Bleed Them Dry: A Ninja Vampire Tale

Set in a future megalopolis in the year 3333, this clever, genre-blending fusion of Japanese and European mythology from Rahal (The Vain series), Koizumi, and Ruan (the Shang-Chi series) finds vampires and humans living in the city of Asylum in a long-established but uneasy peace. That’s until a serial killer targeting immortals threatens to bring the whole society down. Detective Harper Halloway doesn’t accept that her immortal partner, Atticus Black, has arrested the right suspect, dragging her into a war against Black and the entire police department. Harper’s now a hunted fugitive, searching for secrets and discovering that everything she knows about her world is wrong. Rahal’s script presents an effective balance of brisk, intense action and quiet personal conversations. It’s a lore-laden premise that relies upon a lot of the exposition being given in “as you know...”–style dialogue, but it’s done with such a light touch that it’s easily forgiven. Ruan’s art mixes in manga and Western influences, creating a weird and unearthly cityscape. The combination proves a solidly entertaining adventure, providing macabre thrills against its neon-splashed urban environment. (Mar.)