True Blood #4
Created by Alan Ball
Written by Michael McMillian and Ann Nocenti
Art by Michael Gaydos
Colors by Marcelo Maiolo
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Cover by Tim Bradstreet
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 5, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

This past season of HBO’s True Blood was a rollicking good time in my opinion and even managed to say a thing or two about politics, albeit while scantily clad. Lucky for us Truebies, and hopefully for some new recruits, this comic series isn’t just the next best thing; it is entirely its own thing. Almost like visiting an old friend who is constantly redecorating, but they use half naked mystical creature types instead of knick knacks…who wouldn’t want to come over?

While Michael McMillian and Annie Nocenti could easily rest on those laurels and still keep tons of fans, they are also inventive storytellers and the conclusion to the very revealing story arc Where Were You keeps the literary blood flowing with Alcide’s Story. There are no shockers to hiss storyline but it is filled with all the loyal lovable, wolfie, shirtless goodness that one would come to expect from the latest leading man/Sookie devotee.

While we get to see more of Alcide being a nice guy, Debbie still alive, and Bill being sent to bed by Eric so he can fight for Sookie another day, the writers really stepped up the witty banter to be on par with the show in this issue. Pam is at her bitter best and a few f-bombs away from chocking Sookie for being such a highly regarded object of her Viking maker’s affections and a slightly tedious showdown between Remus and the Bon Temp gang is mercifully lightened by Sookie’s lack of rational fear or verbal restraint. The real revelation on this night of the “Great Revelation” however is there is a secret room in Fangtasia filled with what Alcide refers to as the Viking Antiques Roadshow. Without spoiling too much there is a glimpse inside a trove that spans millennia and it’s a place I hope the writers keep revisiting. I imagine most readers would like to rifle through Eric and Pam’s closet.

Michael Gaydo‘s artwork is as tight as ever and there were a few interesting montage images to look out for. The choices they make for the flying rock star villain Remus are pretty interesting too. I always find it amusing that in comicland even when there is a gaggle of the undead on always knows who the good and bad characters are. He reminds me of a very angry Glen Danzig circa 1998. While I can’t tell you how this story turns out I was glad it went to a rather sarcastic place while still setting up the tension for future issues for an ongoing feud between the Sanguinistas and the Mainstreamers. Then there are the humans to worry about, when many will only supernatural beings as soulless monsters. So in the midst of all the campiness there is a solid consistent message of tolerance. I am anxious to see where the next arc goes, and I just hope it involves Godric.