The Strain #2
Story by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Script by David Lapham
Art by Mike Huddleston
Colors by Dan Jackson
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Mike Huddleston
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

“They have always been here. Vampires. In secret and in darkness. Waiting.”

The Strain #2 keeps the story rolling and manages to hold your attention for the duration of the read. While it does seem to drop a lot of the depth the book had, it doesn’t sacrifice any of the major parts.

The story picks up right after the last issue with the three survivors in the hospital receiving treatment while the authorities are baffled by the seemingly unknown cause of death of the rest of the flight.

Local and federal agencies, including the CDC, try desperately to determine what exactly has happened to the bodies after some very mysterious things are discovered. And later, after the survivors are released, more strange occurrences begin. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but it’s really kind of cool to see it rendered into comic form.

Towards the end of this particular issue, two of the main protagonists meet. We aren’t given any other info, but we see the beginning of one of the major plot lines. One that I am sure we will see more of in the next issue. The reader is also introduced to someone that had a major hand in plotting this entire incident. I was quite surprised by the way the character is presented, it’s way creepier than I imagined.

Again, I must say I am very happy with the adaptation that David Lapham has presented us. His precise writing conveys the story very matter-of-factly and enables the reader to stay abreast of this very fast moving comic. Additionally, Mike Huddleston does a splendid job of bringing the characters to life and conveying just the right amount of gore when needed. The whole team brings a very Lovecraftian feel to the series and I mean that in the very best way.

I have no problem recommending this to anyone that likes a bit of horror or suspense in their comics. I find myself eagerly anticipating the next issue even if I already know how the story goes. Which is the sign of an excellent story, in my opinion. You still have time to pick the first issue up and catch this one to stay current, but don’t wait too long or your local comic shop may not be able to help you procure copies. And hey, it’s not just cheaper than a foot long sandwich from Subway, it also has fewer calories!