Dynamite Entertainment announces new chapter Christopher Priest vampire series, set to launch in March. The perfect entry point for new readers, the series reunites Priest with artists and original collaborators Ergun Gunduz.
The new story “The Long Dark” offers fans dual narratives: one that follows the daughter of Draculone as she battles severe postpartum depression while reuniting with her infant son who was once stolen from her. Another explores a vision of a potential dystopian, cyberpunk future shaped by a vengeful vampire nuclear apocalypse.
Careful readers may recall that The Long Night was referred to as a prophetic nightmare foretold by vampires and other characters in the early “Journey of the Priest.” described as Vampire RagnarokThis apocalyptic event is said to have been triggered by one of Lilith’s children. When the demon Belial mentioned it after Dracula’s birth, it was thought to predict the fate of the vampire’s dark-haired, evil sister, rather than the vampire himself. Priest initially considered calling this storyline “Season of the Witch,” hinting at the antiheroine’s descent into darkness and eventual transformation into the Witch of Ashthorne.
The story begins in March Vampire #1continuing with legacy numbering, which is Issue #676, all the way up to Issue #700. In this issue, a mysterious man named Cicero enters the vampire’s life, claiming to be her son from the future. As an immortal vampire, “Daughter of Draculon” has lived for more than 50 years since its publication in 1969, and still maintains her youthful appearance. Her son also lived a long life, returning on her 100th wedding anniversary.
Priest mentioned that he believed the most compelling challenges for protagonists were those they couldn’t simply overcome with force. In comics today, there’s often an over-reliance on violence to resolve conflicts, which can make the story feel repetitive and uninteresting.
Good writing involves conflict, but conflict isn’t always about violence. You get your characters into trouble, in a no-win situation, preferably in a mess of their own making, and then follow them as they resolve the conflict through the strength of their character. The vampire’s current situation, where she is suddenly bewildered by the unimaginable effects of motherhood, is a direct cause and effect of the future story and the reason why her adult son returns decades later to warn her.
Read details from the publisher:
Fans are invited to join this new series as it celebrates the heart of vampires and the dark future ahead. The acclaimed team of Priest and Gündüz is back again, joined by Lucio Parrillo, Greg Land, Elias Chatzoudis, Jay Anacleto and cosplayer Rachel Hollon for eye-catching covers. Rising star Mark Spears, beloved for his Monsters series, also contributed to the cover.
Preview their stunning cover ahead of its release!
Vampire #1 Listed in Diamond Comic Distributors’ January 2025 Preview Catalog, the leading source of merchandise for the comics specialty market, and scheduled for release in March 2025. !
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