'American Vampire' settles into '60s terror

Vampires have made their way through 1930s Hollywood, 1940s wartime and 1950s hot-rod culture, so of course the 1960s story line of American Vampire: Second Cycle sends fanged contingents to both Area 51 and outer space.

Issue No. 7, out Wednesday, continues writer Scott Snyder and artist Rafael Albuquerque's epic Vertigo Comics series and splits up its main characters circa 1965.

After coming into contact with the villainous Gray Trader, Pearl Jones pairs with Felicia Book, leader of the Vassals of the Morning Star, to travel to Area 51, the USA's home of strangeness, in order to retrieve a powerful weapon. And Skinner Sweet heads off with Calvin Poole to make their way to the final frontier — in their case, finding a path into orbit and onto Sputnik. (There's already been one instance of crazed monkeys from space.)

The current story arc mixes over-the-top action with "a deeply personal story about the wonder and terror inherent in moments of great change," Snyder says. "The civil rights movement is charging ahead, the space program is exceeding all expectations, and yet it's also a moment of complete terror: There's violent resistance to change at home. And the Cold War was at a point where the threat of mutual nuclear destruction hangs in the air all the time."

The new issue touches on all of those elements, the writer adds. Plus, "It's got everything from Tiki pool parties to demons to spy satellites. For us, it typifies that blend of history, drama and horror that makes the series such a joy to work on."