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Graphic Novel Review: Athanasia by Daniel Kraus, art by DaNi, colors by Brad Simpson, letters by Jim Campbell

cover art for Athanasia by Daniel Kraus

Athanasia by Daniel Kraus, art by DaNi, colors by Brad Simpson, letters by Jim Campbell

Vault Comics, 2025

ISBN-13: 9781638492818

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition1

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

 

In Venture City, the Molson family has tended the grounds at Athanasia Cemetery, the burial grounds for fallen superheroes of the Dynamic Guild, for generations. Forrest Molson dropped out of high school a year ago. She maintains her sobriety, works with her father as an assistant groundskeeper, and is expected to take over when he is ready to retire. The problem is that she does not see the hero worship of the Dynamic Guild to be more than that, and questions her father and grandfather’s logic in continuing to work for them. Struggling with relationships, the death of her little sister, and the future in general, Forrest finds herself spiraling.

 

After an argument with her father, she lets herself into the cemetery after hours, using the monogram that allows only the Guild and their employees to enter. A strange green substance emerges from the ground at night. When she accidentally comes into contact with it, she is temporarily granted superpowers.

 

What starts out as Forrest’s quest for justice for the people left out of the Dynamic Guild’s orbit quickly spirals into extreme vigilante horror as she becomes addicted to the supergoo and loses control over herself. The Molson elders need to make some difficult choices if they want to help Forrest and survive the coming fight.

 

The horror emerges subtly and builds in Athanasia. It is more than an addiction story. Forrest sees the victims of what the Dynamic Guild deem as lower importance. She is verbally sexually harassed by middle aged men on the street. She witnesses an elderly woman being swindled by her landlord for more rent money. A purse snatcher runs past her after a victorious haul off the arm of a young woman. Then she walks in on one of her closest friends being sexually assaulted in the high school gym. Something in her breaks further.

 

Between experiencing and seeing everything going on around her, knowing the Guild is ignoring those living on the outskirts, and succumbing to her new addiction, Forrest craves more power, no matter the cost. Pushing the limits of her body and psyche, and the supergoo, is all she can think about. Learning more about the superheroes is intense, both in terms of their rise and what happens when they die.

 

Athanasia is a great book for readers of Kingdom Come, Watchmen, and other series that dig into the dark side of superhero culture. Highly recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on October 20, 2026 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: The God List by Steve Niles and Scott Hampton, art by Scott Lange, letters by Janice Chiang, edited by Sandy King

The God List by Steve Niles and Scott Hampton, art by Scott Lange, letters by Janice Chiang, edited by Sandy King

Storm King Comics, 2024

ISBN-13: 9798988728528

Available: paperback

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

William Clark owns a used bookstore called Olden Daze Books in Greenwich Village that pays more out than it takes in. He doesn’t mind, though, as he enjoys being surrounded by the dusty old tomes. One night after he has closed shop and is settling in for the night, a woman disturbs him when she pounds on the door of the store begging for help. She pushes a parcel into his hands, cries for him to protect it, and turns into ash when she hits the ground. Following her is a group of robed cultists, and a mysterious blonde woman named Lydia who saves him from them. As they make their getaway, she tells him he must discover the secrets of the book in his hands. As he unlocks the secrets of the God List, a legendary inventory of unknown creative works, he finds that his dreams show him the way. Lydia and William’s search takes them from Greenwich Village in New York, to the Vatican archives, and finally to an old cathedral in Cologne, Germany. Unfortunately, the cult leader has summoned the giant of a man named Ravyn to do whatever it takes to retrieve the God List.

 

Niles delivers a great story with The God List. The plot moves quickly and delivers a good bit of religious and artistic history. The characters feel real, despite the reader knowing them for a short time. I especially love the formidable librarian, Lucinda, who they have to make their way past in the Vatican archives. Hampton’s artwork is phenomenal, from character designs to intricate backgrounds.

 

This would be a solid addition to libraries looking to expand their horror graphic novels collection, as well as support an independent publisher specializing in such resources. Highly recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on October 2, 2026 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Woodstake: Three Days of Peace, Music, and Blood Volume 1, by Darin S. Cape, art by Felipe Kroll, lettering by Stephen Kok

 

Woodstake bookcover

Woodstake: Three Days of Peace, Music and Blood by Darin S. Cape, art by Felipe Kroll; lettering by Stephen Kok
SHP Comics, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8992749915
Available: paperback
Buy: Bookshop.org

 

Woodstake begins in March 1927, in upstate New York, in a lone cabin where Dracula awakens, feeding on the wildlife in the forest to regain his strength. Nearby, Jack Heyward and Lucy Westin are in love, but the latter is hunted and turned by Dracula.

 

Sheriff Obadiah Wood is investigating a strange murder, and Marius Van Helsing believes he has killed the creature that used to be Lucy. As time passes, Van Helsing’s son Alexandru takes on the mantle of the family legacy of hunting vampires, and Obadiah’s son Jim becomes the acting sheriff of Sullivan County.

 

The setting then changes to San Francsico in July 1969. Jonathan distributes his free music publication to interested readers, struggling to keep it going while his father gives him an ultimatum. Jon needs to turn a profit so he can make a living, or be cut off financially and return home to work for Boeing, something he is vehemently against, as he is opposed to the Vietnam War. He reaches out to his friend Artie, and they, along with Artie’s friend Nina, head to Woodstock with the hopes of getting a front-page interview with Jimi Hendrix. They receive a rude welcome at the diner from a couple of locals, one of whom has returned from Vietnam and the other who can’t wait to go fight. The situation escalates into a confrontation in the woods, where the sheriff does something that goes against his regular duties. When the trio get to the music festival, nobody expects that a vampire horde is about to descend on the crowd of festival-goers.

 

The publisher’s summary includes that this is a “darkly funny, genre-bending thrill ride.” Unfortunately, the humor doesn’t land for me, and for anyone who is a fan of 1960s and 1970s vampire horror flicks, this story is not genre-bending, as there are several films that combine hippies and vampires. Perhaps with the addition of music history, sure, but not when it comes to the merging of horror and counterculture movements. However, although there is so much going on in Woodstake that it is hard to track some of the plot, it is still a good read. The subplot of anti-war protests and two very different groups clashing reflects the period well. For music fans, look for musical references included in various scenes. Maybe dig those albums out, or access them via streaming, and give them a listen while reading. It does add atmosphere, so kudos to Cape for including them in the book.

 

While Kroll’s art style is unique and vivid for the most part, there are some shadows that do not seem to play well on the page, and sometimes expressions do not match the emotion in some panels. However, when he uses vibrant colors, his artwork really comes alive, where his shadow work is excellent. His chapter break pieces are phenomenal.

 

Another aspect of comics and graphic novels I have been tracking lately is lettering. Stephen Kok’s lettering in this book is clear, and it is obvious who is communicating, and how.

 

This book is recommended for those who like horror and music history, as well as for readers who are looking for a good vampire story. Libraries looking to grow their comics and graphic novels offerings should consider this for their collection. Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on April 28, 2026 by , Reply
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