce Leto. On a quirky note I really dig how he draws the character’s ears.
