Baltimore aneb Statečný cínový vojáček a vampýr

Baltimore

by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Jana Odehnalová (Translator)

Na bitevním poli první světové války lord Henry Baltimore rozhněvá mocného vampýra a svět se rázem změní. Evropou se rychle začne šířit vysoce nakažlivý mor, který nezastaví ani smrt.

Baltimore, osamělý bojovník proti temnotě, se vrací z války domů a pozve své tři staré přátele do poloprázdného hostince. Jsou to zkušení muži, kteří mu v minulosti velmi pomohli. Zatímco na něj čekají, vyprávějí si hrůzostrašné historky a uvažují, jakou sehrají roli v nadcházející bitvě. Než noc skončí, dozvědí se, čeho je zapotřebí k zažehnání moru – jednou provždy…

Fantasy příběh s prvky gotického románu je symbolickým bojem dobra se zlem. Autoři Mike Mignola a Christopher Golden probudili vampýry, aby mohli v hrůzných kulisách zobrazit mrazivou alegorii podstaty a následků války.

Kniha obsahuje přes 140 černobílých ilustrací.

Ukázka z textu knihy, která byla použita na obálce:

„Proč povstávají mrtví lidé, aby mučili živé?“ zeptal se kapitán Henry Baltimore zlomyslného stvoření s křídly. Vampýr zavrtěl hlavou. „To jste byli vy, kdo nás přivolal. Vy všichni, s tou vaší válkou. Hřmot vašich děl rozechvěl naše klidné hroby… Vy zabijáci. Vy zběsilci…Teď už se nás nikdy nezbavíte, co bude člověk člověkem, my budeme jeho krvavý stín.“

O autorech:

MIKE MIGNOLA, oceňovaný autor, slavný zejména díky stvoření kultovního Hellboye, začínal jako výtvarník kolem roku 1980, kdy doslova kreslil „kousek čehokoli pro kohokoli“. Byl také filmovým architektem Disneyova studia u snímku Atlantida: Tajemná říše a vizuálním konzultantem pro Guillerma del Tora u druhého dílů série Blade a dvojice filmových adaptací Hellboye. Mignola žije v jižní Kalifornii s manželkou, dcerou a kočkou. Více informací na www.hellboy.com.


CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN je autorem mnoha bestsellerů, za které získal četná literární ocenění. Jedná se například o romány: The Myth Hunters, Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, Ferryman, Strangewood, Ztracená armáda a seriál thrillerů pro mládež Body of Evidence. Narodil se v Massachusetts, kde žije s rodinou dodnes. Jeho knihy vyšly v celkovém nákladu 8 milionů výtisků. Více informací na www.christophergolden.com.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comics, Vampires, Historical Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Mike Mignola was born September 16, 1960 in Berkeley, California and grew up in nearby Oakland. His fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age (he doesn't remember why) and reading Dracula at age 13 introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore from which he has never recovered.

In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.

In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.

Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.

Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.

Reviews

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up when I received an email from Barnes & Noble recommending that I pre-order it since I had purchased Hellboy books in the past. At first I had thought it a novel for which Mignola was providing illustrations, but returning to the email repeatedly in the following weeks, I found it featured 150 illustrations by Mignola, and promptly ordered it. Only when it arrived did I discover that it is in fact co-written by Golden and Mignola, with 150 illustrations of varying sizes (from 2" by 2" to full-page).

A plot summary can give you the general idea of it, and can be found on most sites. I mostly wanted to talk of my experience of reading the book. I know not what Golden contributed to the writing because he and Mignola's storytelling appears to have meshed seamlessly. Mignola's nigh-obsessive mental catalog of old folklore from around the world plays out much like it does in any issue of Hellboy you can find on the shelf of your local comic shop, but it is refreshing in this new form. It is a gothic epic to which one must draw inevitable ties to Bram Stoker's Dracula and strangely to Moby Dick as well. The rich imagery paints vivid scenes to play in your mind, which I found took one of two forms: the more obvious, being accompanied by Mignola's illustrations, is to mentally image everything as another of his comic books, but the text is also easily imagined as a film version, especially after Guillermo Del Toro's successful adaptation of Hellboy. Imagining the savage form of Lord Baltimore as envisioned by Del Toro was a small giddy moment for me while reading a particularly action-filled scene.

