The Vamp (Sandman Mystery Theater, Book 3) [Paperback]

Matt Wagner (Author), Steven T. Seagle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: THE VAMP continues the story of Wesley Dodds, the Sandman, and his soon-to-be paramour, Dian Belmont, as they become entangled in the mystery of THE VAMP. When a group of young Ivy League graduates begin dying in a series of bizarre, blood-draining attacks, Dian notices a connection between the men and a group of her old Vassar classmatesone bewitching brunette in particular, whose inclinations lean towards the scandalous. But what could this bob-haired vamp have to do with such vicious murders? And more important to Dian, what does she want with Wesley Dodds?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 12 Up–This third volume in the series has a film-noir feel, with hard-boiled detectives, 1930s-style parties, and a vigilante hero who wears a trench coat, a fedora, and a gas mask. Behind The Sandman's mask is mild-mannered Wesley Dodds. The Vamp is a woman who lures men to her bed and then kills them. This is an adult story with mature themes. The explicit artwork is vital to the story but not always appropriate for most YA collections. There are a few racial slurs (in keeping with time period).–Melissa T. Jenvey, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The hero of Sandman Mystery Theatre shares little more than a moniker with Neil Gaiman's Sandman, star of one of the most successful graphic novel series ever, but those who prefer the down and dirty to the airy and fantastic may also prefer SMT, which features the comics' original Sandman, millionaire Wesley Dodds, who, clad in trench coat and gas mask and armed with sleep-inducing gas, fought criminals in the 1940s. Wagner backtracks Dodds to pre-World War II New York City and models Dodds' adventures less on superhero comics than on 1930s pulp magazines. He and cowriter Steven T. Seagle create twisted crime stories--the arc this volume collects involves a series of grisly murders--that Guy Davis illustrates by expertly evoking the period looks of the pulps. SMT story lines are far franker than their 1930s inspirations. This one depicts, besides the killings, a circle of lesbian lovers, and the dialogue is R-rated. Although it hasn't matched the popularity of Gaiman's creation, SMT is one of the most successful revivals of a vintage costumed crime fighter. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401207189
• ISBN-13: 978-1401207182
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.3 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,260,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Raymond Chandler wrote comics...., July 17, 2000

By 

"gordondym" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tarantula (Sandman Mystery Theater, Book 1) (Comic)

I think he would have come up with this character. The Sandman was always, amongst the Golden Age heroes, something of an anamoly - when others dressed in brightly colored spandex, the Sandman wore a gas mask, business suit, fedora, & cape. Matt Wagner & Guy Davis come up with one of the most unique "re-inventions" of the character, creating a horrific image straight out of WWI (with an appropriate gas mask) and putting a unique hero amongst a word where corruption and prestige walk hand in hand. This arc - which may or may not be a "rewriting" of a Golden Age classic (the Tarantula was, believe it or not, the Sandman's first foe) also has the trademarks of classic pulp fiction, including the seedy goings-on of a prominent family, a kidnapping, several murders....

OK, this proves that comics aren't just for adults, and personally, I wish they would release more graphic novels (including the "Man of the Hour" arc, which had a unique take on Hourman). However, let this be your introduction into a unique series that, although never was a million seller, had a charm all its own.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent set up to an excellent series, November 28, 2005

By 

Shaun M. Corley (Radford, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tarantula (Sandman Mystery Theater, Book 1) (Comic)

I confess: I only collected this book off and on during it's run, more off than on unfortunately, and now, after reading this trade and another, sorely regret my decision. This was one of the inaugral offering from DC's Vertigo imprint, and some probably felt that it was made to ride on the coat tails of the mega-popular Sandman book, but Sandman Mystery Theater stands on its own, mainly because it (for the most part) skews the fantasy elements of Gaiman's series, and instead opts for a noir, hard-boiled feel. The stories here are firmly grounded in the real world (save for Wesley's dreams). The writing is tight and focused, setting up and resolving the mystery in four parts (compare that with the ponderous storylines of today). Along the way, we're escorted into a world of vice, corruption and decadence. And it's absolutely beautiful.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pulp Detective Supehero Perfection, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tarantula (Sandman Mystery Theater, Book 1) (Comic)

Nobody has reviewed this book. You're kidding me right? This has to be the finest detective series modern comics has produced in years and no one has reviewed it? Yeesh. The Sandman was one of DC Comics earliest characters, and little more than a glorified Batman clone at best. But Wagner and artist Guy Davis take the walking cliche and make him into a driven individual determined to right injustice. But its the world of the classic Sandman that is so good: its the real New York of the '30s, complete with speakeasies and dives, the Depression, and immigrants; not at all like the WASPs usually populating the comics of the 1930s and '40s. The characters are 3D, especially the Sandman's alter-ego Wesley Dodds and his future girlfriend Diane Belmont. She in particular holds the reader's interest, because she is clearly the most capable detective, even though no one takes her seriously. No one save Wesley. . .and the Sandman. Fans of Neil Gaiman's fiction may know Morpheus, and a little about Wesley Dodds. But they don't know the whole story until they pick up this excellent graphic novel. Sadly, Sandman Mystery Theatre ended its run not long ago, but for the adventurous there's still a chance to find back issues in your local comic shop. Now if they'd only start collecting this excellent series in trade paperbacks, I'd be a happy man.