Sinnersis one of the most talked-about and critically acclaimed movies of the year, and it is safe to say the supernatural thriller has left audiences with a craving for more stories about vampires; while the canon of vampire stories, across all mediums, is vast, there are multiple innovative takes on the genre happening in comics right now that would be the perfect follow-up to the Michael B. Jordan film.
Sinnersfans are certain to be similarly spellbound by these three stories:Killadelphia, Dracula Motherf**ker!, andThe All-Nighter.All three of these vampire-centric tales are comic book series which all either capture the spirit ofSinners, feature elements similar to those seen in the movie, and/or feature a cast of people of color, likeSinners.
Each series uses the comic medium to its advantage to add to the vampire mythos in unique, and exciting, ways, just asSinnersdid cinematically.
Killadelphia Uses Vampirism As A Commentary On Black Identity, Similar To “Sinners”
Killadelphia#1-35; Written By Rodney Barnes; Art By Jason Shawn Alexander; Published By Image Comics
When readers first open the first pages ofKilladelphia, they open on a small-time no-name beat cop, James “Jimmy” Sangster Jr. who returns to Philadelphia after the death of his father. He quickly uncovers a conspiracy theory revolving around a vampire outbreak in the city. Black people are turning up dead on the streets of Philly, and the government is well aware of what’s happening and who the culprit is, but because the victims are Black, they turn a blind eye.
The conspiracy intensifies when it turns outthe local vampire army is run by former President of the United States, John Adams, who is hellbent on creating, in his mind, a better America. Just when it seems as thoughKilladelphiacan’t get any crazier, the story boastscrossover appearances from Spawn, Dracula, Blacula, and Savage Dragon. Sinners itself was filled with twists and turns that audiences didn’t expect, but with the help of characters from other properties,Killadelphiacomes off as arguably even more unexpected.
Particularly notewotthy isKilladelphia’suse of history in communicating a politically-potent message, not unlike howSinners' lead antagonist Remmick’s presence weaves Irish history into the narrative. Both stories are all about how the past creeps its way into the present, in order to affect marginalized communities in modern times. What makesKilladelphiadoubly-impressive is how well-researched the series comes off in offering an accurate historical perspective on a supernatural tale. The same can be said forSinners. As of this writing, readers awaitKilladelphia#36, which was promoted as concluding its current story arc, though its release remains TBD.
Dracula Motherf**ker! Is A Neo-Blaxploitation Story In Comic Book Form
Dracula, Motherf**ker!; Written By Erica Henderson; Art By Alex de Campi; Published By Image Comics
While the other two titles recommended for Sinners fans are both comic book series, this is a one-shot graphic novel, but is just as much of a terrifying story thathorror fans are sleeping on. Despite what the title may suggest, this is far from one’s average Dracula tale. In fact, the first couple of pages establish that the King of Vampires was locked away in a coffin in 1889 Vienna by none other than his brides. Flash forward to 1974 Los Angeles, where, in a city full of youth, a declining movie actress named Bebe Beauland raises the stakes.
With darkness released from its tomb, local crime scene photographer Quincy Harker finds himself embroiled in the chaos, inexplicably assisted by the Brides of Dracula. However, with the strange ambiguity of vampires, he’s never quite sure if they’re trying to help Dracula or oppose him until the end. The story and art style adopt the tone of classic 1970s B-movies from the Blaxploitation era of film, all while fusing crime with horror;much likeSinners, Dracula, Motherf**ker!wears its influences on its sleeve.
Dracula, Motherfker! carries a ’70s aesthetic that lends itself to visuals that are just as trippy and psychedelic as they are downright scary. All three of these stories discussed as being in the vein ofSinnersare rooted within the horror genre, butDracula, Motherfker!is the one that actually feels mortifying to read because of its art. Meanwhile, its story is just as engrossing. IfKilladelphiatakes advantage of history to tell a story,Dracula, Motherf**kerfeels like a time capsule, just asSinnersfeels like a period piece in its own right.
“The All-Nighter” Trades Sinner’s Overnight Club For An All-Night Vampire Diner
The All-Nighter#1-15; Written By Chip Zdarsky; Art By Jason Loo; Published By Dark Horse Comics
Sinnersfocused its plot around the local black community of Clarksdale, Mississippi, enjoying themselves at a brand-new juke joint until vampires infiltrate it.The All-Nightertakes that plot for Sinners and turns it on its head;the 15-issue series is about a group of vampires who run an overnight diner for both the human and monster community that stays open from sunset to sunrise. One member of this vampire horde, Alex, is dissatisfied with the diner life. Not only does he expect it to fail when patrons notice that none of the workers are aging, but simply put, he’s bored.
He’s desperately in need of a more exciting outlet for himself that allows him to cut loose and satisfy his bloodlust that doesn’t call for killing people. One night, when coming home from a superhero movie, he sees an unsuspecting couple mugged at gunpoint in an alleyway, and on a whim while draped in a disguise, he puts his super-strength to good use by saving them. When the newspapers starts citing him as some sort ofvigilante called the Nightshock, he decides to lean into these reports and become the kind of hero he admired on the big screen.
The All-Nightertakes familiar elements that audiences saw unfold withSinnersand amplifies them whilst transitioning them into the scope of the superhero realm.
Alex doesn’t contend with a maniacal supervillain taking over the world, but he does need to deal with Takers, a shadow organization that hunts down vampires. The more that Alex helps people, the further at risk he puts to his horde and the rest of the vampire community to being exposed. This one is for theSinnersfans who are craving more representation in their superhero comics. Alex himself is Asian American, while he’s assisted by Joy, a black, fully-grown vampire forever trapped in the body of a child, akin to Claudia inInterview with a Vampire.
The ferocity and tenacity that Smoke unleashes upon Hogwood’s clan at the end is practically that of an action-bound superhero.The All-Nightertakes that vibe and runs with it for three volumes. In those three volumes, Alex and Joy’s superhero team gets bigger, as does the supernatural lore within the story.The All-Nightertakes familiar elements that audiences saw unfold withSinnersand amplifies them whilst transitioning them into the scope of the superhero realm.The All-NighterturnsSinners' vampires into its heroes, and feels all the more entertaining in doing so.
