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30 Days of Night #6-7
30 Days of Night: Three Tales
Collecting three hard-to-find stories from the world of 30 Days of Night!
"Picking up the Pieces" features Return to Barrow hero John Ikos trying to learn more about vampires, which he does. The hard way.
"The Journal of John Ikos" sees Ikos searching Los Angeles for the infected Agent Norris and finding more than he bargained for.
Finally, in Dead Space, NASA is all set for another mission, following a self-imposed hiatus in the wake of terrible tragedy. But if they thought their last mission ended poorly, they're definitely not prepared to deal with a bloodthirsty vampire loose on the shuttle. And you know what they say about screams in space...
Collects the "30 Days of Night: Picking Up the Pieces," from IDW's Tales of Terror; "The Journal of John Ikos," from the 30 Days of Night 2005 Annual; and the complete three-issues series, 30 Days of Night: Dead Space.
"Picking up the Pieces" features Return to Barrow hero John Ikos trying to learn more about vampires, which he does. The hard way.
"The Journal of John Ikos" sees Ikos searching Los Angeles for the infected Agent Norris and finding more than he bargained for.
Finally, in Dead Space, NASA is all set for another mission, following a self-imposed hiatus in the wake of terrible tragedy. But if they thought their last mission ended poorly, they're definitely not prepared to deal with a bloodthirsty vampire loose on the shuttle. And you know what they say about screams in space...
Collects the "30 Days of Night: Picking Up the Pieces," from IDW's Tales of Terror; "The Journal of John Ikos," from the 30 Days of Night 2005 Annual; and the complete three-issues series, 30 Days of Night: Dead Space.
132 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2006
1 person is currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Steve Niles
836 books457 followersSTEVE NILES is one of the writers responsible for bringing horror comics back to prominence, and was recently named by Fangoria magazine as one of it's "13 rising talents who promise to keep us terrified for the next 25 years."
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 27, 2017
This was (to me) quite a bit better than the original 30 Days of Night because it wasn't just random vampires running around eating the faces off people. And as an added bonus, it wasn't drawn with highly stylized art that makes your eyes hurt.
You get to know this John dude a little bit, and you also get to see several different versions of the vampires. Some are evil, like those in the first book, and some who are a tad more decent.
No, these aren't in-depth character studies, but it had enough of a real story that I cared about what happened to them. Unlike the first volume.
So, John and his quest to take out the vampire he let get away in Barrow are the first stories.
The last half is basically a Vampires In Spaaaaaaaace story. And it's ok.
There were a lot of (I thought) plot holes, a weird conversation at the end with the President, and some FBI dude who got pissed that the Powers That Be wouldn't share the existence of vampires with the general public. But I'm guessing that it would have made more sense if I'd read more of these 30 Days of Night comics.
Overall, it made me rethink my Never-Again policy on this title. Not too shabby!
You get to know this John dude a little bit, and you also get to see several different versions of the vampires. Some are evil, like those in the first book, and some who are a tad more decent.
No, these aren't in-depth character studies, but it had enough of a real story that I cared about what happened to them. Unlike the first volume.
So, John and his quest to take out the vampire he let get away in Barrow are the first stories.
The last half is basically a Vampires In Spaaaaaaaace story. And it's ok.
There were a lot of (I thought) plot holes, a weird conversation at the end with the President, and some FBI dude who got pissed that the Powers That Be wouldn't share the existence of vampires with the general public. But I'm guessing that it would have made more sense if I'd read more of these 30 Days of Night comics.
Overall, it made me rethink my Never-Again policy on this title. Not too shabby!
December 28, 2017
Tale one inexplicably brings back to life a character who inexplicably became a vampire in 30 Days of Night Annual 2004. Tale two is actually 30 Days Of Night Annual 2005 and it also inexplicably brings another character back to life before then bringing back another character from 30 Days of Night, Vol. 4: Bloodsucker Tales and then killing that character off in what this reader hopes is a permanent fashion. Tale three puts vampires in space for no particular reason but still manages to be somewhat appealing thanks mostly to the water colors of Milx. The only question this reader is left with is why are so many vampires in this franchise bald? (Too many nods to Nosferatu?)
