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DayBlack
DayBlack
Best Writer and Best Male Character, Glyph Awards
Beneath the polluted clouds of DayBlack, Georgia, exists a murderer. After hundreds of years of killing to survive, he no longer wants to simply exist . . . he wants to live.Ìý DayBlack Ìýis the story of Merce, a former slave who was bitten by a vampire in the cotton fields. Four hundred years later, he works as a tattoo artist in the small town of DayBlack. The town has a sky so dense with pollution that the sun is nowhere to be seen, allowing Merce to move about freely, night or day. Even darker than the clouds are the dreams he’s been having that are causing him to fall asleep at the most awkward times (even while he’s tattooing someone). As he struggles to decipher his dreams, someone from his past returns with plans for him—plans that will threaten his new way of life and turn him back into the cold-hearted killer he once was.
104 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 19, 2015
Merce was a slave who was bitten by a vampire in the cotton fields. He has lived four hundred long years.
He is tired of just getting by and wants some joy back in his life. He had worked in a variety of different jobs and is now employed in DayBlack Georgia as a tattoo artist.
He has his tattoo gun rigged so that it leaves ink in the skin and extracts what Merce needs. He keeps the blood warm in his coffee maker.
Things are getting weird for Merce as he keeps falling asleep on the job, social media could be his downfall when a client threatens to leak that he falls asleep on the job. He knows how to handle it though.
Years ago Merce sponsored one of the "starving children" tv ads and his "son" shows up in Georgia. As a vampire hunter.
I loved this story. A completely new take on the vampires.
It's also told in black, white and red ink because vampires are color blind and that's the only colors they see.
He is tired of just getting by and wants some joy back in his life. He had worked in a variety of different jobs and is now employed in DayBlack Georgia as a tattoo artist.
He has his tattoo gun rigged so that it leaves ink in the skin and extracts what Merce needs. He keeps the blood warm in his coffee maker.
Things are getting weird for Merce as he keeps falling asleep on the job, social media could be his downfall when a client threatens to leak that he falls asleep on the job. He knows how to handle it though.
Years ago Merce sponsored one of the "starving children" tv ads and his "son" shows up in Georgia. As a vampire hunter.
I loved this story. A completely new take on the vampires.
It's also told in black, white and red ink because vampires are color blind and that's the only colors they see.
August 13, 2018
DAYBLACK is a dark, polluted and sunless town. Great name though and great place to live....if you're a vampire.
Mercer is a former slave who was bitten in the cotton fields, and after 400 years or so....and a variety of jobs, settles in as a tattoo artist which works quite well for his kind....especially with the help of his trusty tattoo/blood feeding machine named Hazel. You see, he no longer wants to simply exist, he wants to live.
But Mercer has a problem. He falls asleep conjuring dark dreams at the most inopportune times....AND, after watching a bit of TV, decides to make a donation to a very good cause that results in a big surprise, and what might become an even bigger problem.
DAYBLACK was kind of fun in a weird sort of way, but overall just an ok graphic novel for me. Not my favorite kind of illustrations, but the RED, black and white colors were certainly apropos....and the coffin SUPER cool.
Will probably pass on the rest of this series.
June 29, 2016
Noirish blaxploitation comic book about Black Power, ecological devastation, tattoos and vampires. Meticulously designed and rather stylish in a tattoo-inspired black-white-and-red way, but also a bit stiff and sparse in terms of characterization and storytelling.
September 1, 2017
Written and illustrated by Keef Cross, DayBlack is a graphic novel that introduces Merce, a vampire with narcolepsy who sleeps in a very cool coffin. Currently spending his time in a small town called DayBlack in Georgia, where the pollution is so all consuming it blocks out the sun, it's the perfect place to be a vampire.
Having tried out other occupations including mercenary and astronaut, he's currently a tattoo artist that specialises in black and grey tattoos with occasional red, because vampires are colour blind with the exception of red (fortunately).
Because of the risk of HIV, Merce doesn't obtain his blood the clichéd way. Instead he's rigged his tattoo machine to simultaneously ink people as well as extract their blood into a coffee machine. Unfortunately this new method has some side effects - narcolepsy and bizarre dreams.
Merce sponsors and later becomes a foster parent to Rodamez. Ironically his sponsorship money was spent training Rodamez to become a vampire hunter, which makes for some awkward moments between the two.
