The alphabet book may be one of the most basic forms of
text. Twenty-six pages, each one
with a word dictated by the corresponding letter of the alphabet, and an
illustration to show that A stands for Apple.
Adam-Troy Castro and Johnny Atomic have teamed up to create a
thematic alphabet book which not only teaches the alphabet but take and
affectionate, and sometimes satiric, look at its subject in V Is for Vampire.
The subversive tone of the volume is evident from the
very first page when Castro announces that A is for Arterial Spray and
Atomic takes a potshot at both advertising and the text.
Atomic s art continues to take center stage throughout the book,
offering a mix of near photorealism with an almost cartoon quality as the
blacks, whites, and grays of his images are punctuated with a splash of
crimson (or, in some cases, a more subtle pink). These images always can
stand on their own, but taken in combination with Castro s words, the
humor underlying them becomes even more pronounced.
Just as Atomic s pictures are appealing and need
nothing additional to be enjoyed on their own, so too, does Castro s text
stand on its own. Castro
demonstrates a knowledge of the history of vampire fiction demonstrating
that he has more than a passing familiarity with the works of Bram Stoker
and his successors. His entry
for the letter I demonstrates that he is well aware of the variations in
vampires used by different authors.
By design, V is
for Vampire is a short book. However, Castro s witty, and detailed,
descriptions reward multiple and close readings.
Similarly, Atomic s paintings also include humor and details that
make the viewer want to take another look to pick out the fine points.
Perhaps the best thing about V Is for Vampire is that it isn t alone.
Castro and Atomic have also collaborated on Z
is for Zombie, meaning their entertaining and skewed view of classic
horror tropes doesn t have to end with Z is for Zealotry.
