30 Days of Night - Beyond Barrow #1: Next in the 30 Days of Night series is this, ‘Beyond Barrow’, a story of, well, beyond Barrow. Written by Steve Niles with art by Bill Sienkiewicz the first issue of this series reads much like the first 10-15 minutes of a movie. From the monsters to the thrill seeking (wealthy) outsiders to the up-in-arms townspeople all three character groups mark their attendance here. However, seeing that the time-line of this series is set years after the first 30DoN series, the town of Barrow, and its people, is more than ready and able to deal with their ‘seasonal’ problem, within the town-limits anyway. As to what lies/happens beyond Barrow…well, for that stay tuned for future issues of Beyond Barrow. Lastly, both writing and art get (mild) thumbs up, but what the hell’s up with that lettering. I practically stuck my face into the pages, all just to get what was written on it.

Conclusion: Nothing much to grab the reader by the proverbial balls, especially not for a 30DoN story. Let’s hope issue #2 brings us more.

RATING: 3/5

30 Days of Night - Red Snow #2: While Beyond Barrows takes a leisurely stroll out the gates, its elder sibling Red Snow adds onto its kick-in-the-balls opening (too much ‘ball’ talk?) in a issue that has sworn enemies banding together against a common and much more sinister (than either of them) threat. Last issue had the vamps taking a walk through the Russian countryside, ending (the issue) just outside the town where the Russian and German forces were going head to head. Well, they are no longer at the outskirts. Heck, they are not just in-skirts either, but rather under it. Forced to work together against the attackers, the remaining human survivors escape into the underground tunnels, only to be followed, just in time for another blood fest to follow. Thankfully, not all of them die. Then again, this story isn’t over just yet.

Conclusion: Definitely the better read of the two ongoing 30DoN mini-series.

RATING: 4/5