One must take into account my unbridled love for everything that Mignola creates, as well as my long-held interest in Gothic literature, when I say that, having only finished this mere moments ago, it is one of my favorite books of all time.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought H/B copy of this great book when came out but unlucky I lost it. Finally got new copy I read it in 2007 so now 13ys later it gets it's second read.
I finally got around to giving this it's 2nd read in June 2020 on lock down. I cannot remember anything about it but after reading it 13ys ago with an average of about 100+ books each year that's over 1300+ who remembers everything it's not like Moby Dick, or Perfume but it was interesting horror with unwell illustrations as well as a WWI vampire creepy gothic Dracula style story.
From the pens of Hellboy and Buffy the Vampire an odd crossing of writers Mignola who is like Allan Moore in his graphic novels or Gaiman books and Golden who did lot of really bloody good Buffy and early Angle books.
Odd thing is that this book is also about a plague that has hit the land.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire uses the story within a story narrative very successfully. Three of Lord Baltimore's close acquaintances, Doctor Rose, Demetrius Aischros, and Childress all meet at a pub, awaiting Baltimore. They each tell their story about how they came to meet Baltimore and when they became aware of the unnatural evil that exists in the world around them. Interspersed is the narrative about how Henry, Lord Baltimore, came to be the formidable vampire hunter who is nearly as frightening as the creatures he hunts.

As a huge fan of Victorian horror and ghost stories, I enjoyed the narrative device, which reminded me of MR James's ghost stories and William Hope Hodgson's Carnacki tales. Except this is a lot darker in content. Baltimore is a hero who lives in the dark, on the edge of despair, with everything he loved having been destroyed by the same vampires he hunts. He is definitely a tragic figure, seething with anger and rage. Yet, he's still sympathetic, which is a feeling underlined by the fact that three of the narrators are men who are still loyal to him, despite having seen him at his worst. For all his rough edges, he is definitely needed in this world in which the Red King continues to afflict his deadly plague on humanity, and his minions go from town to town, spreading destruction.

The stories that each of the men told were creepy and disturbing, a melange of weirdness and horror, with a vintage feel. They have an air of dark nightmares, in which you question the reality. However, you know that it happened, because that is why these men are meeting together. They are survivors of those nightmares, and in different ways beholden or loyal to Baltimore. Each character is distinctive, their narrative fitting their personality and worldview.

As the name indicates, the story pays homage to the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Baltimore saw himself as that soldier. A man who had a loving family and a loving wife when he left home to fight in the Great War, but lost everything. He is that soldier moved around a battlefield by an indifferent creator, who feels nothing for his suffering. Like the soldier, his beloved is forever denied to him, but still he fights. This allusion is achingly poignant and beautiful, a needed element in this story of unrelenting darkness and despair. That is not to say that good does not conquer, but the cost is extremely high for those who fight on the side of the light.

Baltimore, in the end, was a good book. Mignola illustrates it with his woodcut/engraving-styled, black and white drawings. They add somewhat to the narrative, but they are so stylized, it's not the same as a graphic novel, in which the illustrations help to tell the story. However, they bring to mind the woodcuts you might see in a Fairy Tale collection, such as Andrew Lang's fairy books. I could see that as a deliberate choice on Mignola's part. One of the other things I really appreciate about this collaboration is that you cannot tell which author is writing which part. It's a seamless finished product, demonstrating much appreciated creative harmony between Mignola and Golden.

Once again, I'm glad I was able to get this from my library, since these kinds of books are too pricy for my budget. It's definitely worth reading, especially for fans of the above authors and those who enjoy classic horror literature and fairy tales. Although it's dark reading, it was imaginative and involving. I'd recommend it.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Good lord," said Doctor Rose, the sardonic mask slipping a moment. "I'd no idea his family had met such an awful end. But what of the monk? Did you ever discover what became of him?"

Aischros nodded, not looking at them. "He died just as he had foreseen."

The mariner's eyes were unfocused. He felt as if he were looking through them, beyond the walls of the inn. The recollection of his time on Trevelyan Island lingered with him, and he knew that, having told the tale, it would be some time before he could distance himself from it again.

"I never knew how it all happened," Childress said. "Only that Henry's family had died, and Elowen had been murdered."

At his speaking of Lady Baltimore's name, Aischros flinched and looked up. A soft smile of remembrance touched his lips. Elowen had been a kind of epiphany to any who met her.

Doctor Rose opened his cigarette case and offered him one. Aischros shook his head and the doctor held out the case to Childress. The man hesitated before accepting. But when the doctor struck a match and went to light the cigarette, Childress flinched away from the flame. He frowned deeply, then reached out to take the match.