July 23, 2017
3.5 Stars overall
3.5 Splotches of bloody stars- "Picking up the Pieces" Barrow hero John Ikos trying to learn more about vampires, which he does. The hard way. (Book blurb). It was short and sweet, nothing too actiony; just good trash talking.
4.5 Blood-soaked Stars - "The Journal of John Ikos" sees Ikos searching Los Angeles for the infected Agent Norris and finding more than he bargained for. (Book blurb). This was good. Lots of bites, fighting, shooting, more biting, car chases and a few more bites and an impaling (which is always exciting)
3 Bloody stars - "Dead Space" It was okay, meh. Vamps in space.
3.5 Splotches of bloody stars- "Picking up the Pieces" Barrow hero John Ikos trying to learn more about vampires, which he does. The hard way. (Book blurb). It was short and sweet, nothing too actiony; just good trash talking.
4.5 Blood-soaked Stars - "The Journal of John Ikos" sees Ikos searching Los Angeles for the infected Agent Norris and finding more than he bargained for. (Book blurb). This was good. Lots of bites, fighting, shooting, more biting, car chases and a few more bites and an impaling (which is always exciting)
3 Bloody stars - "Dead Space" It was okay, meh. Vamps in space.
May 14, 2013
I gave this 4 stars purely for the Journal of John Ikos, John has certainly grown into the role of vampire hunter and gets some unlikely assistance from the undead who fight for the humans, both vampires have appeared in previous novels, Billy from the geniusly titled Dead Billy Dead and Dane from the second volume Dark days. Johns a killer and handles himself as such as he arrives in Los Angeles hunting the FBI agent turned vampire Norris who he bought back to life.
Both the artwork by Nat Jones and the story by Steve Niles are excellent and are up there with the best of the series. Dead Space was a waste of space and I didn't bother with the third novel.
Both the artwork by Nat Jones and the story by Steve Niles are excellent and are up there with the best of the series. Dead Space was a waste of space and I didn't bother with the third novel.
September 27, 2014
Vampire astronauts. I mean, really. Who would ever expect to see those two words together?
I really liked the first two stories in this book, especially the way the first one was drawn. I liked the third one OK, but vampire astronauts didn't grab me like the more personal stories of Ikos and his encounters with the undead.
I really liked the first two stories in this book, especially the way the first one was drawn. I liked the third one OK, but vampire astronauts didn't grab me like the more personal stories of Ikos and his encounters with the undead.
November 10, 2017
Best line: "Die you bloodsucking Freaks... No offense"
Killed me on the spot! :D
okay but seriously, serious improvement after that last failed batch of stories..!
Dead space felt a bit akward at first, but certainly ended with a bang ;)
Killed me on the spot! :D
okay but seriously, serious improvement after that last failed batch of stories..!
Dead space felt a bit akward at first, but certainly ended with a bang ;)
September 18, 2020
Vampire hunting and cooperation. Vampires in space is a great concept. It's very similar to being trapped in the Arctic.
July 25, 2012
Well, this was a collection of short stories as the title implies. The Journal of John Ikos brought... John Ikos, Dane, and Billy (from Dead, Billy, Dead) together to go against a group of extremist vampires. The story was good, and it's always a pleasure to see Dane. The way that Dane and Ikos interacted was very believable... and I am curious as to where Norris is now.
Picking Up the Pieces didn't hit me as strongly as The Journal of John Ikos, but it was still an okay story. I would like a bit more variety, rather than destroying Barrow Part Deux.
Dead Space... where do I begin? The story was fun, and rather clever. Vampires in Space is a fun enough concept, and Templesmith pulled off the artwork as only he can. The ending? Very interesting, in what it bodes for the rest of the series. I like the implications for sure.
All in all, this was a solid effort. I like the world of 30 Days of Night and I look forward to seeing where it will take us next.
