Silent Dance »

The prey: Adrian, an ancient vampire who feeds on dreams. The hunter: Hector, last member of the Mydlar family, a desperate man who needs blood to keep hunting his prey. Their past leaves them no other choice but to dance a silent dance that is now nearing its final round. As supernatural nightmares and human horrors unravel in their lives, the two eternal enemies will be caught in their deadly dance with no chance to escape.

MatthewWeaver - VOYA

It is testament to Casali and the art of Lobaccaro and DeAngelis that this graphic novel can hold its own in today's vampire-saturated entertainment. Part of that is because of the story, as Hector continues his familial tradition of hunting Adrian, a vampire who has stalked the earth for eons. In a nifty twist, Adrian comes across as tortured and sympathetic, whereas Hector is on the verge of shattering his moral code to bring Adrian down. Fluid black-and-white drawings straddle the line between daylight and shadow, lending a cinematic essence to the goings-on. The plot really cooks with the addition of a nefarious third party, the mysterious Lord Tiger, who shares a past with Adrian and pits the archenemies against each other anew. But the story revolves around Adrian and Hector's conflict, which helps and hurts at the same time. The stakes are high-Lord Tiger sinks his claws into Hector's ex-wife-but there is always a gnawing sense that they could be even higher. Readers should see the history between Adrian and Hector's family. A subplot with Adrian's jealous gay lover feels tacked on when it should fold right in with the rest of the action. And more intriguing supporting characters threaten to outshine Casali's titans before they ever get around to clashing, weakening the final conflict. It is originals like the Tiger, and neither the man nor the vampire, who will ultimately stick in readers' imaginations. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P S A/YA G (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults; Graphic Novel Format). 2005, SLG Publishing, 208p., Trade pb. Ages 15 to Adult.