Keef Cross is an incredible illustrator and has played around with vampire mythology, incorporating the well known with the innovative. While I appreciated the artwork and the premise I don't feel like I was a member of the target audience. I wanted a more cohesive storyline and considering this graphic novel was Volume 1, I expected for it to sink its teeth into me (sorry, I had to!) and make me eager to read on to find out what happens in Volume 2. Sadly this didn't happen for me.
I received a copy from NetGalley (thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Having tried out other occupations including mercenary and astronaut, he's currently a tattoo artist that specialises in black and grey tattoos with occasional red, because vampires are colour blind with the exception of red (fortunately).
Because of the risk of HIV, Merce doesn't obtain his blood the clichéd way. Instead he's rigged his tattoo machine to simultaneously ink people as well as extract their blood into a coffee machine. Unfortunately this new method has some side effects - narcolepsy and bizarre dreams.
Merce sponsors and later becomes a foster parent to Rodamez. Ironically his sponsorship money was spent training Rodamez to become a vampire hunter, which makes for some awkward moments between the two.
Keef Cross is an incredible illustrator and has played around with vampire mythology, incorporating the well known with the innovative. While I appreciated the artwork and the premise I don't feel like I was a member of the target audience. I wanted a more cohesive storyline and considering this graphic novel was Volume 1, I expected for it to sink its teeth into me (sorry, I had to!) and make me eager to read on to find out what happens in Volume 2. Sadly this didn't happen for me.
I received a copy from NetGalley (thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
August 7, 2015
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Totally different, in this case, a good thing.
Vampire lives. In a town where pollution makes it darkness all day long, so he can act normally.
He works as a Tattoo artist, and modified his tat tool to suck the blood from his customers, who are mostly big booty ladies...kinda funny.
He also has a son, who's actually a vampire hunter, but because Merce saw the angry face on one of those feed the starving wretches commercials on TV, he sent money for years, until the boy grew up and came to see him, calls him his dad, and makes an exception against killing dad.
All the Hunters are Mexican, and it explains why they all work labour jobs with access to sharp implements that no one questions...
Don't let Trump read this or he will think it's fact and scare the fanatics.
Another crazy thing? HIV is actually the way to kill vampires, and that's why it arrived, and killed many vampires.
Just a couple whoa moments that seemed to be an interesting idea for a piece of fiction.
Vampires are also colour blind, other than red.
When he wants to get high, he has to find his dealer, get her to get high, then he sucks her blood enough to get high himself and save her from ODing...
It's a crazy thing all around, and such a change of pace, I really enjoyed it. I look forward to another volume, more of his past as a slave, and his mother and what happened to her...
Totally different, in this case, a good thing.
Vampire lives. In a town where pollution makes it darkness all day long, so he can act normally.
He works as a Tattoo artist, and modified his tat tool to suck the blood from his customers, who are mostly big booty ladies...kinda funny.
He also has a son, who's actually a vampire hunter, but because Merce saw the angry face on one of those feed the starving wretches commercials on TV, he sent money for years, until the boy grew up and came to see him, calls him his dad, and makes an exception against killing dad.
All the Hunters are Mexican, and it explains why they all work labour jobs with access to sharp implements that no one questions...
Don't let Trump read this or he will think it's fact and scare the fanatics.
Another crazy thing? HIV is actually the way to kill vampires, and that's why it arrived, and killed many vampires.
Just a couple whoa moments that seemed to be an interesting idea for a piece of fiction.
Vampires are also colour blind, other than red.
When he wants to get high, he has to find his dealer, get her to get high, then he sucks her blood enough to get high himself and save her from ODing...
It's a crazy thing all around, and such a change of pace, I really enjoyed it. I look forward to another volume, more of his past as a slave, and his mother and what happened to her...
March 7, 2016
Extremely cool book with amazing graphics and a very noir feel.
April 17, 2019
A fun and unique take on vampire stories. Did you know that most vampires live in USA and that most vampire hunters come from Mexico? It's true! They pretend to be gardeners so they can carry vampire hurting implements like shears and chainsaws. The only real way to kill a vampire is with a walrus tusk, though.
The point-of-view vampire here is a narcoleptic tattoo artist living in DayBlack Georgia, where polluted skies keep it dark all day and his tattoo needle is modified to draw and collect blood. Drawn almost entirely in black, white and red, since vampires are colorblind. Beautiful and fun. My only complaint is that it is pretty short. There is a volume 2, though....
The point-of-view vampire here is a narcoleptic tattoo artist living in DayBlack Georgia, where polluted skies keep it dark all day and his tattoo needle is modified to draw and collect blood. Drawn almost entirely in black, white and red, since vampires are colorblind. Beautiful and fun. My only complaint is that it is pretty short. There is a volume 2, though....
