If you’re up for a massively excellent read, I have just the book for you. Dark Horse is releasing the Baltimore Omnibus, Volume 1 in Hardcover.

Not familiar with Baltimore? Neither was I, but this series, spearheaded by Mike Mignola, is awesome and worth your attention.

The story is basically this: A soldier in World War 1 Europe experiences a horrible situation while near death. He fights for his life, unknowingly triggering the release of a deadly plague. And vampires. Oh yeah, vampires. And other monsters, human and otherwise. The plaque spreads, killing entire towns and villages. But the vampires and undead are still around.

At 576 pages, this volume IS massive. There are nine big stories, each written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden. Art is by Ben Stenbeck, and colours are by Dave Stewart.

The story is gut-wrenching: personal loss, horror, and violence amid the saga of our lead character’s search for redemption and revenge. It really IS a saga, one that will cling to you and wrestle for your attention every time you want to let the book drop.

In addition to the nine stories and a foreword by Mignola, there are dozens of sketches, character drawings, page layouts, pinups and cover illustrations at the end of the book.

Dark Horse, Baltimore Omnibus vol 1, 576 pages for $34.99 Mature for violence

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!