Mister Childress had no love of fire; that much was clear. He rubbed his palm across the burn scar on his neck and frowned.

"How well did you know them?" Aischros asked him.

Childress let his smile bloom. "All my life. Trevelayn was my home. My heart is filled with memories of a time when it was like paradise. But I was gone a very long time, and the last time I returned there, I saw what it had become. I try not to think about that. I want to remember it as it was in my youth... and Henry and Elowen that way as well."

"It seems you also have something to share with us," Doctor Rose said.

Childress nodded, his humor fading, the way Aischros supposed it must in this gray, dull place.

"I wonder," the man said. "Was this what Henry had in mind, having us all meet like this-that we, who each know only a part of him, would share these tales?"

Doctor Rose frowned and looked toward the door of the inn. Aischros and Childress did the same. It did not open. Of Baltimore, there was no sign.

The gloom had deepened. Evening would arrive soon. The serving girl had begun to light oil lamps and the innkeeper was trying to light a fire in the hearth. A heavy iron chandelier hung from the ceiling, boasting dozens of small light-bulbs, but no one even attempted to turn it on. Somehow Aischros felt sure that the electricity did not work at the inn. If he had to wager, he'd bet that it had simply ceased functioning at some point, and no one had bothered to have it fixed. Or perhaps it had never worked at all. Such a modern thing as electricity would have seemed out of place in this decrepit purgatory. The ghosts would not have allowed it.

"Is he dead, do you think?" Doctor Rose asked. "Did he send us those notes to gather us here so that we would eulogize him?"

Aischros grunted softly and shook his head. "He's been dead for years. Since that night. But he can't rest. Don't you see? He promised."

"You speak in metaphor, though," Doctor Rose replied, almost worriedly. "You don't mean he's truly dead?"

"What is that? Truly dead? His blood pumps; he breathes and walks and eats. Does that make a man alive?"

Neither Childress nor the doctor had an answer to that.

"Your story, Mister Childress?" Doctor Rose asked.

"In time," he replied, turning to focus on the mariner. "First, however, I feel certain there's another story that Demetrius must tell."

Aischros grimaced, the weight of dread still upon him. "What do you mean?"

"Come now, my friend," Childress said, lifting his glass of ale in a kind of toast. "You believed that monk's every word. It was plain in your face and your choice of words. You shared a bond with Henry that he obviously felt quite strongly. And you believed Doctor Rose's incredible account. He's told us of the experience that allowed him to accept Henry's story. What gave you such faith in impossible things?"

Aischros lowered his gaze a moment, then looked up. "I have tried to forget."

Childress took a sip of ale and grimaced. He set down the glass. "It's a day for remembering things best forgotten."

The mariner ran a hand over the stubble of his chin, his fingers tracing several of the myriad thin scars on his face.

"All right," he said, looking at Doctor Rose and then back at Childress. "Once. And then never again."

The mariner let go of the arms of his chair and sat forward, staring at them. "It could not have happened, but it did. I know that it did."


4 1/2 stars

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this today, I...well, I licked my chops.

*

Hmmmm. An interesting take on the ManBearPig legend, doctor.

Hmmmm. An interesting take on Sesame Street, sailor.

Hmmmm. An interesting take on whatever the fuck that was, soldier.

Hmmmm. Has it really been twelve years since From Dusk 'til Dawn was at a theater near you? Because it's still fresh in my mind and, ah, fresh in the mind of the authors: people held captive - fighting for their lives - in the lair of the vampires until, suddenly, the cavalry arrives.

I doff major hats to the authors though, for actually getting me to shudder: the sailor's tale. You can't beat puppets coming to life for true horror. And, well, when it's a town full of puppets...

But, in the end, the campaign of Lord Baltimore was less interesting than the stories each man told in turn.

Though, I must ask you now that we're seated here in the gloom and it is very, very late...I must ask you: how do you know Lord Baltimore, and why do you yourself believe that true evil stalks this world? I see it in your face: you've seen things. Share. Share.

((Anybody want to start a Waiting for Baltimore group?))

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

This gorgeous illustrated novel is one of the scarier things I have read. A framed collection of short stories, the tale is told by three strangers around the table of an inn. BALTIMORE is about war, plague, human weakness and vampires.

These vampires are original and disgusting. The translation that the horrors of the Great War awoke literal monsters is very effective. Both authors are veteran fantasy and horror writers. They create a slew of amazing monsters, each more terrifying than the last, sometimes simply by being benign in initial appearance.