October 5, 2016
Let me start by saying that I am typically not a fan of graphic novels. Let me also say that I was very intimidated by the subject matter of this book; a slave bit by a vampire who then turns into a vampire. My sole motivation for reading this book came from me winning the opportunity to have kaffeeklatsch with this author at NerdCon, so I wanted to have some idea of what he wrote/did. And, I loved it. It was a quick read, it held true to a "novel" telling of the story instead of character speech bubbles, and the story was interesting, original, and unexpected (since it deals with the main character trying to hide the fact that he is a vampire in modern day life). Highly recommend, and very happy my horizons were broadened. Will likely read more in the series!
July 7, 2015
Courtesy of Netgalley.
Despite the three star rating, I really liked this graphic novel. Cool art and cool characters. The missing two stars are more for the writing, which could have been much better paced. In 104 pages, not much happens, besides just a cool tattoo artist vampire hanging out and being cool. The backstory in the beginning started off promising and then just sort of fell off. Despite this, I did enjoy the story.
September 18, 2017
DayBlack: Forever changing how I view tattoo guns and Inkmaster
I am blown away by how absolutely off game I am. The Trade Paperback DayBlack has existed since August 2015. AUGUST 2015! The universal haitus I took after my children's birth looks more and more like I just died and rolled under a rock. Granted, I am a long way from Atlanta, where Artist Keef Cross does his work.. Excuses, assholes, you know the saying.
Get a copy via Amazon today.
Series: DayBlack
DayBlack vol 1 (Keef Cross)
104 pages
Rosarium Publishing
ISBN-10: 0990319121
ISBN-13: 978-0990319122
Merce is a vampire. He exists in DayBlack Georgia, a city where a past industrial meltdown has blotted out direct sunlight. Merce finds himself passing out at inconvenient moments, seemingly being impacted by the extended darkness around him. Is his Circadian Rhythm screwed up or is there something about how he feeds which interrupts his waking 'life'?
Because of the AIDS epidemic, deadly to vampires, Merce had to get creative about how and when he feeds. He spends his days tattooing strangers and harvesting their blood with a modified tattoo gun. Drinking from the vein is just too dangerous.
After Merce gets ambushed by some Luchador Vamp Hunters in a record store, he has to decide what the best course of action is. He needs to survive the Hunters and keep vampire competition out of his town.
The off key and original story twists really shine and help this work stand out. The art in this TPB is also stellar and unexpected. It carries a distinct artistic design and asthetic that Cross works into his non-comic art and the tattoos he machines into people's skin.
The only frustrating bit about this TPB is the slow releases. When I buy the next three issues, either it will be the end of the story arc, or I will have to wait a year for the seventh issue. DayBlack vol 1 is a phenomenal comic, spanning the first three issues of the series. Cross appears to be insanely busy as the second three issues were released across the following year with large gaps. The entire series is available on the Kindle store for a very reasonable price.
I admit, I spent entirely too many minutes staring at the side of Merce's coffin. It is plastered with stickers and band logos. I saw a few too many references to Green Day for my liking ;)
According to KeefCross.com, this has been made into a movie which I will have to search out.
---
Disclosure:
This Trade Paperback was provided for review purposes by the Publisher. While I sit here digesting the delicious semi-paleo pizza that was my beautiful wife Harry Potter magic'd together for dinner, I must contemplate the joy of lactose and wheat free pizza. I enjoyed it greatly and I would eat it again. Please trust I would advise vocally and with specks of food flying from my mouth if said pizza were disgusting. Same goes for books (specks of food complimentary).
I am blown away by how absolutely off game I am. The Trade Paperback DayBlack has existed since August 2015. AUGUST 2015! The universal haitus I took after my children's birth looks more and more like I just died and rolled under a rock. Granted, I am a long way from Atlanta, where Artist Keef Cross does his work.. Excuses, assholes, you know the saying.
Get a copy via Amazon today.
Series: DayBlack
DayBlack vol 1 (Keef Cross)
104 pages
Rosarium Publishing
ISBN-10: 0990319121
ISBN-13: 978-0990319122
Merce is a vampire. He exists in DayBlack Georgia, a city where a past industrial meltdown has blotted out direct sunlight. Merce finds himself passing out at inconvenient moments, seemingly being impacted by the extended darkness around him. Is his Circadian Rhythm screwed up or is there something about how he feeds which interrupts his waking 'life'?
