Dracula: Son of the Dragon

“Much of what we know of Dracula is a lie,” suggests this satisfying comics history of the real-life Vlad the Impaler from Sable (the Miskatonic series) and Sam (Dream Life), which mixes in fantastical elements with the known events of the historical figure. Vlad and his younger brother Radu were born into their father’s ruthless political power struggle for control of Europe’s Wallachia and Transylvania (both now Romania). Banished to Bucharest’s Scholomance (a fabled devil’s academy, a kind of Hogwarts from Hell), Vlad learns of dark magic and a cult that drinks blood to revive their energies. Setting his sights on his late father’s unfinished goals—total authority over the region—he rides out in battle to seize his birthright. Sable scripts an intricate narrative with ample characters and double-crossing, and it buzzes along vigorously. Sam’s art lays out the scenes and figures in a gothic, almost woodcut style, with vibrant action punctuating quieter moments. Extensive endnotes that examine the connections between the real life Vlad Tepes and the character in Stoker’s novel offer a bonus for the vampire lit buffs. It’s a vivacious adventure tale of the greatest monster of fiction—and history. (Oct.)