By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The follow-up to the much-praised CARMILLA: THE FIRST VAMPIRE debuts today.
CARMILLA: THE LAST VAMPIRE HUNTER is now in bookstores and arrives in comic shops tomorrow, and can also be ordered on-line at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Writer Amy Chu and illustrator Soo Lee return from THE FIRST VAMPIRE, with Sal Cipriano lettering. The synopsis: “Social worker turned vampire hunter Athena Lo has just lost everyone she loves–and it’s all her fault. Hoping to put her life back together, Athena travels to San Francisco’s Chinatown on a quest to uncover the secrets of her mysterious family history. But her journey escalates into a nightmare when she’s violently introduced to a new gang of Asian-American vampires and its unlikely leader, who hold shocking truths. As she navigates this dangerous territory, Athena can’t escape the ghost of Carmilla…and neither can the vampires. In Chapter Two of this feminist tale of murder, monsters, and mystery, Athena must decide–whose side is she on?”
“Amy and Soo deliver a fascinating story about the unyielding supernatural sway of the enigmatic vampire Carmilla,” says editor Karen Berger, “while exploring family heritage, cultural identity and historic and present-day anti-Asian racism. It’s a thrill to be working with them again on this haunting and captivating sequel!”
“Excited to continue the story of Athena and Carmilla, this time on the West Coast, and to introduce a whole new world of pan-Asian supernatural characters to the readers,” says Chu. “I hope with THE LAST VAMPIRE HUNTER, Soo Lee and I help define Asian-American horror as a genre.”
“I’ve fallen in love with these characters as I bring them to life on paper, and Athena has a very special place in my heart,” says Lee. “Introducing a new cast of Asian vampires creates a twist to the genre that I hope will become a new trend for many years to come. This story has become a part of me and this sequel is one I hope resonates with many people, especially if family is an important part of you.”