Because of the AIDS epidemic, deadly to vampires, Merce had to get creative about how and when he feeds. He spends his days tattooing strangers and harvesting their blood with a modified tattoo gun. Drinking from the vein is just too dangerous.
After Merce gets ambushed by some Luchador Vamp Hunters in a record store, he has to decide what the best course of action is. He needs to survive the Hunters and keep vampire competition out of his town.
The off key and original story twists really shine and help this work stand out. The art in this TPB is also stellar and unexpected. It carries a distinct artistic design and asthetic that Cross works into his non-comic art and the tattoos he machines into people's skin.
The only frustrating bit about this TPB is the slow releases. When I buy the next three issues, either it will be the end of the story arc, or I will have to wait a year for the seventh issue. DayBlack vol 1 is a phenomenal comic, spanning the first three issues of the series. Cross appears to be insanely busy as the second three issues were released across the following year with large gaps. The entire series is available on the Kindle store for a very reasonable price.
I admit, I spent entirely too many minutes staring at the side of Merce's coffin. It is plastered with stickers and band logos. I saw a few too many references to Green Day for my liking ;)
According to KeefCross.com, this has been made into a movie which I will have to search out.
---
Disclosure:
This Trade Paperback was provided for review purposes by the Publisher. While I sit here digesting the delicious semi-paleo pizza that was my beautiful wife Harry Potter magic'd together for dinner, I must contemplate the joy of lactose and wheat free pizza. I enjoyed it greatly and I would eat it again. Please trust I would advise vocally and with specks of food flying from my mouth if said pizza were disgusting. Same goes for books (specks of food complimentary).
August 10, 2015
I will definitely be following this series.
I really liked the art in this graphic novel with it's clear lines mostly drawn in black and white.
The style of drawing is quite different to anything I have seen and the occasional use of colour emphasises how the main character experiences colour as a vampire.
And his story and life as a vampire is different to other vampire stories.
Merce, the vampire was turned when he was a slave working in the cotton fields, now all these years later he lives in a small town called DayBlack.
The town is called DayBlack because of dense pollution and so the sky remains black even during the day. A great place to live if you are a vampire.
And this vampire happens to be a tattoo artist and that is how he feeds and makes a living but something is wrong and he realises that he has to take steps to hide his problem and protect his business.
I liked this vampire story. The artwork is superb with clear lines in mostly black and white, and with excellent facial expressions. The book doesn't use speech bubbles but has the speech presented in paragraphs within the page. I prefer speech bubbles but it worked well having paragraphs.
I also liked the fact that the main character is black because you don't often see black vampires in books and I liked the way the novel depicts other ethnic minorities - quite different and in an everyday light as everyday people (apart from the hunters)
My only complaint is that I wanted volume 1 to be longer. I was disappointed when I came to the end
So in summary a great story, very imaginative and accompanied by excellent artwork and thus this is a good novel to own.
And just to make it even better, a film is coming
Book provided courtesy of NetGalley.
I really liked the art in this graphic novel with it's clear lines mostly drawn in black and white.
The style of drawing is quite different to anything I have seen and the occasional use of colour emphasises how the main character experiences colour as a vampire.
And his story and life as a vampire is different to other vampire stories.
Merce, the vampire was turned when he was a slave working in the cotton fields, now all these years later he lives in a small town called DayBlack.
The town is called DayBlack because of dense pollution and so the sky remains black even during the day. A great place to live if you are a vampire.
And this vampire happens to be a tattoo artist and that is how he feeds and makes a living but something is wrong and he realises that he has to take steps to hide his problem and protect his business.
I liked this vampire story. The artwork is superb with clear lines in mostly black and white, and with excellent facial expressions. The book doesn't use speech bubbles but has the speech presented in paragraphs within the page. I prefer speech bubbles but it worked well having paragraphs.
I also liked the fact that the main character is black because you don't often see black vampires in books and I liked the way the novel depicts other ethnic minorities - quite different and in an everyday light as everyday people (apart from the hunters)
My only complaint is that I wanted volume 1 to be longer. I was disappointed when I came to the end
So in summary a great story, very imaginative and accompanied by excellent artwork and thus this is a good novel to own.
And just to make it even better, a film is coming
Book provided courtesy of NetGalley.
July 22, 2021
I rarely come across books or media that I think is "sexy" in any real sense. I certainly think modern interpretations of sex are somehow both too raunchy and too sterile. They're so oversexed, they veer into a sort of unrealness that stuns the mind. There's usually one slender ideal of what a sexy body is, what is does, how it moves, how it satisfies, how it's restrained. Even bigger bodies are vulgar and smooth, like adult babies. Vampire stories are no exception to this unfortunately, most vampires I see are frankly kind of disgusting or bizarre.