Picking Up the Pieces didn't hit me as strongly as The Journal of John Ikos, but it was still an okay story. I would like a bit more variety, rather than destroying Barrow Part Deux.
Dead Space... where do I begin? The story was fun, and rather clever. Vampires in Space is a fun enough concept, and Templesmith pulled off the artwork as only he can. The ending? Very interesting, in what it bodes for the rest of the series. I like the implications for sure.
All in all, this was a solid effort. I like the world of 30 Days of Night and I look forward to seeing where it will take us next.
December 6, 2009
Couldn't even be bothered to read the last of the three tales. Bored :(
April 24, 2024
This one might be the least enjoyable 30 Days of Night read I've done yet.
The Ikos stories are super rushed. A character who seemed quite important was introduced, made friends with our main, and then was killed after a time skip just a couple of pages later. Norris returns from the dead, seemingly to serve as our central antagonist, and then never appears again. Dane, another major character from Dark Days and Return to Barrow is also mysteriously back from the dead without explanation. Then there's the issue of Ikos himself, who is just unlikeable in a cast of already unlikeable characters. He's like a memed out Ron Swanson minus the likability and with some toxic masculinity and veiled homophobia thrown in. Not a super appealing protagonist.
Vampires in space also seems like a fun premise, but the Dead Space story was also a let down. I was expecting something more akin to Alien, but it was so fast paced there was no suspense could build. And again, incredibly unlikeable characters.
The Ikos stories are super rushed. A character who seemed quite important was introduced, made friends with our main, and then was killed after a time skip just a couple of pages later. Norris returns from the dead, seemingly to serve as our central antagonist, and then never appears again. Dane, another major character from Dark Days and Return to Barrow is also mysteriously back from the dead without explanation. Then there's the issue of Ikos himself, who is just unlikeable in a cast of already unlikeable characters. He's like a memed out Ron Swanson minus the likability and with some toxic masculinity and veiled homophobia thrown in. Not a super appealing protagonist.
Vampires in space also seems like a fun premise, but the Dead Space story was also a let down. I was expecting something more akin to Alien, but it was so fast paced there was no suspense could build. And again, incredibly unlikeable characters.
February 3, 2025
The spine of my book says 5.
3 stories-
Picking up the pieces - takes place in Barrow-John Ikos makes a big mistake which makes the vampire FBI agent Norris able to escape.
The Journal of John Ikos- His trip to LA to rectify his mistake. He runs into a vampire gang that wants to kill all humans specially, him and teams up with vampire Billy and Dane, who we thought was dead. They eliminate the leader of the cult but no mention of FBI Norris - John goes back to Barrow.
Dead Space- Vampires in space and government cover-up that vampires exist.
3 stories-
Picking up the pieces - takes place in Barrow-John Ikos makes a big mistake which makes the vampire FBI agent Norris able to escape.
The Journal of John Ikos- His trip to LA to rectify his mistake. He runs into a vampire gang that wants to kill all humans specially, him and teams up with vampire Billy and Dane, who we thought was dead. They eliminate the leader of the cult but no mention of FBI Norris - John goes back to Barrow.
Dead Space- Vampires in space and government cover-up that vampires exist.
November 1, 2023
Un par de historias en las que Ikos deja Barrow y acaba siendo demasiado parecido a lo que hizo Stella Ollemaun. Y una historia de vampiros en el espacio. Interesante, pero al final tiene poca chicha.
February 5, 2024
Starts out with a strong tale with ties to previous stories that still stands on it's own. The collection starts to lose me with wide-spread vampire/government conspiracies. Solid art but again, storylines are starting to get stretched too far. Need more old-fashioned terror.
May 18, 2025
Odds and Ends from around the edges of the story. Only the bit from 'Tales of Terror' is rare, and that only because it isn't an explicitly 30 Days title.