If you’re not a fan of short stories, you may find the format a bit repetitive. Each man tells two stories: why he believes in magic and monsters, and how he met Baltimore. The frame around these stories is expanded at the end, when Baltimore actually shows up and takes the men hunting.

Mike Migonla's dark, silhouetted illustrations hint at the horror without showing it, which is perfect. You’re hearing stories of monsters without truly seeing them. The shadowy, imperfect images perfectly represent the faulty nature of memory and imagination.

A perfect blend of Gothic imagery and twisted history, BALTIMORE, OR, THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER AND THE VAMPIRE is a beautiful book to treat yourself or any horror, fantasy or graphic novel fans in your entourage.

[The Flooze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires. Forgotten gods. Cannons shook them in their resting places. Spilled blood awakened them. The ravages and chaos of war brought them forth.

But they were sleepwalking creatures, content to exist as scavengers feeding on the flesh and blood of the dead and the dying.

Until Baltimore.

Humanity itself is to blame for the ills that come to call, but Baltimore alone gave the malevolent force its purpose and drive.

And so for Lord Baltimore the true battle begins.
________

As much as this is Baltimore's tale, it's also the story of three men of disparate backgrounds, summoned to a grey and joyless city. The battlefield surgeon, the grizzled mariner, and the wealthy soldier trade stories as they await Baltimore's arrival. The group's insight into our hero is intriguing, but even more compelling are the abominations each man has witnessed. As Childress points out, the men are together not just to wait for their friend, but to discuss evil.

Their stories are chilling and grotesque--with the horrific qualities disturbingly (and perfectly) punctuated by Mignola's illustrations. Bearing a striking similarity to woodcuts, the drawings are heavy and dark against the stark white page, adding additional weight to the story.

Golden's descriptions are jaw-dropping: the blackness of the battlefield, illuminated only by the flash of firepower; the vampires--abominable creatures who are black of body and red of eye, their muzzles stained with the blood of the fallen; the grey pallor of the infected, and the flat, lifeless black of their sunken eyes; the Red King cloaked in crimson, with grey wraiths at his beckon call. Add to these the demons and monsters of Rose, Childress and Aischros' experiences, and you'll find yourself shivering and grimacing at the vivid imagery. These stories are the stuff of nightmares, and I enjoyed every nuance.

[Pinkerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Baltimore è qui un protagonista che se ne sta sullo sfondo, un eroe decadente e una figura particolarmente caxxuta come cacciatore di vampiri. Veri pilastri portanti della storia contenuta in questo libro sono tre suoi amici: Thomas Childress, il dottor Rose e il marinaio Aischros, in grado di credere ai resoconti riportati sul diario del protagonista in quanto venuti a loro volta in diretto contatto con il male. Vicende di cui veniamo resi partecipi in un’atmosfera spettrale, una locanda lercia e buia, in uno dei tanti luoghi fatiscenti devastati dal morbo rosso, l’epidemia che sta dilagando e devastando l’intero vecchio continente a tal punto da aver posto fine alla guerra stessa. Henry Baltimore è il nostro soldatino di stagno, la cui esperienza in guerra ha “ridestato” i vampiri e reso lui campione dell’umanità. Quella stessa umanità inconsapevole del fatto che il reale pericolo non sia una malattia ma le orrende creature. Il suo travagliato percorso l’ha condotto attraverso perdite e lutti che hanno profondamente cambiato l’uomo che era senza più speranza di poter tornare indietro, ormai completamente dedito al desiderio di vendetta e alla sconfitta del Re Cremisi, sovrano dei vampiri. Eventi drammatici e spargimenti di sangue narrati “attorno al fuoco” coinvolgono il lettore che ogni tanto può pure rifarsi gli occhi grazie alle ornamentali illustrazioni di Mignola.

Se vi è piaciuto il libro date un occhio anche alla serie a fumetti di Baltimore, portata avanti dalla stessa coppia di autori, potrete così continuare ad assistere alle suggestive avventure di questo novello Van Helsing - tale Lord Henry Baltimore (che sotto il pastrano tiene un vero e proprio arsenale). Però sappiate già che il libro è meglio.

[Bryan Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baltimore is a good work of horror. The plot concerns the titular vampire-hunter's career, as well as contextual stories from his colleagues.

It takes place during and right after World War I, although it's really an alternate history. The war is fought against Hessians, not Germans nor even Prussians. The war takes place in Gaul, never France, and involves Nordic forces. A plague sets in at the end, a la the Spanish Flu, but it's actually a mass vampiric attack on humanity.

I mentioned stories, and perhaps it's worth thinking of Baltimore as a collection of intertwined tales. The center of the book involves three people meeting in a deplorable inn, taking turns telling or reading stories, so it's not too far removed from the club tale genre a la Arthur C. Clarke's Tales from the White Hart or Spider Robinson's Callahan's series. The tone is different, though, as Baltimore is almost ceaselessly bleak and fierce, without any humor.

Mike Mignola has many black and white illustrations throughout. It's not a graphic novel, as most pages are mostly text. What Baltimore has instead are many small, nearly marginal inserts that illustrate details of events, or offer atmospheric cues. In addition, there are several very good full-page drawings for key scenes and characters.

One detail: the book is framed slightly by allusions to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier." This seems a bit superfluous and doesn't add much to the overall story, especially with its resonance of children's tales, which Baltimore is not.

Recommended for horror readers, as well as for Mike Mignola fans.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always wanted to be able to sit in a book-lined study sipping brandy, or in an out of the way tavern with a group of grizzled old men swapping stories of the supernatural that occurred earlier in our lives. I may be well on my way towards being old and grizzled, but the only scary stories I have involve high school and the single evening I spent bussing tables at a Ponderosa in Ellisville, MO. For now, I'll just have to be content reading books like Baltimore.

The highlight for me was the story involving something that lives at the bottom of a lake that was ten kinds of creepy stacked on ten other kinds of creepy. I was in creepy heaven.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really blew me away. It's a beautifully put together, heavily ilustrated volume, rigidly plotted in the Gothic-Victorian tradition of character introduction and flashback, with at least one of the major characters not introduced until near the end. It's heavily influenced by Hans Christian Anderson and Mary Shelley, but has a universality of theme that's perfectly timely. It's a terrific novel!

[Etain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin-wood puppets, god-bears, leather demons, plague victims and of course: Vampires. This book is structured sort of like a play with each character giving an account of Baltimore's life and then an account of their very own encounter with evil. It could in fact be adapted into a play without much trouble I believe.
I didn't have high hopes for the Baltimore comic Because I didn't like bones of giants and then when I really enjoyed that comic it made me have high hopes for this book which it exceeded so now I have even higher hopes for the remaining 5 volumes of the comic. I wonder how the events at the end of this book will effect him moving forward and I'm definitely excited to the 3 characters continue on.
Anyways if you like Mike Mignola's stuff buy this book immediately! It ranks among his best in my estimation.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very beautifully crafted book. I found out about this book through Wizard magazine and with Mike Mignola, from Hell Boy, writing with Christopher Golden I was intrigued to read this novel.

Baltimore blends the gritty reality, of what I presumed, is World War I horror with fantasy elements of a world beyond our world masterfully. You completely feel that the evils the characters talk about in this tale could of happened in this dark era of our history. Taking inspiration and themes from Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Baltimore is as much of an homage and re-imagining of the classic fable as much as it is an original and thought provoking fantasy tale.

I really enjoyed reading this book from the writing to the illustration from Mignola. I feel this book has yet to give me all of its secrets so it will be a joy to pick up an read again years from now.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun and unique story of vampire infection. Told from the point of 3 friends meeting up with a fourth friend who has drawn them together in an evil dark town for purpose unknown.
I've always liked Mike Mignola as an artist, and for his original ideas..(hellboy, his takes on batman so forth.)
So it's nice to have his twist on a vampire tale as well.
Christopher Golden, does a good job with the story, the tales are interesting and suspenseful.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a long time follower of both Golden and Mignola and seldom find any of their work less than exemplary, but Baltimore is a delicious fusion of the two talents. Lavishly illustrated and beautifully written.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh, Baltimore. Man it's hard, just to liv--

Wait. Wrong Baltimore.

I hadn't heard of this illustrated novel until a friend of mine picked up a copy at a thrift shop. I had him let me take a look at it and it was a very beautiful book.

It has some 150 illustrations (give or take) by Mike Mignola, of Hellboy fame. Although, in addition, I believe he also co-wrote the novel with Christopher Golden.

I promptly ordered myself a copy.
I read it in 3 days and enjoyed every page.

Baltimore has some heavy praise by big names such as Joe R. Lansdale, Michael Moorcock, and Joe Hill.

The style of writing reminded me a lot of H.P. Lovecraft and Poe, with no small portion of folktales.

Although it reminded me of HPL, the writing here is far more readable. Out with the archaic words that he is famous for including in his work.

While Baltimore is essentially a vampire novel, it doesn't read like any vampire novel I have ever read. I mentioned folktales above, and it is far less removed from them than it is the modern vampire novel.

Our titular hero, Henry Baltimore, is a motherfucking badass. He uses a harpoon as a walking stick and won't hesitate to stab you with it, should his array of other weaponry be spent.

Henry is missing his left leg and has a wooden peg in its place that he studs with a nail for each otherworldly fiend he slays. This is cool as all hell.

"Cool as all hell" is a pretty apt assessment of this novel.

My last review was extremely optimistic and it wasn't until an edit that I added any complaints. While reading Baltimore, I made a point to remember anything I didn't like or thought could have been done better.

I could come up with only three.

1. The dialog is winded at times. There are some occasions where we have someone telling a story about someone telling a story and while easy to follow, it can sometimes seem a bit unnatural.

2. Some of the illustrations, while wonderful, are slightly different versions of other illustrations in the book. Plenty of haggard old men's faces, gravestones, crucifixes, and Gothic Towns. I still enjoyed them all but felt it was worth noting.

3. There very few woman to speak of and the ones that are here aren't main characters. While I subscribe to Mark Lawrence's point of view when it comes to this topic (google it), I thought this would effect many peoples buying choice. This is a mans story, through and through.

To wrap up, I greatly enjoyed this book. I think it is a wonderful gothic adventure tale and would recommend it to people who like such things. I plan on reading all of the companion comic series, starting with The Plague Ships as soon as I post this review.

If you have read the book, let me know what you thought!

[Edit: Finished Baltimore Vol. 1 The Plague Ships and it was also wonderful. It works really well as a companion and it is awesome to see some returning characters illustrated. I plan on purchasing subsequent volumes.]

[Edit 2: Just finished Baltimore Volume 2: The Curse Bells and it somehow surpassed Vol. 1. Highly recommended for comic fans.]

[Edit 3: Finished Baltimore Vol. 3 A Stranger Passing and Other Tales. It was the best yet! Damn, this series is good. Eagerly awaiting the next Volume.]

[Tem Saysword · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding

[Yael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comic artist Mike Mignola(Hellboy) and novelist Christopher Golden (The Myth Hunters) have created a unique work of gothic storytelling. Baltimore is a lyrical atmospheric novel of the supernatural -- and an appalling allegory of the nature of war. Ares is a bloodthirsty God, a divine vampire Who drinks the blood of nations, and Baltimore's richly illustrated, unsparing portrait of that God makes the case that war is indeed Hell better than all the polemics on that point have ever done.

When Lord Henry Baltimore provokes the wrath of a vampire on the unspeakable killing grounds of World War I, he thereby changes the world forever. In this alternate-universe novel that is in fact a mirror of what modern industrial warfare does to the soul of humanity and the world, the outraged vampire sets off a viulent global pestilence that not even death can bring to a halt. For the dead rise again, savaging the living, trying in vain to slake their unquenchable thirst for blood in an orgy of murder that never ends.

Henry, Lord Baltimore, a lone soldier in an endless war on the darkness deep in the soul of humanity, summons three old friends to a lonely inn. The fantastic trials and travels these three men have undergone have made them unquestioning believers in the evil that is devouring the soul of humankind, and he hopes to recruit them to his war on the Red King, the author of the plague now devouring the world.

As these three men await their friend, they share their tales of terror and disaster, and think on what their roles in Baltimore's war on evil might be. Before the night is out, they will learn what must be done to banish the Red Death -- and the Red King, the thing who calls Baltimore his nemesis -- once and for all.

This is another page-turner, one of those books you can't bear to put down until you've read the last page. Unlike some other page-turners, this book is beautifully written and proofread, freeing the poor reader from stumbling from one terrible grammatical construction, misspelling, and/or lousy turn of phrase after another to keep up with the story. The black-and-white block-print illustrations, by Mike Mignola, heighten the story's powerful atmospheric effects, very effectively shedding "dark into light corners" and making the world seem even more richly spooky than the story by itself would have done. The quotes from Hans Christian Andersen's tale, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," that preface each section of the book lend it a pathos that transforms it from a mere horror-story to true tragedy unsparingly illuminating some of the darkest corners of the human soul -- corners found in every human heart, not just those who are unashamed of their own evil.

[Karly Noelle Abreu White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil never dies- it just changes form.

Sometimes it's war. Sometimes it's a single, sinful act. And sometimes it's the king of the vampires. No one is immune to the inexorable pull of evil, but everyone is called to fight it. Using multiple framing devices, the story roughly unfolds as the tale of Baltimore, a British lord turned WWI soldier turned last salvation for humanity against the Red King, a hellish vampire lord he met in the field of battle, who is spreading plague and vampire spawn in his wake across Europe. Baltimore summons three of his only friends together, the sea captain, Demetrius, the former army surgeon, Dr. Rose, and his childhood compatriot, Thomas Childress. Waiting for him to arrive in a dying, plague wracked town, the three unlikely companions bond over tales of Baltimore and their own horrifying encounters with evil- and what they think has led them together.

Baltimore is an interesting send-up to Gothic horror in the iconic Mignola style that fans of the Hellboy series (the comics, not the films, which have a wildly different tone) will be familiar with. The story does not unfold linearly, and often bounds off on long, but intriguing tangents, with plenty of allusion to literature, religion, folklore and world history. There's little character development, and even less world building, but, as usual for Mignola, it abounds in utterly spellbinding imagery and fast-paced, heart-stopping storytelling. It's a gripping and truly frightening story that somehow, despite its old-world vision, manages to be as timely as ever. While the allegory for war and man's dark nature runs close to the surface, it never manages to feel hamfisted or forced. Golden and Midnola manage a feat in being both lingering and provocative while at the same time reading like pure escapism. Bram Stoker would have been delighted.

The book is buoyed admirably by Mignola's moody illustrations, which serve more to set the tone than to tell the story. There is little hand holding here. While it would have been nice to have greater explanation for the world and events that transpire, the unclear nature of the story makes it unfold like the best sort of ghost tale. It makes you long for a dark and stormy night.

[Giovanni Faga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike Mignola e' l'autore di Hellboy, e tutti coloro che amano il fumetto dovrebbero leggere almeno le prime tre storie di Hellboy. Punto. Il libro e' stato scritto con Chritopher Golden, che non so chi sia ma non e' che mi sia venuta una voglia irrefrenabile di saperlo. Ora, si potrebbe dire che il libro e' dedicato agli amanti della narrativa horror, perche' e' costruito con seguendo tutti gli stilemi del genere. E' il suo maggior difetto? Probabilemente si.
Lo stratagemma narrativo e' quello di riunire tre personaggi in una locanda, situata nel cuore di una citta' funestata dalla pestilenza e dalla miseria, e di usare le loro voci per raccontare storie.

NOTA: Ho volutamente scritto "funestata" perche' l'uso di un linguaggio ricco di aggettivi volti a creare atmosfere cupe e spaventose (ecco, ho usato anche cupo e spaventoso...) e' un altro tratto distintivo del libro. Quindi i vampiri - sto improvvisando - sono creature emerse dalle piu' oscure tenebre, malvagi emissari di uno spaventoso passato la cui potenza si manifesta in macabri sacrifici di sangue. E via cosi'.

I racconti sono belli, ed emerge la capacita' dei due autori di raccontare storie dentro le storie, nella migliore tradizione "gaimaniana". Di fatto, i singoli racconti sono probabilmente piu' avvincenti della trama principale, che tuttavia riserva un buon finale. Non c'e' twist, grazie a dio, e finisce come dovrebbe finire un normale libro. Senza immensi colpi di scena.

Non c'e bisogno di addentrarsi nella trama, ci sono creature di tutti i tipi e per tutti i gusti. In conclusione direi che e' una lettura consigliata a chi ama Mignola o a chi vuole scoprire l'immaginario dell'autore, e in generale a chi vuole un libro da leggere in inverno, magari vicino al camino, con un buon bicchiere di "qualcosa" che vi piace. Non e' lungo e scorre via veloce.

NOTA: Ho letto recentemente che i due ne hanno scritto un altro.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold autumn night, under a black sky leached of starlight and absent the moon, Captain Henry Baltimore clutches his rifle and stares across the dark abyss of the battlefield, and knows in his heart that these are the torture fields of Hell, and damnation awaits mere steps ahead.

That is the opening paragraph in Baltimore, and if it doesn't make you want to immediately go out and buy the book and read it all in one sitting, then there's probably no hope for you.

There really isn't anything that I can say that can accurately reflect how this book made me feel. It was disjointed in all the right ways, using the device of strangers meeting in an inn and doing it better than any other novel I have ever read. The only thing that comes even remotely close is a similar arc in the Sandman comic series, by Neil Gaiman.