But this graphic novel is sexy. It's actually sexy. Call me crazy but I think vampire losers are kind of sexy. The way the main character speaks in this has rhythm and charm, you can hear the cadence and the tenor of his melodic voice even when he's saying something only a real loser would say, someone I wouldn't want to date, much less fuck. The women in this are drawn with so much flesh and roundness, they spill out; they look so dangerous and mean and magical and sweet and they have real dialogue and real things to say.
I also really liked the premise of this, a tattoo artist vampire. It had the gleam of authenticity, hard to describe but easily recognized when you see it. So good!
This sometimes was sexist, I can't deny that because I liked the women in it.
I'm really disappointed that this was so hard for me to find and that it wasn't longer. It was sort of a vignette. I really want more people to read this! I really want more from this writer!
But this graphic novel is sexy. It's actually sexy. Call me crazy but I think vampire losers are kind of sexy. The way the main character speaks in this has rhythm and charm, you can hear the cadence and the tenor of his melodic voice even when he's saying something only a real loser would say, someone I wouldn't want to date, much less fuck. The women in this are drawn with so much flesh and roundness, they spill out; they look so dangerous and mean and magical and sweet and they have real dialogue and real things to say.
I also really liked the premise of this, a tattoo artist vampire. It had the gleam of authenticity, hard to describe but easily recognized when you see it. So good!
This sometimes was sexist, I can't deny that because I liked the women in it.
I'm really disappointed that this was so hard for me to find and that it wasn't longer. It was sort of a vignette. I really want more people to read this! I really want more from this writer!
June 27, 2015
This was a pretty fun, smart and interesting read. I was intrigued by the premise–a vampire who works as a tattoo artist in a town of perpetual darkness. Add to that narcolepsy, falling asleep while tattooing and strange dreams and i needed to read this graphic novel.
My favourite aspect were the details around vampire lore. It reminded me of I Am Legend; it played on the stereotypes while doing something new and interesting with them. It also brought the vampire myths firmly into the modern day by addressing how vampires could be affected by technology and disease. I found those kinds of thoughtful details really fascinating.
And of course, the artwork. It really struck me, because i don’t think i’ve come across this kind of style before. In a lot of ways it is quite simplistic; black and white line drawings with splashes of red and a few colourful collages. But within that simplicity is a lot of detail; crosshatching and lines for shadow and emphasis, negative space and excellent framing. The two kinds of frames that were the most striking to me were the less complex ones with one focus, and the scenes that shows Merce’s dreams, which were abstract and full with so much to take in.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: .
My favourite aspect were the details around vampire lore. It reminded me of I Am Legend; it played on the stereotypes while doing something new and interesting with them. It also brought the vampire myths firmly into the modern day by addressing how vampires could be affected by technology and disease. I found those kinds of thoughtful details really fascinating.
And of course, the artwork. It really struck me, because i don’t think i’ve come across this kind of style before. In a lot of ways it is quite simplistic; black and white line drawings with splashes of red and a few colourful collages. But within that simplicity is a lot of detail; crosshatching and lines for shadow and emphasis, negative space and excellent framing. The two kinds of frames that were the most striking to me were the less complex ones with one focus, and the scenes that shows Merce’s dreams, which were abstract and full with so much to take in.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: .
July 5, 2015
Dayblack by Keef Cross is a strange vampire comic book in which a former slave turned vampire tattoo artist is having vivid dreams amidst being visited by vampire hunters and going through his lifestyle as we witness how he survives and how he makes a living. It was something very different and the art is something unique and unlike anything I've personally seen before in the genre. I liked the story but it is one of those volumes in which it feels like it sets things up for a bigger second volume, so I will be looking forward to more happening next time. It is quite short on happenings with many pages not featuring much in terms of story and dialogue, but it is different, well written and interests me enough to keep my eyes peeled for the next collection.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
October 7, 2015
Merce is a tattoo artist and a vampire, and a few hundred years of perspective on the human race have given him a pretty good tolerance for other people's foibles. But his regular diet of work, an occasional human, and the delights of his drugged-up pharmacist get interrupted by the arrival of some vampire hunters. The most visually trippy graphic novel you'll ever see, and if Jimi Hendrix had ever been a vampire, he would have been Merce. Publishers' Weekly also gave this book a good review, saying: "gives the bloodsucker genre a much-needed bite in the neck with an ingenious setting and concept. The story has a vibrant pop, portraying the characters and action with immense originality". I'd agree. Sink your teeth into this one for a unique take on graphic novels and vampires.
