Death Vigil Volume 1

I've been a fan of Stjepan's artistic style for years. He is also a great writer. This collection shows how he understands character development, pacing, humor, suspense, and action. As a medium, getting all of that working together in a comic isn't easy. So finding a singular author that can do it all really is special. In this story, you quickly become emotionally attached to the characters, their strengths and flaws, and want to know them more. While the premise is an action novel, and it delivers on that, this really is a character piece. Like Stjepan's other works, this is where his stories shine! It isn't just a popcorn action novel. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. If you like it, there are more in his repertoire!

The story begins with an ending: nice guy Sam Lewis was on his way to a costume party when he interrupted an armed robbery, saving two young women and dying of his gunshot wounds. Lying in the alley, he looks up and sees a gaunt woman with a white face and long, white hair, she's dressed in a purple-black hooded gown, holding a giant scythe. "Holy crap... Who are you?" "Really? Who? Isn't it obvious? I'm Santa Claus. And I'm here because I'm in dire need of some elves..." The Reaper - her name is Bernadette, but you can call her Bernie - runs a group called the Death Vigil, dead mortals who got a second life to fight an ancient evil threatening to destroy humanity. The Vigil's members each have a gift - a tool or object that gives them a special power. Sam's are a pick and shovel, weapons which he can also use to raise a ship full of undead Vikings when things get really bad. And, oh yeah, Bernie and Sam are a couple (who says romance is dead?) Think of "Death Vigil" as a supernatural adventure with romance-comedy elements, fun characters and some of the best art in a graphic novel anywhere. It's by the amazing (hey, just look at the clips I've included!) Stjepan Sejic - the artist-writer behind the international best-selling erotic-romance-comedy series "Sunstone," and an as-yet-unannounced special project for DC Comics series. I'm a big fan of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and if you enjoyed that series, "Death Vigil" is a must-have. So... Buy it, already!

Death Vigil, from the fact that I have not heard much about it, is a hidden gem of comics. I really cannot get enough of the story and it had my heart racing towards the end of the volume due to the suspense. It is just an amazing story with an interesting and lovable cast of characters. You are plunged basically into a secret war between the members of the Vigils and the Necromancers. Basically Vigils like to keep things normal, you know you die and move on, while the Necromancers pervert this by working with demons and endangering life and sanity, gives you a bit of a Lovecraftian feel, which is always welcome for me. The history between the two has a lot of potential to be explored a lot deeper and is only briefly mentioned in this(1 so far) volume. The unique powers of vigil members interesting and creative because there form and powers is special for each individual. The chemistry between the members of the vigil is great and really has you connect with them and identify them as real people. The battle scenes are awesome and drawn so well by Stjepan Sejic, who is just so very talented. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great supernatural comic filled with great characters you feel for, awesome battles, cool powers, and a world rich with mysterious (mostly potential) lore. After reading vol 1 like any good work of literature leaves you wanting more and leaves me begging for vol 2 to come out! Again a must buy!

Read it from the library, thought enough of it to buy my own copy. The story focuses on Reapers, empowered revenants that defend Earth against mages that get their power from extradimensional horrors that bond with them. And it all starts with a man dying in an alley and meeting _the_ Reaper herself and being offered a deal. It jumps several years forward to a graveyard and things take off from there. I liked this one - partly because I like Sejic's art, but also because I like the characters. The downtime and fussing and bickering between the various characters really helped make it for me.

A very unexpected gem of a comic. I am really hungry for more chapters of this story :)

It's rare to find someone who is just as talented a writer as they are an artist, but Stjepan Sejic has proven repeatedly that it's possible, and Death Vigil is a shining, white-haired example of that. While Talvi's review below does have a point that this is maybe not the most original story, it more than makes up for it with fun, interesting, diverse characters, a fast-paced plot that moves at just the right speed to avoid leaving the reader lost, some truly amazing artwork, and all with just the right balance of drama, humor and action to make for a great read. I sincerely hope that a second volume gets greenlit by Image, but even if it doesn't I'm quite happy to have this volume on my bookshelf.

Cool hâte d'avoir la suite

I love the genre. And Seijic's artworks were fantastic. Though Ravine is still my favourite this one is pretty great too. I hope it doesn't meet the same fate as Ravine.

Schöne zeichungen, tolles world building und sehr sympathische Charaktere. Nur zu empfehlen.