The Greatest Vampire Comic of All Time is Revisiting the Story That Started It All

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John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

The greatest vampire epic in comic book history is heading back to the town where it all began, and Barrow is ready for it.

30 Days of Night: Falling Sun #1 (by Rodney Barnes, Steve Niles, Chris Shehan, Xenon Honchar, and Alex Ray) from IDW Publishing brings readers all the way back to the quiet, secluded town of Barrow, Alaska, which is currently preparing for the month-long darkness that is about to settle in over them. As the young Jalen tries to settle into his new home in Barrow with his uncle Calvin, those who remember what happened so many years ago prepare to ensure it never happens again. Unfortunately for them, a legion of vampires is undertaking their own preparations to descend upon Barrow once more, even if it means kicking off a war between their own kind.

30 Days of Night: Falling Sun #1

Written by RODNEY BARNES
Art by CHRIS SHEHAN
Colors by XENON HONCHAR
Letters by ALEX RAY
Story consultant STEVE NILES
Main cover art by CHRIS SHEHAN
Variant cover art by DAMIEN WORM; MALACHI WARD; CAMRON JOHNSON; and JIM MAHFOOD

30 Days of Night: Falling Sun is just the latest entry in the long-running saga that began all the way back in 2002 with Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith's original 30 Days of Night miniseries. The original 30 Days of Night saw a band of vampires descend upon Barrow, Alaska, where the sun sets for an entire month every year. The three-issue miniseries largely revolved around Eben and Stella Oleman, the local Sheriff and his fellow peacekeeper and wife, who risk everything to fight back against their carnivorous assailants, leading to a gruesome series of confrontations and one of the most iconic endings the genre has to offer.

In the years since 30 Days of Night was released, the series has spun off in numerous directions with a variety of tie-in media. Apart from the critically underrated 2007 feature film of the same name and its ill-fated sequel, dozens of follow-up comics set in the 30 Days of Night universe have been released by IDW Publishing. Among these are numerous annual issues, multiple comic book crossovers with franchises such as The X-Files and Criminal Macabre, and a whopping 13 spinoff series beginning with 30 Days of Night: Dark Days in 2003.

The official solicit synopsis for 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun #1 from IDW Publishing reads, "IDW’s hit horror franchise returns with a terrifying new tale! The town of Barrow has moved on. Those who remember the vampiric terror of two decades past would rather not talk about it. Those who don’t remember don’t believe the stories. Ignorance will be their downfall, because a dark memory is stirring in the heart of Romania, and it has set its sights on Barrow, the death place of Vicente. While vampires seek revenge for their fallen leader in Alaska, troubled teen Jalen James seeks sanctuary. After fleeing gang violence in Los Angeles, Jalen needs a fresh start. But he’s unlikely to find it as the sun falls..."

30 Days of Night: Falling Sun #1 is on sale now from IDW Publishing.