August 11, 2017
A short investigation into the world of DayBlack, a town where the sun rarely shines and a vampire can live relatively undisturbed. An interesting update on vampire mythology with great graphic illustrations.
August 11, 2017
*Received an electronic copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
The cover of DayBlack is what got my attention. After reading the synopsis, I decided to give this a try. The plot was good but I felt like the plot jumps left me feeling a little lost and disconnected. I felt like I had to play a little bit of catch up to figure out what was going on in certain situations. Once I did the story was pretty interesting.
I liked the style of art used and the mostly black and white color scheme. This was good, I just think it could have been better.
The cover of DayBlack is what got my attention. After reading the synopsis, I decided to give this a try. The plot was good but I felt like the plot jumps left me feeling a little lost and disconnected. I felt like I had to play a little bit of catch up to figure out what was going on in certain situations. Once I did the story was pretty interesting.
I liked the style of art used and the mostly black and white color scheme. This was good, I just think it could have been better.
August 12, 2017
Wordless art takes us right into the narrative in DayBlack, which is always interesting to "read" in graphic novels. We get the backstory without a single verb. Once this has quickly been established, Keef Cross gives us amazing colorful pages where images pair with text to tell the rest of the story.
This is the story of Merce, a vampire in Georgia. Cross makes use darkness and light, as well as vibrant reds and yellows. There is both a violence and a sense of humor as we learn more about Merce.
Recommended for the reader looking for some raging artwork and a different take on the vampire genre.
This is the story of Merce, a vampire in Georgia. Cross makes use darkness and light, as well as vibrant reds and yellows. There is both a violence and a sense of humor as we learn more about Merce.
Recommended for the reader looking for some raging artwork and a different take on the vampire genre.
March 23, 2017
Oh woah this is right up my alley.
December 27, 2016
This was quite a stylish little graphic novel. Merce is a vampire, has been ever since the slave era. He lives in DayBlack, Georgia, a town where pollution is so bad that the sun never penetrates the thick black clouds that blanket its streets. This is great for a vampire. It means Merce can walk about the town freely, whenever he likes.
There's not a lot that happens, plot-wise. This book is more about character and mood. The expressive artwork reminds me in some ways of Mary Fleener's work. There's a certain amount of design - consciousness. Colors are strictly limited to black, white, and red (with the exception of a couple of instances of what look like collages made up of stickers for various bands and artists.) There are points where the story seems to be trying too hard to impress the reader with how Edgy and Streetwise it is, but overall it's not bad. There are occasional touches of humor, which I appreciated. My favorite moment was probably the bit where the characters are talking about vampire hunters being of Mexican descent. "As our cover, we take jobs most Americans won't do, being paid next to nothing. Most commonly we work as landscapers because our tools--machetes, chainsaws, and such--are readily available without question. If you get a call in the next few days about a complimentary lawn treatment, prepare yourself. "
This is a fun and interesting book, but pretty inconsequential. The artwork is lovely. I tend to be ambivalent about vampires, and this book doesn't really do anything particularly new and exciting with them. This may be the reason why I'm so meh! about it. It's not terrible or anything, just not the greatest thing ever either. Worth checking out if it sounds interesting to you.
There's not a lot that happens, plot-wise. This book is more about character and mood. The expressive artwork reminds me in some ways of Mary Fleener's work. There's a certain amount of design - consciousness. Colors are strictly limited to black, white, and red (with the exception of a couple of instances of what look like collages made up of stickers for various bands and artists.) There are points where the story seems to be trying too hard to impress the reader with how Edgy and Streetwise it is, but overall it's not bad. There are occasional touches of humor, which I appreciated. My favorite moment was probably the bit where the characters are talking about vampire hunters being of Mexican descent. "As our cover, we take jobs most Americans won't do, being paid next to nothing. Most commonly we work as landscapers because our tools--machetes, chainsaws, and such--are readily available without question. If you get a call in the next few days about a complimentary lawn treatment, prepare yourself. "
This is a fun and interesting book, but pretty inconsequential. The artwork is lovely. I tend to be ambivalent about vampires, and this book doesn't really do anything particularly new and exciting with them. This may be the reason why I'm so meh! about it. It's not terrible or anything, just not the greatest thing ever either. Worth checking out if it sounds interesting to you.
