Reading: VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING - Ange & Patrick Renault (authors), Charlie Adlard (illustrator), Sebastien Gerard (colorist)

Prose (Story): The new horror series from the artist of The Walking Dead fame, this graphic novel collects the first four issues of the series as we follow Terry Fisher, a rugged New York City soldier about to re-enter active military duty, who - the night before he leaves - meets up with his friends and ex-girlfriend at the top of the Empire State Building for a going away party ... on the same night a crazed horde of bloodthirsty vampires breaks loose to take over the building - the city - and man.

Don's (Review): A genuinely interesting premise - a sort-of mythical vampire god, who has been walled up inside the Empire State Building since its construction, is set loose at last to take over and enslave mankind, turning all around him into vampires as rugged military hunk Terry Fisher parties with his friends on the roof above - somehow, in execution, lacks much in the way of originality or thrills. Bloody and gory, yes, and there are definitely tense moments that help keep you reading, but ultimately (beyond the premise) there isn't a lot new to this stock vampire story. As Terry and company try to get the 102 floors down to street level, the iconic Manhattan skyscraper crammed with vamps, anyone whose read even moderately in the genre can see almost every plot point coming. Murky, messy art both compliments yet somehow distracts from the story, and overall this reader was left both dissatisfied and underwhelmed, feeling as if I'd traveled this same old road too many times before.  2/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.