Who could have predicted that following the great zombie panic of 2007/2008 (during which we did our best to spread the infection with Raise the Dead) vampires would become the monster du jour of 2009? Well, luckily for us, we (or at least Dynamite Entertainment) sort of did.

It’s thanks to that kind of eerie forward planning that we find ourselves interviewed about The Complete Dracula in the pages of the brand new SFX Magazine Vampire Special alongside the likes of James (Spike) Marsters, Anita Blake author Laurell K Hamilton, Let the Right One In director Tomas Alfredson and many, many other bloodsucker related folks.

As you’d expect the special is also packed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight realted features and goodies (including posters and drinks coasters) as well as a pocket sized book of the 1819 novella The Vampyre and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla – two stories that are believed to have influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

It’s nice to be “on trend” with TCD but I think it might also be worth mentioning that we did write another vampire book not so long ago. The Darkness vs. Eva – Daughter of Dracula was a 4 issue Dynamite/Top Cow series published between March and June 2008 with art by the fantastic Edgar (Project Superpowers) Salazar.

The series sees Darkness wielder and mob boss Jackie Estacado having a bit of a problem with an influx of vampires, werewolves and other supernatural nasties into his city. One of these visitors just happens to be Graf Von Orlock – an ancient vampire with a plan to gain the upper hand over the mortals. Meanwhile Eva Tepes – Daughter of Dracula, sucked through time and stranded in modern day USA, is busy doing what she does best:  slaying evil wherever she finds it. When Eva interrupts a ritual Jackie finds that his control of The Darkness is slipping – just what he needs when vampires have decided to take a bite out of his business.

As you probably know, we’ve been doing a series of signings recently to promote TCD and Holmes (don’t forget SubCity Dublin this Saturday) and people attending have been really interested in the Darkness/Eva collection which a lot of them didn’t seem to know about previously.  So, if you’re interested, why not check out the first 13 pages of the TPB? If you like what you see you can order the book from our Darkness vs. Eva page.

So, what’s the next big monster craze going to be then? I’m hoping it’s were-wolves… damn, we’d better get planning a lycanthrope book then…

Here’s the official blurb:

Jackie Estacado is the current wielder of The Darkness – an ageless power dating back beyond human history – as well as a member of the Franchetti Family mob. Though he lives life on the wrong side of the law and can kill without remorse, Estacado has a strict set of morals and a fierce loyalty to those that earn it.

Born of the ultimate darkness, yet raised to fear and respect the light, Eva – the Daughter of Dracula – now finds herself trapped centuries from her own time. Destroying all of those with evil intent that cross her path, Eva marches towards the final battle with her father – Dracula, Lord of the Undead.

As his control over the Darkness teeters on collapse, Eva tracks the rogue Darklings fleeing Estacado’s control and confronts Jackie himself – but not before the two of them come to the attention of Count Von Orlok, who has his sights set on both the elimination of Eva, and control of the Darkness!

And here is a 13 page preview of the TPB:

You can order the book online on our own Darkness vs. Eva page or else get down to your local comic shop ASAP.