'DayBlack #2' with story and art by Keef Cross is a collection of issues 4-6 of the series. I've already reviewed 2 of the volumes, but it was fun to revisit them here.

Merce is a former slave who is now a vampire. He is a tattoo artist in the town of DayBlack where he deals with someone shooting folks in the butt who wear their pants too low. He also has to deal with a loved one who was thought to be dead.

This isn't really a story arc so much as three separate sort of stories. It's also a bit hard to follow along, but the art is really the whole reason to read these. Keef Cross has a completely unique kind of art for a comic book and I really like it. There is some pretty good humor in here too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Rosarium Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I do not typically like vampire related novels or comics, but this graphic novel is definitely a good read! I loved the illustrates chose to remain in black, white with droplets of red, it was reminiscent of a vampire's world (at least in my opinion). Our main protagonist is Merce, a centuries old vampire, whose existence started off as a slave. This issue gives the background history of Merce and readers find out why he is not as gory and menacing as the others in this series. With a ex-lover from the past, a prodigal son, a twin brother; this issue delves further into his psyche and his regards for humanity even though he's vampire.

The story and art style were both interesting, but I think I erred in not reading volume 1. I will definitely be doing so, as the second volume piqued my interest.

Illustrated in the colours that the vampires of this graphic novel can see, Red, Black and white dominate the wood print style images. No to everyone's preference, and it does tire the eyes after a while of reading, the story starts off humorously but does seem to find it difficult to go further than that, not finding its place successfully throughout the remainder of this Graphic novel. A shame as I think it all had potential.

This comic is interesting but just not to my taste. The story isn't very engrossing and the art doesn't have a consistent quality.

The art in this book is so bizarre but it kind of grows on you. It's almost like it was mode of woodcuts. The book is completely in black and red because those are the only two colors vampires see according to the main character and narrator.

The book begins with some humor. The "Saggy Sniper" is shooting people in the ass for not pulling up their pants. Turns out it was a (view spoiler). Then our main character, Merci the vampire's family show up and he's just as puzzled as we are as he thought they died 200 years ago when they were all slaves. Unfortunately, we were just about to get answers when the book ends...

Great visuals and illustrations, but the story fell a little flat for me.
I love the overall concept of this series, however, and look forward to seeing what comes next.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the review opportunity.

I received a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. I liked this one a lot. Having not read the first in the series and knowing that this was the second, I was a little unsure as to how it would lay out for me as I started reading. I didn't have any problems with it. This could be a stand alone as far as not needing to have read the first one in order to know what was going on. Enough information is provided that the reader doesn't feel like they are left in the dark about some great secret and they are struggling to keep up with the others that are in the know. The artwork/illustration were wonderful. It was all red/black/white. The use of negative space it create some depth was amazing. As for the story line, I LOVED the progression of the conversations. It was real. Not stiff or formal like I've seen in other graphic novels and books. It feels as if you are sitting in on the actual conversation, not like someone is telling you what happened. I think the illustration helps this a lot since the reader can see what the author is wanting them to see in order to progress the story. The reason I am not explaining what happens is because the description of the novel actually tells the reader all that is happening, start to finish.

..................................................................................

Love the art style and new take on the vampire legend – but the plot was choppy and hard to follow (though to be fair I haven't read volume 1, so that might account for it). It's short and strange in a way I enjoyed, and I'd read the next in the series.

DayBlack follows the story of Merce, a slave-turned-vampire who's trying to survive in the modern world. Over the centuries, he has invented several clever tactics for staying alive undetected.

Volume 2 (issues 4-6) begins in a strange place. I spent most of Issue 4 trying to figure out what was happening. I didn't understand where Merce was or what he was doing, and his son seemed to have disappeared as well. I was satisfied in Issue 6 when his son came back, but just like in the first volume, his appearance was brief. DayBlack Volume 2 seems to be where Merce's backstory begins to mesh with his present day activities. Two characters reappear from his past, and the reader is trying to figure out who they are while Merce tries to figure out why they've arrived. In other words, Merce is just as confused as the reader. I was confused; then I was angry that my confusion wasn't being resolved. At the same time, Merce's confusion dissipates and his anger grows. By creating this emotional involvement with the reader, Cross evokes feelings of empathy for Merce.

Based on what we've seen of other vampires in the series, Merce seems to be decidedly more human (this volume introduces a potential reason for that). He experiences grief at the loss of a past lover. He experiences anger and lust and longing. Most importantly, he feels remorse.

While Merce may outwardly seem guarded and haughty to the characters in the story, the reader knows he holds himself to a relatively high moral standard. When he makes a mistake he feels guilty. He feels a sense of duty towards his son, even if his son should technically be his worst enemy. He tries not to kill people. When he does kill someone, he does it only to protect himself.

Other vampires kill gratuitously, and they make a mess of it in the process. The other vampires we've seen so far in DayBlack don't think twice about ending a humans life for even the smallest transgressions. The vampires manipulate humans, and when they're done they discard them. It's no wonder the vampire hunters are so intent on purging the Earth of this night-walking species.

We also learn one of Merce's vulnerabilities in Volume 2. It's not his kryptonite, but it's clearly something that causes him great emotional anguish. 

Just like the first volume of DayBlack, this one is not for the faint of heart, and it's potentially NSFW. The scenes are more suggestive and more bloody. Partway through the volume, I actually started counting how many instances of barely-hidden nudity I saw. Male sex organs are generally covered by plants or by another person's limbs. Female genitalia are covered by similar means, but their chests are usually visible, even through clothing. There were a couple instances where nothing but a stream of blood "covered" a woman's nipples. 