April 26, 2012
I generally like the 30 Days of Night series, which is why I keep reading them even as the quality seems to drop the further it gets from the original. I supposed that's the way of most sequels, but it's sad to see it happen to this one. This book isn't too terribly bad. Mostly it feels more like I picked up a random vampire comic as opposed to something with an identity or strong characters. If you're interested in this series, I say stick to the first two. Maybe the third. But after that I thus far haven't found the others to be particularly inspiring.
My biggest complaint, though, comes from my English major side. Oh sure, I can suspend disbelief enough to imagine vampires in space -- but I was violently wrenched out of the narrative by the multiple spelling/grammar errors. There were many, but two of them in particular just irked me for how obvious they were:
"I came here to tell you you're all going to die. You're elitist ways are finished."
and
"Your concerns are valid, Agent Henson, but we need to know what happened. We'll include military personal among the fight crew."
Grrr. Maybe these errors wouldn't bother me so much if they didn't so clearly mirror the carelessness with which the story itself was likely handled.
My biggest complaint, though, comes from my English major side. Oh sure, I can suspend disbelief enough to imagine vampires in space -- but I was violently wrenched out of the narrative by the multiple spelling/grammar errors. There were many, but two of them in particular just irked me for how obvious they were:
"I came here to tell you you're all going to die. You're elitist ways are finished."
and
"Your concerns are valid, Agent Henson, but we need to know what happened. We'll include military personal among the fight crew."
Grrr. Maybe these errors wouldn't bother me so much if they didn't so clearly mirror the carelessness with which the story itself was likely handled.
September 20, 2011
This book is made up of three short stories all relating too , if not mentioning Barrow, where the original Vampire attack took place during the 30 Days of night they experience in that part of the world during winter.
The first story is about a man John Ikos who lives in solitude after Barrow and saves a man who turns out to be more than he expected.
The second story revolves around the same man John Ikos moving to the city to correct the mistake he made in the first part of the story, and ends up becoming deeper involved with vampires and finding out that they are not all the same evil creatures he believes them to be.
The third story is about a group of Astronauts going on a mission when something goes terribly wrong in the shuttle. When the second crew that is sent up to investigate goes silent for a while, the worst is suspected.
The first story is about a man John Ikos who lives in solitude after Barrow and saves a man who turns out to be more than he expected.
The second story revolves around the same man John Ikos moving to the city to correct the mistake he made in the first part of the story, and ends up becoming deeper involved with vampires and finding out that they are not all the same evil creatures he believes them to be.
The third story is about a group of Astronauts going on a mission when something goes terribly wrong in the shuttle. When the second crew that is sent up to investigate goes silent for a while, the worst is suspected.
February 26, 2015
Un cambio muy drastico en el arte pero muy agradable en un estilo de acuarelas muy bien llevado a cabo, en este volumen se nos narra la historia de una tripulacion de una mision espacial que dentro de los miembros llevan a un no muerto, la verdad que este me tubo mas estresado de lo normal, pues si con un ambiente "terrestre" se siente la tension, en el espacio no puedes correr a ningun lado y una ventaja de los no muertos es que no respiran D: definitivamente un must read si te gusta la serie de 30 dias de noche
February 22, 2016
This compilation includes a story that follows John Ikos and his attempt to finish off a vampire who got away from him in Barrow, taking him to Los Angeles and an unlikely team-up that pits factions of vampires against each other. The other story involves a vampire outbreak on a space shuttle mission. These "Three Tales" (which is technically more like 2) are decent both in terms of story and art. The John Ikos portion added some interesting ideas to the mythology, but the Dead Space story while a cool premise didn't seem to stick the landing. Overall a worthwhile read though.
February 10, 2012
Good exchange between a hunter and a vampire: "I eat what I kill," asserts the hunter. "So do I," the vampire replies.
The first story was good, but the vampires-in-space tale was cheesy.
The first story was good, but the vampires-in-space tale was cheesy.
March 16, 2012
I have to say the launch story won me over immediately.
October 31, 2016
While I still enjoyed reading stories from this world, these "Three Tales" weren't as strong or engaging as the previous material.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews