Deadbeats: New in Town!

Five fearsome newcomers arrive in Fear City, and their first outreach is to murder four teen-agers on the beach. They're the Deadbeats, a cruel and crafty vampire gang, and their mission could result in utter destruction of the entire town. Meet Dodger, Colleen, Mickey, and their so-called leader Southie, as they were presented for the first time. Discover why Deadbeats is the vampire saga with enough murder, sin, lust, and redemption to satisfy the most discerning reader. The early chapters of the vampires' invasion are presented in their integrity. Deadbeats is America's new favorite vampire epic, and this volume collects all the vital early issues of the story. /

This thrilling and terrifying collection features work from the first six issues of Claypool's much-hailed Deadbeats comics series, with stories and art by Richard (Portia Prinz) Howell and Ricardo (Strange Tales) Villagran. Deadbeats has been nominated by the British Comics Professionals Society as Best Dramatic Comics Series. And, as a bonus for fans, Kathryn Leigh Scott of the original Dark Shadows television program has written a foreword to this collection. /

Deadbeats has the allure of strong, continuing story momentum and lush, reality-based art. Any reader of Vampirella or viewer of Dark Shadows or Forever Knight will be happy to add Deadbeats to her list of "must-have" titles.

Richard Howell: / /

Richard Howell is the editor of Claypool Comics and Boffin Books. He is the writer-artist of Claypools Deadbeats, and has drawn Hawkman for DC Comics and The Vision and the Scarlet Witch for Marvel. He also wrote, drew and published his own Portia Prinz, a character whom he later revived in the pages of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. He lives in New Jersey. / / / Ricardo Villagran: / /

Born in the small northern city of Correntes, Argentina, in 1938, Ricardo was a natural artist. While still in school, Ricardo started accepting freelance work for various advertising companies, printers and comics publishers. His list of clients grew to include most of Argentinas big advertising agencies and printing houses. /

In 1969, Ricardo returned to the field of comics. He illustrated numerous covers and stories covering every subject from barbarians, romance, westerns to science fiction. /

In 1970, Ricardo was elected the Vice President of the Association de Dibujantes, and co-creator of Argentinas Association de Illustradores. The ever-increasing demand for Ricardo's work led him in 1974 to open his own studio, Nippur Quatro, with his two brothers Enrique and Carlos. At one time the studio grew to employ 20 artists and assistants, producing work for comic publishers in Argentina and Europe. /

In 1982, Ricardo came to the United States and established contacts in American comics. He started working from Argentina for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many others. /

Ricardo now splits his time between Philadelphia and Buenos Aries. He continues to accept illustration and comic assignments, but is now concentrating more on his first love, painting. REVIEW1: A group of vampires named the Deadbeats come to town and turn the mayors son into a one of them. This is a wonderful book that collects Howell's first six issues from the series. Howell manages to do things never done very well in comics; present Religious characters that aren't fundamentalist or exaggerated, and mix sex and vampires without creating a book that only teenage boys can enjoy. Mature readers will get hooked on this series by Howell's wonderful drama that uses soap opera snags to capture your interest without insulting your intelligence. Collects issues 1-6 of the series. REVIEW1_SOURCE: GraphicNovels.com REVIEW2: A vampire soap opera that offers up mystery and romance and some surprisingly nasty horror; the characters and the complex plot make this a worthy read. REVIEW2_SOURCE: Friends of Lulu