June 25, 2015
Again I must say that DayBlack isn't the worst comic out there and the premise is surely interesting. Merce is a former slave turned into a vampire, who now works as a tattoo artist. He has come up with a tattoo needle system that draws blood at the same time allowing him to get his dose without killing people in this small town called DayBlack, where sun doesn't shine. I surely liked the idea and the needle thing was quite innovative. The problem is that there's basically no plot and the whole thing is very messy and sporadic. Why is Merce seeing those dreams, falling asleep all the time, why are the slayers Mexican and wearing wrestling masks and why does the comic suddenly end like that? So many questions and no answers. Most of the texts were quite childish too and played with the most cliched vampire stereotypes.
The art is interesting, really. The usage of just black, white and red was very effective alongside with some color splashes like the CD covers. DayBlack is surely a very funky comic looks-wise and reminded me of Ornette Birks Makkonen comics. Some of the pages seemed out of portion though, as if the pages had been modified wrongly. In a way it felt like the art was the sole reason to make this worthwhile the read, since otherwise the comic was quite boring. Structure-wise this would've need a lot of work. The snarky way of the text felt so stupid and naive - this surely is a shame, since the base works. The characters are interesting, the idea is great and even the art functions - now it's a great loss that the plot and structure that binds them together is so weak that it makes this a meh meh experience at best.
The art is interesting, really. The usage of just black, white and red was very effective alongside with some color splashes like the CD covers. DayBlack is surely a very funky comic looks-wise and reminded me of Ornette Birks Makkonen comics. Some of the pages seemed out of portion though, as if the pages had been modified wrongly. In a way it felt like the art was the sole reason to make this worthwhile the read, since otherwise the comic was quite boring. Structure-wise this would've need a lot of work. The snarky way of the text felt so stupid and naive - this surely is a shame, since the base works. The characters are interesting, the idea is great and even the art functions - now it's a great loss that the plot and structure that binds them together is so weak that it makes this a meh meh experience at best.
May 19, 2016
I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! I LOVED this! As a huge fan of the Thirty Days of Night comics, I was really looking for other vampire comics that measured up. I was not disappointed by DayBlack.
Keef Cross has written a really unique take on the vampire story, with a modern elements in the pollution/climate change aspect. I was amazed by the artwork which evokes the Frank Millar Sin City style as well as some Picasso-esque styling.
I read is digitally and I will definitely be getting a physical copy when it comes out in Australia.
Wow! I LOVED this! As a huge fan of the Thirty Days of Night comics, I was really looking for other vampire comics that measured up. I was not disappointed by DayBlack.
Keef Cross has written a really unique take on the vampire story, with a modern elements in the pollution/climate change aspect. I was amazed by the artwork which evokes the Frank Millar Sin City style as well as some Picasso-esque styling.
I read is digitally and I will definitely be getting a physical copy when it comes out in Australia.
August 30, 2016
DayBlack is officially the best comic that I have read in 2016!! (so far!)
From the illustrations, to the plot, to the diversity, this Comic bares it all.
​The author, Keef Cross is a tattoo artist, and he doesn't shy away from displaying his creative tats with the readers. They are stunning !
I really loved the fact that the main character is a POC.
In short, an exquisite , weird, diverse, and intriguing read.
I highly recommend reading this book . It contains some mature content, so it is not for everyone.
January 25, 2015
Quick, poignant, slam-you-in-the-face, the magnitude of societal commentary crossfires with logic involving the fact that hey, vampires shouldn't be making me feel so firey passionate over my brethren homo-sapien-sapiens as I read through what turned out to be such a brilliant and beautifully drawn comic.
January 19, 2016
Probably one of the best Vampire stories I've heard in a long time! The characters all have their very own story!
August 15, 2017
3.5 stars
DayBlack is a unique graphic novel featuring a cotton slave turned vampire turned modern day narcoleptic tattoo artist. The main man of the hour, Merce, is a vampire that does tattoos and is the "foster parent" to a vampire hunter. When he isn't falling asleep on the job, sometimes quite literally, Merce sleeps in a coffin covered in skateboard and band promo stickers. Vans on the Wall, Mos Def, even a bright grapefruit sticker can be found plastered on the side. It's definitely not your every day story arc, but I think that's what makes it all the more interesting. It's dark and quirky.
Beyond the character driven, rather than plot driven, storyline this first issue also packs a strong visual punch. The bold artwork, similar in style to street tags, is incredibly striking. And many of the images are, in fact, several rolled into one which keeps the eyes roving as the reader tries to work out all of the distinctive details.