I can't say anything else without risking giving away bits of the plot, which is the last thing that I want to do. It has to be read. So get to it.

[Chris - Quarter Press Editor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was all sorts of good stuff. And it was, honestly, not what I was expecting. When I saw Mignola's name attached, I simply figured it was a graphic novel and was a bit surprised to see all those words staring back at me. Of course, that didn't deter me from reading this thing, and I'm glad I didn't.

What amounts to be a throwback to horror stories of old--Frankenstein, Dracula, etc.--is a wonderfully written, amazingly toned, and gorgeously illustrated novel. While I kind of wanted more of a traditional storyline--starting with a character and following through with them until the end--I grew to enjoy the stories-within-the-story arc, as it was just another throwback to those classic horrors of old.

Fans of Mignola should still feel at home here, as I could easily see his storytelling sensibilities shining through. And it has made me a fan of Golden, too. I'm going to have to track his work down, as--I assume--he was the actual writer of the tale, even if they worked together on the story. He has some solid prose, and I look forward to seeing more of it.

[Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like vampires but thanks to a few species of vampires that glitters under the sun, I had to suppress my desires to look for or read good vampire stories.

Baltimore was a relieve. It has vampires, gentlemen relating tales of supernatural encounters, a Bram Stoker like journal write up and a show down between the forces of good and evil. It has cool black and white illustrations which greatly helps in visualizing the characters as well as the story.

I would have given 5 stars for the fact that it doesn't have vampires that wander around all glittery under the sun but the Bram Stoker journal like part was a bit too detailed for a person to recollect after an event. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining journey with Mr. Baltimore and friends.

[BeParticular · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book from beginning to end. It's dark, bleak beauty was a perfect match for the cold, gray, rainy weather we've had here lately. Every scene, every character, is richly drawn. Mignola's illustrations serve to enhance the incredible text. Even though the subject matter is terribly depressing--war, plague, and seemingly endless death and destruction--the book is not. The stalwart and honorable main characters leave you with a sense of hope that good will triumph over evil. I also liked how Hans Christian Andersen's story of The Steadfast Tin Soldier was woven throughout. Highly recommended!

[Trevor Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been giddy (yes, GIDDY) about getting my hands on Baltimore. I have to say, I'm still basking in the afterglow of spending the weekend with this book and all it's rich, subtly dark glory. Mike Mignola (Hellboy, B.P.R.D.) and Christopher Golden (Body of Evidence/Jenna Blake CSI-type thrillers) have collaborated on one of the most finely crafted vampire tales I've read in years. The pair have opted to present a tale that is a refined, pickled-in-folklore yarn detailing ancient, sinister abhorrations birthed from old gods abandoned long ago by modern humanity.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without giving too much away, this book has a pattern to the narrative. I'm a sucker for complex narratives with patterns. So right away, that's a plus. But when you add the actual content, and the storytelling, I have to say it's awesome. The action scenes got a little overdrawn, but they weren't clumsy like a lot of action scenes I've read in lesser books. Mignola's art really adds to the feel of the story.

Even if you think vampires are overrated, like I do, this book is really about folktales, demons, courage, and sacrifice.

[Orrin Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Why do dead men rise up to torment the living?"

This is just a placeholder. Hopefully someday I'll come back and do a better review for this. It's a pretty amazing novel, and while it's not perfect, it's an original take on high Gothic-style adventure, and it's also composed of a bunch of interconnected smaller stories, and it showcases Mignola mythbuilding as only he can. It's great stuff, and I love it, and loved it maybe more this time through than the others (this makes three).

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great tale of atmospheric horror born on the bloody battlefields of WW1. Great characters, I believed in, having read other books describing the trench warfare of WW1. The plot was well paced with Lord Baltimore guiding his three friends to a meeting that would lead them in a battle with the insidious form of vampires feeding off the remains of soldiers lying wasted on the fields of death. Well written and illustrated. I enjoy illustrated books, which should be brought back today. Highly recommended.

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic little horror book. Golden and Mignola do a great job of fleshing out their world, making it one where horror is always just out of sight. Mignola's illustrations are fantastic, and their layout does a great job of making the book feel almost cinematic at points. Definitely recommended.

[Blake Kandzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a Mignola fan since he was drawing Alpha Flight in the late 80's. Since then I've read almost everything he's wrote or illustrated for Hellboy. Baltimore was an amazing book about Vampires that I think any fan of the genre would appreciate.