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8 Reasons Why True Blood Issue 1 Is More Fun Than The TV Show

Published Sat, 26 May 2012 09:00:42 -0500

Alasdair Stuart writes for Bleeding Cool.

I loved the first couple of seasons of True Blood, especially the series' odd combination of supernatural horror and small town life. It was sort of Northern Exposure, but with vampires and sex rather than unexpected satellite based death and a possible immortal bartender. Then, around season three, the show got bloated. Every character hit the 'I'm special too!' thing that so much supernatural fiction gets blighted with and it got lazy and self indulgent and, eventually, I stopped watching. Which is why I was curious to see whether this first issue of the ongoing series was going to be based on the show I liked, or the show it became.

Let's just say I wasn't disappointed. Which, after season three, makes a nice change.

1. Sam's Nice Again
Remember when Sam was the slightly dogged (Heh), reliable barkeeper as opposed to the grifting, family murdering nutbar he eventually became? Yes, me too. That version of Sam's back, and it's a pleasure to behold. Mr Merlotte was one of the least well served characters in the last couple of seasons and it's a real pleasure to see him stripped of extraneous plot baggage and back to being one of the anchors of the show.

2.Vampire Are Everywhere, And Occasionally A Bit Rubbish
Leonard the Trucker Hat vampire marks a welcome return to the 'We have met the enemy, they're related to us and are sleeping on our couch' approach to vampires the show used in the first couple of seasons. He's not evil, he's not powerful, he's just a guy in a Trucker Hat who happens to also be a supernatural predator.

3.Sookie's Not Massively Irritating Anymore
Remember when Sookie was plain spoken and tough? Remember when she wasn't a whirling self righteous drama storm that everyone was supposed to love? Macmillan and Nocenti do and as a result, kick-ass Sookie is back in force. She's not posturing, she's not self righteous, she's just a woman from a small town who knows everyone and knocks back Leonard the Trucker Hat vampire in a way which is simultaneously sweet, polite and no nonsense.

4.Coffin Night
Kenneth The Trucker Hat vampire is partying with his family because, the world over, people are celebrating Coffin Night, the 'coming out' party for the Vampire race. We learn about this via Sookie getting delayed coming into work first, and a newscast second, and in three pages, the comic grounds the concept of vampires living amongst better than at least one full season of the show ever managed to.

5.Sam and Sookie Process Their Feelings.In The Good Way.
Far too often in recent years, the show has essentially handed characters a t-shirt with their trait on it. Sookie is Special! Sam is a Shapeshifter! Jason is an Idiot! that kind of thing. This scene turns that idea on it's head and has Sam and Sookie, a shapeshifter and a half-Fae remember, talking about Coffin Night as a kind of carrier wave for their own experiences. These are two extraordinary people who've been through extraordinary things and they talk about them here in a normal, believable and really rather sweet way.

6.Eric The Viking Is Still A Git
Sookie is summoned by Eric for…the least expected and most sensible reason he's ever summoned anyone for anything. When the show's on point, it remembers that Eric is a soldier, a man who has spent countless centuries learning how to survive and play the long game. When the show's really, really on point it remembers that Eric also loves messing with people. The comic is really, really on point and it's glorious to see.

7. Sookie and Jessica Process Their Feelings. In A Good Way
An extended flashback not only gives the writers a chance to walk some more characters through the set, but also gives us two different looks at Vampire Night. Jessica, still human, was praying with her family whilst Sookie was dealing with an idiot ex boyfriend, a new job, an over protective brother and her telepathic powers. Normal people with extraordinary problems, taking the time to reflect on where their lives have taken them. As character work, it's pitch perfect and continues to neatly set up the idea of Coffin Night.

8. A Good Old Fashioned Cliffhanger
And a pun related run no less. Glorious.

This is honestly the most fun True Blood has been about in two years. It's beautifully paced, character driven, the Michael Gaydos art is wonderful and the tone is perfect. If you were driven away from the show by the fourteen thousand never ending plot lines, give this a shot, it's got some real bite to it.

I'm sorry, I just had to.

True Blood issue 1, written by Michael MacMillan and Ann Nocenti with art by Michael Gaydos and colors by Marcelo Maiolo is available from IDW now, priced $3.99.

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