I don't particularly want to see the graphic scenes. In fact, I feel guilty because I feel like I should be filling my mind with other things. I'm so involved in the story at this point, though, that I almost feel obligated to continue. An invisible force is coaxing me to follow Merce until the end. Like it or not, I'm in this for the long run.

I'm giving four stars to DayBlack: Volume 2, not because I found fault in it, but because I can't justify myself giving 5 stars for something so violent. That said, I enjoyed the story and I'm pleased by the art. I hope more comic artists follow in Cross's footsteps and create art that doesn't conform to European or East Asian standards. I cautiously recommend DayBlack: read at your own risk. It's so different from other comics, though, that I think it's worth the read even if it's not your style.

DayBlack Vol 2: Page after page of black ink and red blood

Keef Cross! You slapped me in the face with a wiffle paddle of love.

I was late to read Volume 1 of DayBlack, only learning of the comic series a few years after it was released. At the time of review, I made comments about how long it was between issues. I made a comment akin to ‘blah blah several more years before volume 2’.

I know it was just your marketing calendar, BUT, you seemingly timed the announced release of Volume 2 about three(?) days after I ran my mouth... I felt the sting of the pain stick and the force of the beating, but not until after hearing the ferocious mouse squeak of air through its holes. I will refrain from that mistake in the future.

DayBlack, vol 2 (Keef Cross)
96 pages
Rosarium Publishing
ISBN-10: 0996769234
ISBN-13: 978-0996769235

DayBlack Volume 2 picks up where the first left off. Being a collected Trade Paperback, this would be awkward if it did otherwise so good job on that.

Merce, the narcoleptic vampire, finishes off some Mexican Luchador masked vamp hunters with aplomb. His 65cents a day adoptive son is haunting his town and sarcastically commenting on his reality. His twin brother and multi-hundred-year-old surprise dead girlfriend come to visit? Merce continues to try and find a way to keep his evolving reality from killing him directly or through annoyances.

As with the original volume, this collection of singles is full of stylized and hard-hitting artwork. All pages are dedicated to the craft using deep black/reds, the only colors vampires can see (according to DayBlack). Strangely, the front cover is also a page from the book, but where the vampire on the cover is stacked with tattoos, the interior art has none.Was this updated for marketing?

There also seems to be a bit more humor in this collection than the original, with the universe firmly set up, perhaps there is more room for it. Unfortunately, because the Comic is not text heavy, it felt very short. 96 pages is a bit lean as it is, but it makes the wait for more work.... harder.. l

Highly suggested for anyone who wants cutting-edge ideas with art that makes no apologies for its bad assitude.

—
Disclosure:
This book was provided by the author or publisher for review purposes. Unlike people with lizard blood, this warm-blooded mammal does not allow such fickle things as review copies to sway my opinion. Fuck the lizard people. If something is terrible, I will advise as I cannot give garbage a free pass... Garbage is where the lizard people sleep with their knives.

Additional Artwork: (see toastx2 website)

Had never heard of this artist/author or this comic series but saw the cover and was taken by it. The artwork is simply wonderful. I would pay for that alone. Although I don't read too many comics, graphic novels these days, I enjoyed this one, it was unique and imaginative and on point in so many ways. Loved the whole concept of a vampire from slavery days living in a city that never sees the light of day due to the smog, thus you have "Day Black," and the vamp doesn't have to hide during the day.

The artwork is brilliant. Story is meh (P.S. this version consists of 4, 5 and 6 not 2).

This has to go down as one of the better indie comics out there, for comedy, darkness, sheer bloodymindedness, and for the artwork, which refrains from ever using any colour other than red. The main reason I know its superiority is that I'm damned annoyed at being drip-fed a few bits of it every year - I want the whole thing and I want it last month. There are bits here that are a little too odd, and the artwork not allowing us to be a hundred percent sure of things is partly a cause, but I'm sure the whole piece will be something of wonder when it's all done.

Keef Cross hits us with another tale of our favorite vampire/tattoo artist. The stylization of the art is even better as we dive deeper into the city of no sun.

One of my favorite things about this Graphic Novel is that Keef Cross is both, the author and the illustrator.

Volume 2 is dived into 3 different parts, but the typical theme of having dreams seems to stop after the 2nd part. I believe that this series could be one of those comics that keep on coming with new additions to the story for several years.

Since we know so little about Merce's present, and almost nothing about his past, the author gets the opportunity to show us more about Merce with each issue. A little bit of crazy dreams from his past, mixed with a little bit of surprise visits in the present.

The illustrations are still my favorite thing about this novel; they are so beautiful, complex, a dark.

This Volume is filled Funny, Satiric, and Political events. It is still a very graphic novel,so it is not for everyone.

I received an eARC in exchange with an honest review.

I really loved Volume 1 of Dayblack, so I was really looking forward to reading Volume 2. However, it really didn't live up to my memories of the first one. The artwork is still fantastic, but the story was a bit silly and disjointed in some places.

I have not read volume 1 of this series and although I think you can fill in most of the backstory from the description and context clues, it is possible my rating could have been bumped up to 4 stars with a little bit more knowledge of the series. This is definitely a fresh new take on the vampire genre and it's great to have something that isn't just like 17th century European aristocrat immortals. Also the art is really great [black and white with red accents and very stylized] and definitely helps set the mood for the whole thing. I would recommend checking this out if you're looking for something new in the vampire genre.