Immortal Kiss #2

Creators: Dion Floyd and Shawn Hilton, writers; Abdul Rashid, artist

Graphic Illusions Studios, 24 pages, color, $2.99

So? This is a story about vampires, complete with cops investigating murders and rival groups of bloodsuckers seeking to achieve power over their worlds in much the same way mob bosses do (at least the way they do in movies). This is a dense book, which normally makes it packed full of enjoyable tidbits, but in this case proved to be a exercise in confusion. (For those of us who grew up on complex superhero tales, I now know a new reader who picks up a random issue of X-Men must feel like.) Complex stories can work in a serial format if you have some way of recapping or explaining the basics to new readers, but this lacks both and even a trip to the company’s web site shows only basic character bios (all trademarked, of course). The result is a collection of scenes that appears to have been cobbled together from dozens of other comics/movies/TV shows but adds up to little more than a cool-looking if unclear concept in search of a character, plot or story – most likely in another, more profitable medium. Grade: C-