This first installment of DayBlack sets the scene for what could be quite an intriguing storyline. I look forward to seeing where the creator takes it!
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me this review opportunity.
DayBlack is a unique graphic novel featuring a cotton slave turned vampire turned modern day narcoleptic tattoo artist. The main man of the hour, Merce, is a vampire that does tattoos and is the "foster parent" to a vampire hunter. When he isn't falling asleep on the job, sometimes quite literally, Merce sleeps in a coffin covered in skateboard and band promo stickers. Vans on the Wall, Mos Def, even a bright grapefruit sticker can be found plastered on the side. It's definitely not your every day story arc, but I think that's what makes it all the more interesting. It's dark and quirky.
Beyond the character driven, rather than plot driven, storyline this first issue also packs a strong visual punch. The bold artwork, similar in style to street tags, is incredibly striking. And many of the images are, in fact, several rolled into one which keeps the eyes roving as the reader tries to work out all of the distinctive details.
This first installment of DayBlack sets the scene for what could be quite an intriguing storyline. I look forward to seeing where the creator takes it!
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me this review opportunity.
November 11, 2020
3.5/5, but rounded up for GR
DayBlack follows Merce, a former slave-turned-vampire who runs a tattoo parlor in a town where the sky is always black. This comic is 100% style over plot, but for something like this that focus absolutely works. The art is a blend of tattoo art, graffiti, collage and something that looks like it was carved into the side of an ancient temple. In other words, the art is absolutely gorgeous. In this first volume there isn't much of a story, but we follow Merce through his usual daily routine, how a vampire adapts to life in the modern day, strange dreams (memories?) and his awkward relationship with his son who happens to be a vampire hunter.
This is one of those comics where I'm just down for the ~vibe~ and was really feeling it. Would recommend if the art intrigues you and/or you really like vampires.
Trigger warnings/squicks: Vampirism (duh), blood, death
Representation: Main character is Black and author is Black. Author is also a tattoo artist, like the main character.
DayBlack follows Merce, a former slave-turned-vampire who runs a tattoo parlor in a town where the sky is always black. This comic is 100% style over plot, but for something like this that focus absolutely works. The art is a blend of tattoo art, graffiti, collage and something that looks like it was carved into the side of an ancient temple. In other words, the art is absolutely gorgeous. In this first volume there isn't much of a story, but we follow Merce through his usual daily routine, how a vampire adapts to life in the modern day, strange dreams (memories?) and his awkward relationship with his son who happens to be a vampire hunter.
This is one of those comics where I'm just down for the ~vibe~ and was really feeling it. Would recommend if the art intrigues you and/or you really like vampires.
Trigger warnings/squicks: Vampirism (duh), blood, death
Representation: Main character is Black and author is Black. Author is also a tattoo artist, like the main character.
October 2, 2017
It's hard to do something new with vampires, but Keef Cross manages to find some new ground with this graphic novel about Merce, a vampire tattoo artist with a problem with narcolepsy and a unique and original method of getting blood to drink without killing anyone - mostly.
This volume only collects the first three issues of the comic series, so the plot has barely begun before the book leaves you hanging. That's OK, since the book stands on its own as a character study of a very different kind of vampire, and Cross's approach to comic art and storytelling is original and refreshing in its own right, no matter his subject.
This volume only collects the first three issues of the comic series, so the plot has barely begun before the book leaves you hanging. That's OK, since the book stands on its own as a character study of a very different kind of vampire, and Cross's approach to comic art and storytelling is original and refreshing in its own right, no matter his subject.
October 19, 2021
First things first, I'm not normally a fan of black and white comics. Call me a purist, but growing up DC/Marvel has its effects. That said, it didn't matter. I was glued from the turn of the Very First Page!
I bought the book at the Multiverse Convention after being told about the premise of the work. How novel, a former slave becoming a vampire! Between that and the way this particular Night Child deals with his feeding, I had to take the plunge.... and I'm glad that I did. I'm even more glad that I bought both books at the convention. That one's going down next!
I bought the book at the Multiverse Convention after being told about the premise of the work. How novel, a former slave becoming a vampire! Between that and the way this particular Night Child deals with his feeding, I had to take the plunge.... and I'm glad that I did. I'm even more glad that I bought both books at the convention. That one's going down next!
August 2, 2017
Definitely a well thought out and executed style and concept by Keef Cross. While the story felt a little light at times with some limited character development or abrupt breaks, it was clear they had a strong concept for what they wanted to do with this series. I'll keep my eyes peel to see if it strengthens with each additional volume.
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