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